Austrian Embassy Pretoria

07/09/2026

With 60 days to go to the Local Government Elections, the Austrian Embassy joins South Africa in celebrating the values enshrined in South Africa's constitution 🏛️

Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)
EU in South Africa

30 years after its adoption, South Africa’s Constitution remains a powerful symbol of democracy, equality and dignity.

The European Union and its Member States join South Africa in celebrating these shared values, which continue to guide our societies today. 🇪🇺 🇿🇦


EU in South Africa

26/08/2026

Austria meets Africa’s digital future!

The Austrian Embassy Pretoria and Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria are proud to partner with Fak'ugesi African Digital & Innovation Festival – one of Africa’s leading platforms for digital creativity, technology and innovation.

The exhibition "Where Does the Rest of the World Begin" by Austrian digital artist Dagmar Schürrer explores human consciousness, symbiosis, and the entanglement of humans, nature, and technology. Through animation, sculpture, and Mixed Reality, it blurs boundaries between the organic and the artificial, the individual and the collective.

Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival

FIRST PERSON PRESENT: Dagmar Schürrer (Austria).

Schürrer is an Austrian digital artist based in Berlin, working across expanded animation and extended reality (XR). Her practice explores the intersections of science, emerging technologies and human perception, drawing on biology and neuroscience alongside XR, artificial intelligence, digital world-building and poetic approaches to consciousness and its environmental entanglements.

Her work has been presented internationally at institutions and festivals including the ICA London, Louvre Auditorium Paris, Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin, Belvedere 21 Vienna and Tate Modern London.

At Fak'ugesi 2026, she's part of Imagination Engines. On 15 October, she joins Arminda da Silva for Same Prompt, Different Planet, an in-conversation about AI, artistic practice, access, training and who gets heard when we talk about creativity and technology.

15 October · 12:45–13:15 · Chris Seabrooke Music Hall
13–17 October · Johannesburg

Tickets: fakugesi.co.za/tickets

Wits - University of the Witwatersrand Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, WITS University Wits Digital Arts Wits Art Museum British Council South Africa University of Johannesburg Tshimologong Precinct France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi Alby Michaels Ashraf Johaardien Austrian Embassy Pretoria Lakin Morgan-Baatjies Decorex International The Bioscope Society The Bioscope Global Film Festival

20/08/2026

The Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria is proud to support the Ukrainian film Porcelain War as part of the European Film Festival 2026 in South Africa. 🇺🇦🎬

The film offers a powerful and deeply personal perspective on life, resilience and creativity amid war. We are delighted to support this important cultural exchange and to bring Ukrainian cinema to South African audiences.

Join us for screenings in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban!

European Film Festival - South Africa
EU in South Africa
Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of South Africa
Österreichisches Außenministerium

12/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE

🎬The 13th year of the European Film Festival is here and runs from 17 to 27 September 2026 in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban!

You have the opportunity to watch 12 of the best films in current European cinema, fresh from Cannes, Venice, Berlin and beyond, on the big screen.

The Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria is proud to support a film from Ukraine.

📽️The films explore the theme of FAMILY as an ever-evolving background of history, belonging and identity. Family in all its many forms as the foundation of resilience and creativity in an uncertain age.

European Film Festival - South Africa
Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of South Africa

07/08/2026

03/08/2026

The Österreich Institut Wien are starting a new series of free webinars on working and living in Austria – together with the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF)!

If you are a professional who would like to work in Austria, join us!

Register here:

https://www.oesterreichinstitut.com/en/welcome-to-austria-work-where-others-go-on-holidays/

27/07/2026

Thank you Mamelodi Sundowns FC for this souvenir, it means a lot!

The Men’s Senior Team once again travelled to Austria for a Football Pre-Season camp. At the Austrian Embassy, we are proud of the partnership between Mamelodi Sundowns, 15 times South African champions, and Red Bull, going back to 2023.

Onwards and upwards for the !

Red Bull
FC Red Bull Salzburg
RB Leipzig
The Brazilians Hub

24/07/2026

Unlocking win-win investment potential between Europe and Africa! 🌍

This afternoon, the Austrian Embassy Pretoria and the Austrian Trade Commission Johannesburg partnered with experts from Austria, South Africa and the EU for an info session on Global Gateway.

Global Gateway is the EU’s strategy to mobilize up to €400 billion by 2027 to invest in smart, clean, and secure infrastructure worldwide.

Ambassador Königsbrun welcomed the participants together with Trade Commissioner Meischl, and provided context on Austria’s newly-approved Africa Strategy.

Österreichisches Außenministerium
AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA
EU in South Africa

20/07/2026

Austria’s Africa Strategy for 2026-29 🇦🇹

For the first time, Austria has developed an Africa Strategy, as a comprehensive and coherent framework laying out how Austria interacts with African partners, what its priorities are and how mutually beneficial partnerships can be strengthened over the years to come.

Southern Africa has played a central role in the elaboration of the Strategy. Political consultations with South Africa and Angola, as well as bilateral talks with Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho and other key partners have informed the outcome document. A consultative process was led in Austria and abroad, with all 54 African states, the African Union, the United Nations, civil society, and academic institutions across both Africa and Austria included.

▶️ On 3 June, the Austrian Government approved the Austrian Africa Strategy 2026–2029, subsequently endorsed by Parliament on 6 July.
▶️ This landmark policy document establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive and coherent framework that aligns Austria’s foreign and security policy, development cooperation, economic engagement, migration, cultural relations, and climate action in its partnership with the African continent.
▶️ The Austrian Africa Strategy 2026–2029 lays a strong foundation for a forward-looking and partnership-based engagement.

You can find more information here: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/ministerium/presse/aktuelles/alle/musterjahr/07-1-1/national-council-endorses-africa-strategy-a-partnership-of-equals-with-a-continent-of-opportunity

Österreichisches Außenministerium
Austrian Development Agency
Austrian Cultural Forum Pretoria
AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA
The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA
SADC
Ministério das Relações Exteriores / MIREX
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation-Namibia
Eswatini Government
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères de Madagascar

Photo credit: Gruber/BMEIA

16/07/2026

Welcome to the community of Austrian citizens!

In 2019, the Austrian Parliament unanimously adopted an amendment to the Austrian Citizenship Act, in recognition of Austria’s historical responsibility toward persons persecuted by National Socialism and their descendants. Under § 58c of the Act, persecuted persons and their direct descendants may acquire Austrian citizenship by declaration - without having to renounce their existing citizenship.

The response from all over the world has been fantastic: Since 2020, over 30,000 passports have been issued to those who have acquired or regained Austrian Citizenship in this way.

In South Africa alone, more than 110 individuals have acquired Citizenship, strengthening their ties with Austria. Yesterday, our Deputy Head of Mission was honoured to hand over citizenship documents to one of them.

Until this day, this provision is a powerful symbol of Austria’s ongoing commitment to remembrance, justice, and reconciliation. At the Austrian Embassy, we continue to be deeply touched by the stories shared and the often emotional reactions when we are able to welcome fellow Austrians.