Singapore High Commission in Pretoria

01/09/2026

Congratulations to an icon of Singapore's international diplomacy, Ambassador-at-Large Prof Tommy Koh, one of the principal midwives of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), among his notable achievements.

In 2017, the editors of the Straits Times paid him a special tribute "for the way he has brought the best of humanity to his country, even as he took the best of Singapore to the world".

He inspired generations of Singapore diplomats and will continue to inspire more.

25/08/2026

🇸🇬 Singapore’s National Day Rally 2026

The National Day Rally is one of the most important events on Singapore’s national calendar. Held each August after National Day, it is an occasion for the Prime Minister to speak directly to Singaporeans about the challenges facing the country, set out the Government’s priorities and announce major policy initiatives.

At this year’s Rally on 23 August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s central message was how Singapore can remain trusted, relevant and resilient in a more turbulent world. Singapore will stay open and connected, strengthen ASEAN as its Chair in 2027, embrace technologies such as AI while helping workers adapt, and continue investing for the long term.

A major focus was the family. PM Wong announced a significant strengthening of support for raising children — including almost S$70,000 in support for every Singaporean child from birth to 17, more childcare leave, substantially lower preschool fees, and changes to public housing rules to better support families.

The Rally also looked decades ahead, with ambitious plans for Singapore’s limited land, including a new western island for future industries and energy infrastructure and the study of an undersea connection to Pulau Tekong. (CNA⁠)

Underlying these initiatives was a familiar Singapore conviction: while we cannot predict what challenges will come, we can prepare for them — by staying united, planning ahead and continuing to adapt.

Majulah Singapura! 🇸🇬


Singaporeans in South Africa

25/08/2026

The Singapore National Pledge was first recited today 60 years ago. It was an expression of the Singapore we wanted to build and successive generations of Singaporeans - born and naturalised - have made real the aspiration therein.



Singaporeans in South Africa

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Yesterday (Sun, 23 Aug 2026), we had the pleasure of welcoming Singaporeans from South Africa and Botswana to the Singapore Official Residence in Pretoria to celebrate Singapore’s 61st National Day.

There is always something special about singing Majulah Singapura and reciting our National Pledge when you are thousands of kilometres away from home. It felt especially meaningful this year as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of our National Pledge. First recited in 1966, the Pledge was born from the aspiration to bring Singaporeans of different races, languages and religions together as one people and to build a society based on justice and equality. Six decades on, its words continue to remind us of the values and shared identity that bind us - wherever in the world we may be.

Of course, we also celebrated in true Singaporean fashion - with food! We tucked into familiar favourites including roti prata with fish and lamb curries, Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and more. Nothing quite brings Singaporeans together like a good makan!

What made the afternoon truly memorable were the people and their stories. The Singapore community in Southern Africa is not big. But it was wonderful hearing about the different journeys that brought our fellow Singaporeans to Southern Africa, the lives they have built here, and the many ways they continue to carry a little piece of Singapore with them. We also enjoyed meeting their families and friends, many of whom have their own connections to and fond memories of Singapore. And, of course, hearing the familiar sounds of Singlish made us feel that little bit closer to home!

It was a lovely reminder that the Singapore story goes beyond our shores. It continues to be written by Singaporeans living, working and building lives around the world, each with their own story but connected by a shared sense of home.

To our Singapore community across Southern Africa, thank you for spending the afternoon with us and for sharing your stories. We look forward to welcoming even more of you at our future gatherings.

Majulah Singapura!





Singaporeans in South Africa

Photo credit: Ms Claudia Teo (Claudia Willow Photography)

21/08/2026

On 19 August 2026, the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC), comprising the Heads of Mission of seven member states of ASEAN represented in 🇿🇦South Africa - 🇮🇩Indonesia, 🇲🇾Malaysia, 🇲🇲Myanmar, the 🇵🇭Philippines, 🇸🇬Singapore, 🇹🇭Thailand, and 🇻🇳Vietnam - and led by Chairperson Ambassador of the Philippines HE Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig, hosted a reception to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the founding of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 8 August 1967, the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and the 3rd anniversary of the ASEAN-South Africa Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. The reception was held at the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) in Pretoria.

