News

• Coming to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa?  Register with us and read the latest travel advice at www.smartraveller.gov.au. 
• The High Commission coordinates a number of small grants programs in southern Africa. For information about these programs, please click here.

Message from Australian High Commissioner

Welcome to the website of the Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. I hope you find this website useful and informative.

As the Australian High Commissioner, I am accredited to seven countries in Southern Africa – Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Together with the team at the High Commission, we seek to advance Australia’s political, economic and security interests in all of those countries. (Read the High Commissioner's latest speeches here).

I am very proud to be the High Commissioner as Australia significantly enhances our engagement with Africa. Our political and diplomatic contacts are growing, through two-way, high-level visits; Australia’s commercial ties with the continent are expanding; and people-to-people links, through sport, education, culture and business, are also on the rise.

Australia is determined to work with the countries of southern Africa as friends and partners over the coming years, not only to address some of the continent’s development challenges, but also to help those countries reach their full potential. I am confident that our joint efforts to enhance engagement will benefit both our continents.

I would like to encourage all Australian citizens and permanent residents in southern Africa to register with the Australian Government through the High Commission or at www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Registering with the High Commission is beneficial and easy. The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency. It may also be used to pass other information to you such as new Travel Advisories, notice of elections, and important information relevant to travellers and expatriates.

Registration must be self-motivated. There is no automatic registration when you get a passport, a visa or a job in southern Africa. Long term residents should regularly check with the High Commission to confirm that your registration is current.

Her Excellency, Ms Ann Harrap, Australia's High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland, and Ambassador to Angola.