On 19 November 2018, the Royal Thai Embassy, in collaboration with Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of the Republic of South Africa and the other 3 ASEAN Embassies in Pretoria, namely High Commission of Malaysia, the Philippines Embassy and Vietnam Embassy, held at DIRCO a panel discussion on the topic: the 25^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of South Africa and the 4 ASEAN countries.

The discussion was attended by an audience including heads and members of diplomatic missions, South African government officials and non-governmental organizations, academics, media, as well as Thai students and Thai business owners in South Africa.

Panelists consisted of Ambassadors of the 4 ASEAN countries, Ambassador Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director-General of Asia and Middle East of DIRCO, Ms. Sindiswa Mququ, Chief Director : South, Central and South East Asia, Dr. Philani Mthembu, Director of Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) as well as an authority from South African Tourism.

Historical ties between South Africa and the 4 respective ASEAN countries since 1993, in which their formal diplomatic relations with South Africa were fully established, as well as their future opportunities with South Africa in the next 25 years were at the core of the discussion.

The Official visit of South African former President Nelson Mandela to Thailand in 1997 during which he was granted an audience with His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was highlighted as testimony of cordial relationship between South Africa and Thailand.  

H.E. Mr. Komate Kamalanavin, Ambassador- designate of Thailand to South Africa emphasized that Thailand and South Africa were emerging economies and that both countries could learn from each other and could be true partners in regional and international arenas. He also encouraged Thailand and South Africa to work together to solve existing challenges such as work permit in order to attract more Thai investors to South Africa.

The panel discussion was followed by cultural performances from the 4 ASEAN countries, including Isarn dance performed by Thai students in South Africa. Traditional Thai massage and ASEAN popular finger foods were also offered to the participants.