Relations between Italy and South Africa are excellent and rest on two key pillars: the historic and well-integrated Italian community in the country (over 37,000 Italians registered with AIRE in 2023), and Italy’s longstanding support for the anti-apartheid struggle, which remains a vivid and appreciated memory within the ANC, currently in power.
Italy’s primary objective is to intensify bilateral relations with South Africa at all levels—starting with political and economic ties and extending to cultural and scientific cooperation—with the aim of establishing a broad strategic partnership.
The Italian diplomatic and consular network is composed of the Embassy in Pretoria, the Consulate General in Johannesburg (which also absorbed the jurisdiction of the former Consulate in Durban upon its closure), and the Consulate in Cape Town. These are complemented by Honorary Consular Offices in Durban, Gqeberha, and East London.
Italy’s institutional presence is further strengthened by the ICE-Agency Office in Johannesburg and the Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria.
Additionally, the Italo-South African Chamber of Commerce and the network of local committees of the Dante Alighieri Society are well-structured and highly active.
For more information on political, economic-commercial, cultural, and scientific cooperation between Italy and South Africa, please visit the website of the Embassy of Italy in Pretoria.
Italian Associations in Cape Town and the Consular District
ITALIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Purpose: Welfare
President: Monica MARINI
Email: –
Tel: –
GIULIANI ASSOCIATION CAPE TOWN
Purpose: Regional
President: Leonard GIURICICH
Email: leonard@giuricich.co.za
Address: 32 Atholl Road, Camps Bay 8005
Tel: +27 (0)73 905 5553
ITALIAN CLUB OF CAPE TOWN
Purpose: Recreational, cultural, and sports
President: Chrystal GRAUSO
Email: admin@icct.co.za
Address: 16 Donegal Street, Rugby – Cape Town 7405
Tel: +27 (0)21 511 5757
Fax: +27 (0)21 510 5757
COMITES OF THE CAPE PROVINCES
President: Guido ANGELUCCI
Email: comites@iafrica.com
Address: 137 Hatfield Street, Gardens – Cape Town 8001
Tel/Fax: +27 (0)21 465 6351
SCALABRINIAN MISSIONARY CONGREGATION
Purpose: Religious (Italian Catholic Mission: Holy Cross Church)
Contact: Father Filippo FERRARO
Email: filippo.ferraro@hotmail.com ; scalab@iafrica.com
Address: Holy Cross, 36 Nile Street, District Six – Cape Town 7925
Tel: +27 (0)21 461 4324 – Mobile: +27 (0)66 446 2990
Mass: Sundays at 10:30, Holy Cross, Cape Town
Last Sunday of the month at 11:30, St Augustine’s, Paarl
FOGOLAR FURLAN
Purpose: Regional
President: Giuliana Loi COCKCROFT
Email: info@fogolarcapetown.org
Address: Fogolar Furlan of Cape Town – P.O. BOX 15273 – Panorama – Cape Town 7506
Tel: +27 (0)21 975 4896
Fax: +27 (0)86 594 5373
FRIENDS OF THANDOLWETHU NPO
Purpose: Social development
Coordinator: Annalisa Contrafatto
Email: annalisa@friendsofthandolwethu.org
Address: 19 Devon Street, Woodstock 7925 – Cape Town
Tel: +27 (0)21 447 1862, Mobile: +27 (0)72 299 5187
ITALIAN SPORTING CLUB OF PORT ELIZABETH
Purpose: Recreational
President: Walter Pizzardi – +27 (0)83 262 4345
Address: 17 Harold Road, Charlo – Port Elizabeth 6070
Tel/Fax: +27 (0)41 367 1811
NETWORK OF ITALIAN RESEARCHERS IN THE CAPE (NIRC)
Purpose: Networking
Coordinator: Mattia VACCARI
Email: mattia@mattiavaccari.net
Website: facebook.com/nircape
PATRONATO ACLI
Email: patronatoacli.cpt@outlook.com
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Address: 137 Hatfield Street, Gardens – Cape Town 8001
Tel/Fax: +27 (0)21 465 6351
DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY – CAPE TOWN COMMITTEE
Purpose: Promotion of Italian language and culture
President: Simonetta De Paoli
Email: info@ladante.co.za
Website: ladante.co.za
Address: 137 Hatfield Street, Gardens – Cape Town 8001
Tel: +27 (0)21 465 8261
Fax: +27 (0)21 465 8271