President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former cabinet minister Ayanda Dlodlo as South Africa’s new ambassador-designate to France, marking her return to public service after more than four years at the World Bank Group.
The appointment comes ahead of Ramaphosa’s working visit to France later this week, where he is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and attend several high-level international engagements in Paris.
Dlodlo succeeds former Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who died in September 2025 while serving as South Africa’s ambassador in Paris. The diplomatic post has remained vacant since his passing.
A seasoned politician and former member of the ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, Dlodlo has held several senior cabinet portfolios over the past decade. She served as Minister of Communications, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Public Service and Administration, and later Minister of State Security under Ramaphosa’s administration. Her tenure as State Security Minister coincided with the July 2021 unrest, during which South Africa’s intelligence services came under intense scrutiny over failures to anticipate the widespread violence and looting. Dlodlo has previously maintained that she was unfairly blamed for the intelligence shortcomings during that period.
In April 2022, Dlodlo resigned from Cabinet and Parliament to take up a position as Executive Director at the World Bank Group, representing Angola, Nigeria and South Africa. Her experience in international development and economic governance is expected to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic engagement with France, one of its most significant European trading and investment partners.
As South Africa’s ambassador to France, Dlodlo will serve as Pretoria’s chief diplomatic representative in Paris. Her responsibilities will include strengthening political and economic relations between the two countries, promoting trade and investment, supporting South African citizens in France, and advancing cooperation in areas such as education, culture, science, climate action and multilateral diplomacy. She will also represent South Africa in engagements with UNESCO, whose headquarters are based in Paris.
Her appointment comes at an important time for South Africa-France relations. Ramaphosa is expected to co-chair a UNESCO high-level steering committee on Sustainable Development Goal 4, focused on education, before attending commemorations marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood, where South African soldiers who fought in the First World War will be honoured.
France remains one of South Africa’s most important economic partners in Europe, with hundreds of French companies operating in the country and billions of rand invested across sectors including energy, transport, manufacturing and finance. Dlodlo’s diplomatic experience and extensive government background are expected to play a key role in deepening bilateral ties as both countries seek closer cooperation on trade, investment and international affairs.
Cece Smith 