South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, met with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, in Pretoria to finalize the deal.

The meeting served as a “reset” for the two nations. Relations deteriorated in 2014 when travel restrictions halted most movement between the countries amid political tensions.

The ministers signed a joint communiqué outlining a phased resumption of visa issuance. The process will be fully implemented within 12 months of the agreement’s start, according to official statements.

The agreement receives full political backing from President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Paul Kagame. Both leaders are scheduled to meet at a later date to further guide the diplomatic process.

Rwanda will host the next session of the revived Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in early 2027. This platform will manage ongoing engagement across trade, tourism, health, education, security, and broader regional engagement.

The communiqué referenced the parallel histories of both nations. It linked the end of apartheid in South Africa to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The ministers described the renewed relationship as a shared responsibility to contribute to peace and development on the continent.

Beyond visas, the two governments plan to expand investment. This includes increased partnerships between state-owned and private sector actors.

The talks also covered security concerns in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and the Sahel region. Both sides called for African-led solutions to these conflicts including the operationalization of the African Standby Force.

On global governance, the ministers argued for reforms to the United Nations. They called for broader representation and inclusivity for African nations.

While the ministers acknowledged past "setbacks," they described the Pretoria meeting as meaningful progress. The implementation of the visa plan now depends on technical coordination in the coming months.