The South African Navy’s flagship Valour-class frigate SAS Amatola has docked in Shanghai, delivering a powerful message of friendship and cooperation between Pretoria and Beijing.
Under the command of Captain Zanele Madiba – the first South African woman ever to lead a warship – the stealth-designed vessel arrived on 15 March for a five-day goodwill visit to the People’s Liberation Army Navy base. It is the first call by a South African naval ship to China since 2008 and only the second by a Valour-class frigate.
South African Consul-General Phuti Joyce Tsipa hosted a special Goodwill Reception Dinner aboard the frigate, welcoming guests along the scenic Huangpu River. The following day, South African citizens living in Shanghai were invited aboard for a rare tour, many describing the experience as deeply moving.
“Engagements such as this are not only symbolic, but essential to strengthening economic cooperation,” Tsipa said in a statement reflecting on the visit. The two navies exchanged professional knowledge, conducted cross-deck visits and enjoyed friendly sports matches, focusing on maritime security, joint training and shared challenges in the Indian Ocean.
The visit follows SAS Amatola’s successful participation in India’s Exercise MILAN and comes months after South Africa hosted the multinational Exercise Will for Peace off its coast. It forms part of a broader deployment that will see the frigate continue to Malaysia, Kenya and Tanzania before returning home in early May.
With its advanced combat systems and proven blue-water capability, SAS Amatola underscores South Africa’s commitment to safeguarding vital trade routes that carry billions in annual bilateral commerce. President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly described the SA-China partnership as one of “solidarity, mutual respect and shared benefit” – a bond now visibly reinforced at sea.
For the 200-strong crew of men and women serving with distinction, the Shanghai stop was more than protocol. It was a proud moment on the global stage. As Captain Madiba’s historic command and the frigate’s sleek silhouette reflected in the Huangpu, South Africa once again showed the world that its navy remains a capable instrument of diplomacy and national pride.
