The Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria is Sweden's diplomatic mission in South Africa. The Swedish embassy in South Africa represents the Swedish government in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho. The embassy is located in the suburb of Hatfield in the capital of Pretoria. The ambassador since 2020 is Håkan Juholt.
History
Until 1944, Sweden was represented in the Union of South Africa by a consulate general in Pretoria located in the Prudential House at 235 Pretorius Street. The consulate general was upgraded to a legation in 1944 and Harry Eriksson was appointed Acting Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, and became a regular in 1945. The legation remained at 235 Pretorius Street until 1947. In 1948, the legation moved to 247 Skinner Street, where it remained until 1953. In 1954, the legation moved to the Van der Stel Building at 177 Pretorius Street. During the 1960s, Sweden upgraded its legations to embassies. However, not the Swedish legation in South Africa. This was due to Sweden's tense relationship with South Africa. It was not until 1 November 1993, after Nelson Mandela's release, that the legation was upgraded to an embassy. In 2000, the embassy was located in the suburb of Hatfield.
Tasks
The Swedish embassy in Pretoria represents the Swedish government in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho. The embassy's task is to strengthen relations between Sweden and these countries' governments, residents, organizations and companies. The embassy is also responsible for cooperation with the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) organization based in Gaborone, Botswana. Trade issues are an important part of the embassy's work. The embassy collaborates with Business Sweden to promote trade and investment between Sweden and South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
The embassy in Pretoria employs nine people sent from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, a defence attaché sent from the Ministry of Defence and local employees. A trade secretary works at Business Sweden in Johannesburg.
Buildings
Chancery
The chancery is located in the iParioli Complex at 1166 Park Street in the suburb of Hatfield in Pretoria. The Danish embassy is located in the same complex.
Residence
From at least 1965, the ambassadorial residence was located on 180 Nicolson Street in the suburb of Brooklyn. The decision to build a new residence in South Africa in the early 2000s was the result of the existing residence feeling too small in relation to the "new" South Africa, a country with which Sweden has very good relations since the struggle against apartheid. Money was released through the sale of a former house in Cape Town, an oversized villa with an expression that rhymed poorly with Sweden's identity. The very goal of strengthening Sweden's profile internationally, in accordance with the state's action program for architecture, design and design, became the guiding principle for the work on the new ambassadorial residence. The new residence opened in April 2003 and is located on 297 Canopus Street in Waterkloof Ridge. The house was designed by Anders Landström at Landström Architects. Interior designers were Jonas Bohlin and Jacob Hertzell at Jonas Bohlin Architects. The landscape was designed by Bengt Isling at Nyréns Architects. Architect in South Africa was Boogertman Krige Architects through Ernes Wilken (responsible) and Marlise Teunissen and construction management in South Africa was Kerr Developments through Len Sloan and general contractor was van der Linde & Venter Construction through Gerhard van der Linde, Johan Venter and Arthur Milbrandt. Landström's drawings were praised especially for their well-balanced volumes.