South African Embassy Beijing, China

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Arrests

Advice to South African Citizens in the Event a South African is Arrested or Jailed Abroad

Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), which is the accepted standard for all member countries, persons who have been arrested outside their own country must have access to their consular representative.

South Africans in this situation must immediately request the authorities to allow them to contact the South African Representative in that country. Alternatively, somebody can contact the South African Representative (South African Embassies/Consulates/High Commissions are referred to as “missions” ) in that country or the Chief Directorate Consular Services of the Department in Pretoria on your behalf.

Consular Officials seek to ensure that South African citizens arrested abroad are treated humanely while incarcerated. In this regard issues such as torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment will be reported and taken up with the local authorities. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners is used as a guide.

For more details and information on arrested and detained abroad please click here