The United States Diplomatic Mission to South Africa
This Mission includes approximately 310 U.S. and 560 locally engaged staff employed by 28 U.S. Government departments and agencies. In addition to the Embassy in Pretoria, there are Consulates in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Many U.S. Government departments, such as the Foreign Commercial Service, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Overseas Foreign Disaster Assistance and Food for Peace have based their regional operations in South Africa, reflecting the facilities and services available in South Africa.
Trade and Investment
South Africa is currently our 39th largest goods trading partner with $13.2 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $5.4 billion; goods imports totaled $7.8 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Africa was $2.4 billion in 2019.
U.S. goods and services trade with South Africa totaled an estimated $17.8 billion in 2019. Exports were $8.0 billion; imports were $9.8 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with South Africa was $1.8 billion in 2019.
Trade in services with South Africa (exports and imports) totaled an estimated $4.6 billion in 2019. Services exports were $2.6 billion; services imports were $2.0 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with South Africa was $648 million in 2019.
U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa (stock) was $7.8 billion in 2019, a 6.8% increase from 2018. U.S. direct investment in South Africa is led by manufacturing, finance and insurance, and wholesale trade.
[View U.S.-SA trade and investment data on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative website]
The US Embassy regularly sponsors workshops on entrepreneurialism, small and medium business management and financial planning for businesses.
The U.S. Mission provides services:
We represent the people of the United States, and the U.S. Government and its policies.
We protect and promote U.S. interests, such as the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens in South Africa.
We encourage and facilitate trade between the U.S. and South Africa.
We sponsor educational exchanges, and counsel students seeking to enroll at U.S. universities.
We issue visas for travel to the U.S.
We support South Africa through partnership programs in a number of areas including health, education, economic development, agriculture, combating terrorism, building democracy and helping to assure regional stability.