South Africa and Rwanda agree to normalise visas, reopen cooperation

South Africa and Rwanda have begun steps to reset strained ties after ministers announced progress on visa normalisation and other cooperative measures following talks in Pretoria on 17 June.

What was agreed

At a media briefing in Pretoria, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and his Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe said discussions had moved toward allowing Rwandan citizens to enter South Africa without special passports and resuming visa services for Rwandan nationals within twelve months.

Steps to rebuild bilateral ties

Lamola described the meeting as an important step toward rebuilding trust and strengthening cooperation between the two countries. He said the talks formed part of ongoing efforts to enhance diplomatic engagement and cooperation in priority areas including trade, tourism, health, education and security.

“As South Africa fine-tunes its immigration laws and visa regulations, we also follow with keen interest the enormous strides Rwanda has made in modernising its visa regime, which continues to remain attractive for various categories of visas, including… visa-free and visa on arrival dispensation,” Lamola said.

“It is also against this background that this meeting will also take steps towards enabling us to lift the ban with regard to the Rwandan ordinary passports into South Africa,” Lamola said.

Trade and practical outcomes

Lamola welcomed Rwanda’s agreement to lift a ban on agricultural produce from South Africa that had been in place since the 2017 listeriosis outbreak, calling it an important measure for bilateral and continental trade confidence.

Next steps and timelines

Nduhungirehe described the discussions as constructive and highlighted concrete outcomes: the resumption of visas for Rwandan nationals within twelve months and the relaunch of the Joint Commission on Cooperation, which he said will be convened in the first quarter of 2027 in Kigali.

“We are particularly pleased with the concrete outcomes of our meeting, mainly the resumption of visas for Rwandan nationals within twelve months and the relaunching of the Joint Commission on Cooperation, to be convened in the first quarter of 2027 in Kigali,” Nduhungirehe said.

Context and challenges

Both ministers framed the move as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation. Lamola noted shared historical experiences and a responsibility to cooperate more deeply, saying the two countries are bound by a belief in solidarity, African unity and Pan-Africanism.

“Whatever the challenges that happened between our two countries, we believe that the bond between Rwanda and South Africa is unbreakable,” Nduhungirehe said.

The ministers also touched on recent tensions, noting disagreements in 2025 over the presence of South African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had strained relations.

What this could mean

• Improved mobility for Rwandan citizens once visa normalisation is implemented.
• Potential boost to bilateral trade and cooperation across multiple sectors.
• Formal follow-up through the Joint Commission on Cooperation in early 2027.

The ministers said the meeting advanced efforts to rebuild trust and strengthen cooperation, with practical steps and timelines agreed to guide the normalization process.