Berlin – Germany and South Africa have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a full strategic partnership following the 12th Meeting of the German-South African Bi-National Commission held in Berlin on April 13, 2026, with the two countries signing a Joint Action Plan covering energy, trade, science, health and security cooperation.
The meeting, which marked the 30th anniversary of the commission founded in 1996 by South African President Nelson Mandela and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, brought together South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, who led discussions on bilateral cooperation, multilateralism, United Nations reform, and peace and security across the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
The strategic partnership upgrade will intensify dialogue at senior official level through consultation formats covering multilateral issues, conflict mediation, peace and security in Europe and Africa, regional cooperation, democratic resilience, cyber foreign policy and navy staff talks. 
On energy, Germany advanced its support for South Africa under the Just Energy Transition Partnership with a new climate-related concessional loan worth 200 million euro and technical cooperation to accelerate grid and renewables investments. The two countries also extended cooperation on green hydrogen and battery value chains through the second phase of the Hydrogen for a Just Transition in South Africa programme, a new Finance Facility, and more than 270 million euro in German and European Union funding under the Global Gateway framework.
A critical raw materials Inducement Prize was launched to support entrepreneurs in high-potential mineral beneficiation projects, while cooperation on vaccine production was enhanced to strengthen regional health security and foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
The two countries deepened their science and technology partnership through new flagship initiatives in just energy transition, artificial intelligence, quantum research and cybersecurity, celebrating 30 years of science and technology cooperation in the process.
Germany and South Africa also reaffirmed their support for mobilising private capital for peace-positive investments in fragile contexts across Africa through Germany’s Investing for Peace Initiative, and launched discussions on the possibility of setting up a regional secretariat in South Africa.
On trade, both countries committed to implementing the EU-South Africa Clean Trade and Investment Partnership by addressing non-tariff barriers and improving conditions for investors in energy and transport infrastructure through quarterly consultations between the relevant departments. A high-level business dialogue was held as part of the commission meeting to promote trade and investment relations.
Agriculture cooperation was also extended, with both countries committing to preventing foot-and-mouth disease following a Joint Declaration of Intent signed by their respective agriculture ministers in South Africa in March 2026.
Further agreements covered vocational and educational training to expand youth employment, labour market inclusion and social protection, environmental and climate protection including circular economy initiatives, mine rehabilitation, biodiversity and ocean protection, and cooperation on arts, culture and school education including a forthcoming exhibition on German missionary history.
Both countries reaffirmed their long-standing roles as co-chairs of the G20 Compact with Africa Advisory Group, which works to improve the business environment in participating African countries and mobilise private investment for sustainable economic development across the continent.
