This article covers cultural relations between India and South Africa, scholarships and study links, visits by journalists and content creators, events linked to Mahatma Gandhi's years in South Africa, and the Indian origin community. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of April 2026.

Cultural programme and scholarships

With the help of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), a programme of cultural exchanges is organised across South Africa, including scholarships for South African nationals each year. According to the MEA brief of April 2026, ICCR scholarships for South African nationals have been increased from 22 to 28.

Recent cultural events

The Durban Indian Film Festival was held from 26 to 28 March 2026. The three-day event screened 8 films dubbed in isiZulu and included an expert panel discussion between Indian filmmakers and their South African counterparts, such as Dr. Timothy Ebulus and Ms Rani Sita Ram.

The High Commission of India, Pretoria, celebrated International Mother Language Day (Mataram) on 28 February 2026 at its premises, with the participation of diaspora organisations. The 2024 edition (Matram-V) was organised at the Chancery on 24 February 2024 together with the diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and the UN Resident Coordinator Office. An earlier edition, 'MATARAM', in February 2023 showcased India's linguistic and cultural diversity through performances by the Indian diaspora in South Africa.

The High Commission hosted the "Viksit Bharat Run 2025" at Laudium Sports Stadium on 27 September 2025, with over 150 participants including members of the Indian diaspora, students from the University of Pretoria, foreign nationals and South African citizens. During a special period of thematic activities from 15 September to 2 October 2025, Deputy High Commissioner Ms. Banu Prakash and Mr. Grant Tate, Director of North American International School, planted saplings at the school in Pretoria under the theme "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam".

Yoga

International Day of Yoga 2025 was celebrated in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, with South African youth, the diplomatic corps, the Indian diaspora, Indian companies, yoga schools, students and officials taking part. It was also celebrated in the Kingdom of Lesotho on 15 June in association with the High Commission of India. The brief states that the 2024 event in Johannesburg drew around 8000 participants, which it describes as the highest in South Africa and the African continent.

Gandhi heritage

On 7 June 2025, an event at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station commemorated the 132nd anniversary of the 1893 incident in which Gandhiji was evicted from the train. The brief describes this as the incident that transformed Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi into Mahatma Gandhi, and records that South African children took part in large numbers with skits and presentations.

On 11 April 2025, a documentary about Indian involvement in the Anglo-Boer War, a publication titled "Caught in the Crossfire - Indian involvement in the South African War", and a bust of Mahatma Gandhi were unveiled at the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein. Earlier, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav activities marking 75 years of India's Independence, the Consulates and Mission organised a 'Revisiting Gandhian Trail' in October 2021, following the Mahatma's footsteps to promote peace, non-violence and harmony.

ICCR-sponsored performances

The brief lists a series of visits by Indian performing groups sponsored by ICCR:

  • A 12-member Bhangra troupe, "Indian Traditional Performing Art & Craft Centre", performed for the Republic Day Celebrations 2025 from 24 to 28 January 2025.
  • Panghat Performing Arts from Gujarat performed Garba at the Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj Temple, Laudium, during the Navaratri Festival in October 2024.
  • An 8-member troupe, 'Taal Chhandam', performed and held workshops in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Tongaat and Phoenix Gandhi Settlement from 23 to 31 January 2024, and met local schools and a dance academy.
  • A six-member Indo-Jazz fusion troupe, "Rajeev Raja Combine", led by Rajeev Ettan Raja, performed at the Mpumalanga Cultural Experience and the Mapungubwe Arts Festival from 7 to 16 December 2023, as part of the celebrations of 30 years of diplomatic relations.
  • A 15-member group from the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy, led by Shri Bilash Singh Pukhrambam, visited Johannesburg from 21 to 25 August 2022.

Ministerial contacts on culture, tourism and education

Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat led a delegation to the G20 Culture Ministers Meeting at Kwa-Dukuza, Kwa-Zulu Natal, from 27 to 29 October 2025. He had met South African Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Mr Gayton Mckenzie on 9 November 2024 in Brazil, on the sidelines of the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting. As Minister of Tourism and Culture, he also met South African Minister of Tourism Ms Patricia de Lille in New Delhi on 2 December 2024, during her official visit to India.

A 3-member delegation led by Minister of State for Culture Ms Meenakshi Lekhi visited Mpumalanga from 19 to 22 July 2023 for the BRICS Minister of Culture Meeting and Senior Officials Meeting, and took part in a yoga event and a community event in Johannesburg.

On education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education & External Affairs, visited South Africa from 11 to 14 July 2023 for the 10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education in Mpumalanga. Minister of State for Education Shri Sukanta Majumdar met South African Minister of Basic Education Ms Siviwe Gwarube on 30 October 2024 in Brazil, on the sidelines of the G20 Education Ministers' Meeting.

Visits by journalists and content creators

India's XP Division has organised familiarisation visits that included South African participants:

  • One journalist attended a visit for journalists from the Indo-Pacific region from 18 to 27 August 2024.
  • Two journalists attended a visit for journalists from the East and Southern Africa region from 12 to 18 December 2024.
  • Three social media influencers and content creators attended a visit from 7 to 16 January 2025, on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
  • One South African journalist visited India from 13 February to 3 March 2025 under the familiarisation programme for defence journalists.

The Indian community

As of the MEA brief of April 2026, the South African Indian origin community numbers around 1.7 million and constitutes about 3% of South Africa's total population. About 80% of the community lives in the province of KwaZulu Natal, about 15% in Gauteng (previously Transvaal) and the remaining 5% in Cape Town.

The year 2010 marked the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Indians in South Africa. The year 2014 marked 100 years since Gandhiji's final departure from South Africa for India. He reached India on 9 January 1915, and the brief notes that this date is now commemorated annually as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

On 10 January 2023, the President of India conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) 2023 on Mr. Mohanlal Hira in the field of community welfare, during the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, held from 8 to 10 January 2023. According to the brief, 15 South African nationals of Indian origin have so far been conferred the PBSA.