South Africa’s Ambassador to Jordan, Tselane Mokuena, has reflected on her diplomatic journey and the future of bilateral relations as the country prepares to host International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Tandi Moraka this week in Amman.
Mokuena, who became the first woman to serve as South Africa’s ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said her appointment marked an important milestone in a field long dominated by men. She revealed that she may also be the first South African woman envoy to serve in the Arab world since the establishment of ties between the two countries.
Tracing her career, the ambassador recalled her early years at the Independent Electoral Commission and her rise within the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Over the years she has represented South Africa in Germany, Canada and Angola before being deployed to Jordan in 2022.
She pointed to historic links between South Africa and Jordan, dating back to President Nelson Mandela’s ties with the late King Hussein, who paid a state visit to Pretoria in 1996. Those relations laid the groundwork for agreements such as the visa waiver that continues to encourage travel between the two nations.
According to Mokuena, tourism remains a key area of cooperation. She said growing numbers of Jordanians are visiting South Africa, with travel figures rising from just over 200 in 2023 to 2,800 this year. She also noted that South Africans stand to benefit from Jordan’s unique attractions, including the baptismal site of Jesus and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra.
She added that agriculture, arts, culture and environmental cooperation are among the areas expected to feature in talks during Moraka’s visit.
Mokuena also spoke about her personal passion for mediation and peace-building. With experience in conflict resolution processes in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has pursued academic research into the role of women in mediation. Her master’s dissertation explored whether women’s participation in peace negotiations is symbolic or substantive.
She said her goal is to ensure women do not merely sit in peace process meetings as observers but are given the space to influence real outcomes.
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