The building was constructed for James Stevenson, the Bank of Montreal's representative in Ottawa, in 1841.[citation needed] In 1867, it was purchased by Moss Kent Dickinson an industrialist and mayor of Ottawa and then by the South African government in 1944. Throughout its history the building went through a number of renovations, two additions under the supervision of architect W.E. Noffke in 1920 and 1947 as well as a renovation by Peter John Stokes from 1964-1965.[1]
During the apartheid era, the mission was the scene of frequent protests. Following South Africa's withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961, its status changed from High Commission to Embassy, and there was pressure within Canada to end diplomatic relations with the country.[2] With the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth and in April the following year, the first black High Commissioner, Billy Modise, was appointed. A former leader of the African National Congress Youth Wing, Modise spent 31 years in exile after fleeing South Africa in 1960. The current High Commissioner is Rieaz Shaik.[3]
South Africa also has a Consulate General in Toronto.
The Liaison Office of the Republic of South Africa is South Africa's representative office in Taiwan, which functions as an informal diplomatic mission.
