Deputy President Paul Mashatile will from June 17 till 21, undertake a working visit to the Russian Federation, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade ties between South Africa and Russia.

The working visit will take place in Moscow and St. Petersburg involving high-level engagements as well as economic diplomacy activities, with a particular focus on enhancing economic cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, automotive, energy and mining as well as science and technology cooperation.

The working visit will be Mashatile's first visit to the Russian Federation since he took office as Deputy President under the seventh administration.

Acting spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile Keith Khoza pointed out that the visit was preceded by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Working Visit to Kazan, for the BRICS Summit in October 2024 and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka’s participation in the First Russia-Africa Ministerial Meeting in November 2024.

It was also preceded by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola’s visit to co-chair the eighteenth ITEC session in April 2025, and Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga’s representation of South Africa during the “80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War Celebrations” held in Moscow in May 2025.

Khoza highlighted that while in Moscow, Mashatile will meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishutin, to discuss cooperation in the economic, trade and energy spheres.

Mashatile will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin; chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko (Speaker of Upper House) and chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin (Speaker of Lower House).

Mashatile will also lay a wreath at the memorial site dedicated to South Africa’s liberation stalwarts John Beaver (JB) Marks and Moses Kotane.

The second part of the Working Visit will take place in St. Petersburg, where Mashatile will participate in the plenary of the twenty-eighth St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025 (SPIEF ’25).

“On the sidelines of SPIEF '25 Deputy President Mashatile is scheduled to deliver a Public Lecture at the St Petersburg State University under the theme: “South Africa’s G20 Presidency in a rapidly changing Geopolitical Environment” and speak during the opening of the South African Trade and Investment Seminar.

“The St. Petersburg leg of the visit is expected to leverage on promoting South Africa’s trade relations and South Africa as an investment destination,” highlighted Khoza.

Mashatile will be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande; Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina; Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau; Agriculture Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa; Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala; Mineral and Petroleum Resources Deputy Minister Phumzile Mgcina, and Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Peace Mabe.