Jeffrey Matthews Matjila

Ambassador Jeffrey Matthews Matjila was appointed Director-General in June 2011. He completed a Master’s programme through the University of Stratclyde in Scotland and has diplomacy certificates from France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Norway and Germany. In 2006 he attended a leadership development programme at the University of Pretoria. Ambassador Matjila was one of the founding members of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and has served at the Department in various capacities.

Jeffrey Matthews Matjila was a permanent representative of South Africa to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, and has served as deputy director-general of the Asia and Middle East branch, and as acting Deputy director-general of the Europe branch. Ambassador Matjila’s other appointments include serving as ambassador to the European Communities, the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and serving as South African high commissioner to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal.