Ankara: Deputy President Paul Mashatile will undertake a working visit to Trkiye to co-chair the inaugural Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. The BNC will be convened according to the 2012 agreement, which established the commission to be co-chaired at the Deputy President and Vice-President levels, respectively. Deputy President Mashatile will co-chair the inaugural South Africa-Trkiye BNC with his counterpart, the Trkiye Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz.
According to South African Government News Agency, the purpose of the BNC is to serve as a structured platform for enhancing and coordinating political, economic, and social cooperation between South Africa and Trkiye. Through consistent high-level discussions and collaborative decision-making, the BNC will enable both countries to finalise long-pending draft agreements, reassess existing agreements, and identify new areas for cooperation in political, economic, social, justice, and security sectors.
The Deputy President is expected to sign several cooperation agreements. The country’s second-in-command will also travel to Istanbul for economic diplomacy engagements, including addressing the 5th biennial Trkiye-Africa Business Forum (TABEF) occurring on 16-17 October 2025. According to the advisory, South Africa’s participation in the TABEF and bilateral meetings with key stakeholders is expected to enhance trade relations with Trkiye.
This will further solidify South Africa’s status as Trkiye’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and establish it as a key partner within Africa and the Global South. While in Istanbul, the Deputy President will also participate in the South Africa-Trkiye Business Council and engage with Turkish investors with an interest in the South African market. The Deputy President will also address the closing ceremony of the Trkiye Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) on 17 October 2025.
Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau; and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande. He will also be joined by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille; Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe; Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Zoleka Capa.