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SP E CIAL REPOR T

province in South Africa. Furthermore, Indian engaged in pharmaceuticals, banking, automobiles,
slaves comprised the majority of slaves brought mining and other sectors. In addition, Indian
into South Africa from the far East. businesses in South Africa established a platform
Additionally, in the second half of the 19th called the India Business Forum which represents
century, Indians came to South Africa in two over 90 members and the High Commissioner
distinct categories – as indentured workers in of India is the Chief Patron of the forum. Some

the 1860s and later as ‘free’ Indians. Indentured of the leading Indian firms operating in South
workers came into South Africa as a result of a Africa include, “TATAs, Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddys,
triangular pact among three governments which Mahindra & Mahindra, L&T, Jindal, Vedanta, TCS,
stated that indentured Indians had to work on WIPRO, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL, Zensar,
Natal’s sugar plantations for the Natal colonial Nihilent, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Bank of
government. Those in the free Indians category, Baroda, EXIM Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank
came to South Africa at their own expense from among others.”
India, Mauritius and other locations. However, that Several South African firms have also invested

type of emigration was stopped in 1914. Between in India. These include “SANLAM Insurance, Life
November 1860 and 1911 – when the system of Healthcare, Momentum Health Insurance, Airport
indentured labour was eliminated – nearly 152,184 Company of South Africa, First Rand Bank, Old
indentured workers arrived in Natal from across Mutual, SAB Miller Brewery, NASPERS, Smollan
India. Once they had served their indentures, this and several others”. But despite these signifi cant

first category of Indians were allowed to remain bilateral trade relations, there is substantial
in South Africa or to return to India. By 1910, potential for trade growth between India and South
almost 26.85% of indentured men returned to India, Africa.
but most chose to remain in South African and Third, India-South Africa bonds matter because
thereby constituted the forbearers of the majority of their identities as emerging middle powers. With
of present-day South African Indians. regard to multilateralism, India and South Africa
Today, South Africa’s diverse Indian population share a mutual basis of cooperation. South Africa
of over 1 million is predominantly concentrated in is particularly interested in fostering cooperation
Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal’s largest city – and that in multilateral institutions such as the G20, World
is the most substantial Indian population in Sub Trade Organization (WTO) or the broader United
Saharan Africa. South Africa Indians still retain Nations system. Furthermore, India and South
a sense of cultural and social connection to India, Africa’s membership of BRICS and IBSA adds and

and Indian influences have contributed immensely provides the impetus for their identities as emerging
to South Africa’s multicultural diversity. middle powers. Their statuses as emerging middle
Second, India-South Africa bonds matter because powers could further enhance South Africa-India
of economic reasons. They are major trade partners reputations and possibly propel them in a leadership
and have traded significantly between each other role in the developing world alongside China,

in the past two decades. India-South Africa trade is Russia and Brazil.
valued at over $9 billion, and India is also the fourth- In conclusion, evidence demonstrates that
largest importing partner and fi fth-largest export the engagement between India and South Africa
destination for South Africa in 2017-18. South since 1994 shows that both countries are moving
Africa is also India’s largest trading partner after beyond mere historical symbolism and are engaged
Nigeria, and sometimes the trade balance has been in examining ways to enhance the relationship.
in South Africa’s favour. On the other hand, India’s But there is definitely potential prospects of
exports to South Africa has increased threefold from strengthening the relationship, particularly from
$984 million in 2004-05 to $3.546 billion in 2017- an economic centric focus.
18. In 2017, India’s investment in South Africa was
$9.4 billion. In 2017, Indian imports to South Africa *Author is teaching assistant and PhD
also increased dramatically from $292 million in candidate (international relations) at the University
2004-05 to $5.834 billion in 2017-18. of Cape Town in South Africa. His research focuses
Indian businesses also have a large presence on China-Africa relations, particularly China’s

in South Africa with investments of at least $8-9 efforts in facilitating the development of African
billion. Indian businesses in South Africa are manufacturing.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 8 • Issue 9 • November 2020, Noida • 35