Tánaiste Micheál Martin has begun a five-day visit to South Africa and Mozambique.
During a series of engagements in Pretoria, the Tánaiste met with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor.
Speaking after the meetings, the Tánaiste said: "I updated the President on developments in Northern Ireland and thanked him for his personal support and the support of South Africa during the peace process.
"With Minister Pandor, we had a good discussion on strengthened cooperation in education, the importance of protecting Human Rights, regional issues in Africa, the Middle East, and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine."
Mr Martin said Ireland is due to host the Joint Commission on Cooperation in Dublin next year, "which will allow us to take stock on the wide range of areas of cooperation between our two countries", he added.
The Tánaiste also visited Waterkloof Airforce Base, and updated President Ramaphosa on developments in Northern Ireland.
He thanked the president for South Africa's, "pivotal role in the peace process during the 1990s".
Earlier, the Tánaiste marked Mandela Day with Minister Pandor at the Bophelong Community Centre in Mamelodi.
During the visit Mr Martin is also due to meet with Irish-supported development organisations, as well as some of the leading Irish companies operating there.
With over 35,000 Irish citizens residing in South Africa and bilateral trade amounting to €3.6bn per annum, the country is Ireland's most important economic partner on the African continent.
During his visit, Mr Martin will meet some of the leading Irish companies operating in South Africa, companies which employ over 12,500 people.
He will also officially open new headquarters in Cape Town for the Kirby Group as well as the Good Friday Agreement Exhibition at the University of the Western Cape.
Tomorrow, Mr Martin will celebrate Mandela Day with community organisations in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
He will then hold a bilateral meeting with the South African Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, followed by a courtesy call to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mr Ramaphosa was brought to Ireland in 2000 to carry out secret weapons inspections during the IRA decommissioning process.
Ahead of his visit Mr Martin said: "I look forward to building on our excellent relations with both countries, particularly with respect to our political, cultural and economic relations.
"I am excited that I will be in South Africa on this year's Mandela Day. The late President Mandela was and remains a huge hero figure and inspiration for me and indeed for most people in Ireland."
On Wednesday, Mr Martin will depart for Mozambique where he will engage in a range of high-level meetings and witness initiatives in education, agriculture and health which Ireland is supporting through the international development programme.
