Department of International Relations and Cooperation
- Company typePublic
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersPretoria, South Africa
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Department of International Relations and Cooperation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Department of International Relations and Cooperation
- Legal name
- Department of International Relations and Cooperation
- Website
- https://dirco.gov.za
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Department of International Relations and Cooperation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Services
- NAICS
- International Affairs (928120), National Security and International Affairs (928), National Security and International Affairs (9281)
- SIC
- Foreign Governments (8888)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management (BPAIAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Department of International Relations and Cooperation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pretoria
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Department of International Relations and Cooperation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Department of International Relations and Cooperation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DIRCO is South Africa's national foreign affairs ministry, responsible for managing the country's diplomatic relations, providing consular services to citizens abroad, negotiating international agreements, and coordinating South Africa's participation in multilateral organizations. The department operates a global network of embassies, high commissions, and consulates, while delivering core services including consular assistance, state protocol, treaty management, document legalisation, and international legal advisory through the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser.
Product overview
DIRCO operates a comprehensive government services platform offering consular assistance, diplomatic protocol services, legal advisory services, and treaty management. The platform provides public access to information about foreign diplomatic representation in South Africa and South African missions abroad. Supporting services include official publications (Ubuntu Magazine, Ubuntu NewsFlash), Ubuntu Radio media broadcasts, Ubuntu Awards recognition program, and document legalisation services. The platform also serves as an information resource for visa requirements, diplomatic immunities, and national protocol information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ubuntu Magazine: A quarterly publication of DIRCO covering international relations topics, South African foreign policy, and diplomatic news.
- Ubuntu NewsFlash
- Ubuntu Awards
- Ubuntu Radio
Products and services
- Consular Services Government services for South African citizens abroad including passport renewals, visa assistance, emergency citizen support, travel advisories, and document legalisation.
- State Protocol Protocol advisory services for government departments and Chapter 9 institutions, including diplomatic immunities and privileges management, and ceremonial functions for state visits.
- Office of the Chief State Law Adviser (International Law) Legal advice on international law for the South African Government, treaty certification, and the Treaty and Information Service.
- Treaty Section Custodian of all international agreements South Africa is party to, providing treaty registration, tabling, and information services.
- Legalisation Services Online booking system for document legalisation, authentication, and apostille services for official South African documents.
- South African Representation Abroad Directory Directory of South African embassies, high commissions, and consulates-general, and honorary consulates worldwide.
- Foreign Representation Directory Comprehensive directory of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations represented in South Africa.
- Visa Requirements Information Information resource on visa requirements for South African diplomatic and official passport holders traveling abroad.
- South African National Anthem Resource Official resource providing South Africa's national anthem and related state protocol information.
Companies that use Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Department of International Relations and Cooperation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Department of International Relations and Cooperation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- African Union (AU)coreSouth Africa maintains active membership and leadership within the African Union. President Ramaphosa serves as AU Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. South Africa was elected to the Peace and Security Council for 2026-2028.
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)coreSouth Africa holds the interim chairship of SADC, hosting Council of Ministers meetings and the upcoming 46th Ordinary Summit in August 2026. Minister Lamola serves as Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers.
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)majorSouth Africa participates in ECOWAS affairs as a key continental partner, reaffirming commitment to Pan-African solidarity and rule of law.
- United Nations (UN) and Related AgenciescoreSouth Africa maintains Permanent Mission to the UN in New York and Geneva, representing at multiple UN bodies including UNDP, UNHCR, FAO, UNICEF, WHO, UNODC, UNOPS, UNFPA, IMF, World Bank. South Africa participates in UNGA, Human Rights Council, and Security Council sessions.
- BRICSmajorSouth Africa is a member of BRICS, participating in ministerial meetings on foreign affairs and international relations.
- G20coreSouth Africa hosted the successful G20 Leaders' Summit in 2025, with President Ramaphosa participating in subsequent G20 activities.
- European Union (EU)majorSouth Africa-EU Joint Cooperation Council held its 17th meeting in June 2026, co-chaired by Director-General Dangor.
