Through mission and shipping, Norway has had contact with South Africa since the 19th century. Diplomatic relations have existed right from when a consulate-general was established in in the year of independence 1905.

The present co-operation is founded on the extensive support Norway gave to the fight against apartheid.  The development work started right after the first democratic election in 1994. 

The legacy from apartheid has left the country with deep social, economic and structural differences. The designation ”the rainbow nation” is still used on formal occasions. But South Africa succeeds far better with state building than with nation-building. South Africa is an economically great power in the region – and is in addition the most import player in Africa in global questions. That is the reason that Norway is of the opinion that the country is an important alliance partner. At present the co-operation between Norway and South Africa is dominated by political dialogue on peace and dispute resolution on the African continent.

Norwegian priorities:

• climate and environment, and research on these themes
• human rights and democracy, including sustainable administration and natural resources
• peace and security locally and regionally

Climate and environment

Increased knowledge of treatment of waste and air pollution, environmental impact assessment and effort concentration on biological diversity. These are some of the results from a long-term environmental programme in co-operation with the South African Ministry of the Environment. However, the discoveries of weaknesses in the management of the programme have made it difficult to obtain a precise and factual evaluation of the results. 

The Norwegian Embassy, in consultation with the Ministry of the Environment, will nevertheless continue the co-operation. Contact with Norwegian professional circles in the environmental aspect is strongly in demand by South African authorities, and work is being done to continue the programme in a new administration model. Norway has contributed to that carbon and climate questions are placed high on the political agenda in the country. Carbon-capture and handling is a contribution to decelerate global warming by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from  coal-fired power plants for example, and store it instead of emitting it to the atmosphere. 

Norway has donated funds for the establishment of a national centre for carbon-capture and carbon storage (CCS). A concrete result so far is the preparation of a geological atlas, which will form the basis to start a pilot operation. The Norwegian involvement must be seen in the context that South Africa has bought itself in as a partner in the technology centre at Mongstad. This is expected to represent a competence-related additional value for the further development of the CCS centre.

Up to the climate negotiations in Durban in December 2011, Norway supported an African campaign for climate justice. This took place through Kirkens nødhjelp (Norwegian Church Aid) and their partner organisations. The campaign worked to mobilise religious leaders and local communities and emphasise the important role they have in national development. The event was closed with a mass gathering at a stadion in Durban, with representatives from South African authorities and Bishop Desmond Tutu present. 

Good government, democracy and human rights

A central partner for Norway in this field is the watchdog Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), which has the entire region as a field of activity. The organisation documents and publishes violations of freedom of speech. The aim is that the publicity shall counteract violations. MISA also assists journalists who are pursued. It is difficult to document concrete results, but the organisation works to influence the opinion and decision-makers positively in question concerning freedom of the press.

Peace and security

Norway supports African and Norwegian organisations that contribute with strengthening of African capacity in international peace operations. Civilian experts and police receive training in the ”Training for peace” programme , which has participated in putting the importance of civilian contributions on the agenda in Africa. That has contributed to that there is now agreement in The African Union that civilians and police officers must be included in the peace operations.