Launched in 1976, the TAC was ASEAN’s initiative to promote regional peace and build mutual trust. It has since become an important foundation for ASEAN’s engagement with partners based on the shared principles of dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful cooperation. South Africa in fact acceded to the TAC in November 2021 prior to becoming the first ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in Africa in 2023. This year, the ASEAN-South Africa Sectoral Dialogue Partnership is marking its 3rd anniversary.

After almost six decades, ASEAN has forged a well-integrated community of nearly 700 million people based on three pillars of cooperation - political-security, economic, and socio-cultural. Together, the ASEAN nations have built a regional economy that has a combined GDP of almost US$4 trillion, making ASEAN the fifth largest economic bloc in the world.

After a high point in political contacts between ASEAN and South Africa was attained when President HE Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was invited to, and attended the ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur last year in October 2025, both sides are striving to strengthen cooperation in priority practical areas of cooperation including in trade andd investments, sustainable development, and stronger people-to-people ties.

At the 59th ASEAN Day Reception in Pretoria, the South African government was represented by Ms Thandi Fadane, Chief Director (South Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia), Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA.

The APC gave guests representing its South African, African, and international partners a slice of ASEAN’s rich cultural diversity through a showcase of cultural performances and the national attire of the seven ASEAN countries represented in Pretoria. It also pulled all stops to take guests on a colourful and flavourful culinary journey, with an offering of a selection of specially-prepared delicacies that the region is best known for at a pop-up ASEAN bazaar.

As a token of its appreciation to the NLSA, the APC also presented CEO Dr Ralph Links with a set of seven books from the seven Southeast Asian nations represented in South Africa to add to the NLSA book collection.

The APC pledges to continue to work with willing stakeholder institutions and entities in South Africa to enhance ASEAN’s mindshare in South Africa and contribute to growth in the ASEAN-South Africa Sectoral Dialogue Partnership in practical and mutually beneficial areas. It also hopes to deepen the friendship and forge better mutual understanding between ASEAN and South Africa.

Kbri Pretoria
Myanmar Embassy Pretoria
High Commission of Malaysia in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Philippine Embassy in South Africa
Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria
Đại sứ quán Việt Nam tại Nam Phi - Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa

21/08/2026

For those lucky enough to be in Singapore, enjoy this year's edition of the Singapore Night Festival!

21/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/19HLN9vYJz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🇸🇬 Singapore has announced new measures to promote growth of the asset management industry in Singapore.

For more information on the industry, please see this link: https://www.mas.gov.sg/development/asset-management

Singapore’s asset management industry is a key growth engine for our financial sector, accounting for around 15% of the sector’s output and 13% of its employment.

Over the past five years, the asset management industry grew by 7.5% per year on average to almost S$7 trillion. It provides close to 25,000 jobs, 80% of which are filled by locals.

To meet rising competition, I announced a package of three new measures to strengthen Singapore’s competitiveness and attract leading asset managers, global capital and world-class investment talent.

First, MAS and M*F will introduce a targeted tax exemption for profit-related returns arising from the provision of fund management services to qualifying funds, starting from Year of Assessment 2027. Further details will be announced during Budget 2027.

Second, MAS will introduce a new Hedge Fund Investment Programme to invest with hedge fund managers that are growing their presence in Singapore.

Third, MAS and MOM will introduce a new Investment Management Track under the ONE Pass framework.

The measures announced today reflect our continued commitment to strengthen Singapore’s value proposition and ensure we remain a trusted, vibrant and globally competitive financial hub. -- Hong Tat

18/08/2026

The supposedly Singapore-headquartered Great Vision entity also falsely claims that its “managing partner” is a former Singapore diplomat.