- CommonwealthmajorDeputy Minister Botes leads delegation to Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Retreat and Meeting (CFAMM).
- African Development Bank Group (AfDB)majorAfDB maintains regional office in South Africa at Eco Park, Centurion, supporting development financing across the region.
- African Union Commission and NEPADmajorSouth Africa maintains accreditation to the African Union in Addis Ababa and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) office.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Department of International Relations and Cooperation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: The UK's integrated foreign affairs and development ministry runs a global high-commission network, negotiates treaties, and delivers consular services with a strong Commonwealth focus — directly analogous in mandate to DIRCO, including African engagement.
- Germany Federal Foreign Office: Germany's foreign ministry manages bilateral relations, multilateral diplomacy (EU, UN, G20), and consular services. Recently held bilateral talks with DIRCO in Pretoria in July 2026, confirming direct operational peer status.
- France Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: France's Quai d'Orsay runs a worldwide embassy and consulate network, manages treaty negotiations, and is an active partner in Africa and multilateral bodies (UN, G20) — directly comparable in scope and mandate to DIRCO.
- U.S. Department of State: The U.S. foreign affairs ministry operates one of the world's largest diplomatic networks and conducts bilateral negotiations, treaty management, and consular services — directly comparable to DIRCO's mandate but at vastly greater scale and resourcing.
- China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China's MOFA runs an extensive embassy network, leads Belt and Road diplomacy, and is a core BRICS partner with South Africa — broadly comparable as a foreign ministry operating in the same multilateral and bilateral ecosystem.
- Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: DFAT combines foreign policy, trade negotiations, and consular services, and runs a global high commission and consulate network — functionally analogous to DIRCO's combined diplomacy-plus-services mandate.
- Canada Global Affairs Canada: Global Affairs Canada integrates diplomacy, trade, and development with a worldwide embassy and High Commission network and active multilateral engagement (UN, G20) — directly comparable as a Commonwealth-tradition foreign ministry.
- India Ministry of External Affairs: India's MEA operates a vast diplomatic network spanning 180+ missions, manages BRICS and G20 participation, treaty negotiations, and consular services — a fellow Global South/BRICS foreign ministry with structural parallels to DIRCO.
- Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Brazil's Itamaraty manages a large global embassy network, leads on South-South and multilateral diplomacy (BRICS, G20, UN), and conducts treaty work — a fellow Global South/BRICS foreign ministry with strong functional comparability to DIRCO.
Direct peers
- African Union Commission: The AU Commission in Addis Ababa is the continental body that DIRCO actively engages with and supports. South Africa maintains permanent accreditation to the AU, and the AU Peace and Security Council seat for 2026-2028 makes this the closest functional peer at the supranational level.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Department of International Relations and Cooperation social profiles
Digital presenceDepartment of International Relations and Cooperation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Department of International Relations and Cooperation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Department of International Relations and Cooperation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Department of International Relations and Cooperation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Department of International Relations and Cooperation
What does Department of International Relations and Cooperation do?
DIRCO is South Africa's national foreign affairs ministry, responsible for managing the country's diplomatic relations, providing consular services to citizens abroad, negotiating international agreements, and coordinating South Africa's participation in multilateral organizations. The department operates a global network of embassies, high commissions, and consulates, while delivering core services including consular assistance, state protocol, treaty management, document legalisation, and international legal advisory through the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser.
Is Department of International Relations and Cooperation a public or private company?
Department of International Relations and Cooperation is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Department of International Relations and Cooperation founded?
Department of International Relations and Cooperation was founded in 1927. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Department of International Relations and Cooperation based?
Department of International Relations and Cooperation is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, in the Africa region.
Who are Department of International Relations and Cooperation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Germany Federal Foreign Office, France Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, U.S. Department of State, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canada Global Affairs Canada, India Ministry of External Affairs and Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs. African Union Commission is listed as a direct peer.
Does Department of International Relations and Cooperation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
What industry is Department of International Relations and Cooperation in?
Department of International Relations and Cooperation's product category is Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAIAC, Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies), with a secondary code of BPAIAIAJ, Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management. Its NAICS code is 928120 and its SIC code is 8888.