May 2026 - House of Commons Lunch with South Africa

In May we held our quarterly lunch at the House of Commons with His Excellency, Jeremiah Mamabolo, the South Africa High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, bringing together senior figures from business and diplomacy to discuss trade, investment and the evolving commercial relationship between the United Kingdom and South Africa.

With a full house and excellent weather for pre-lunch networking drinks overlooking the Thames, discussions covered investment flows, infrastructure, financial services, technology, energy transition and the growing importance of deeper institutional partnerships between the UK and African economies.

We were also pleased to welcome a significant number of new members, broadening the range of industries and perspectives represented within the group.

Since its establishment in 1947, the House of Commons has remained the spiritual home of these meetings and, with the continued support of Members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords, continues to provide an important forum for dialogue and engagement.

Thank you to all attendees for contributing to an engaging and highly successful discussion, and a special thank you to Lord Simon Hart for joining us and to Dennis Zietsman, Chair of the South African Chamber of Commerce UK, for giving us an update and overview of the Chamber's work.

Group of nine professionally dressed people standing in a line in a room with wooden paneling and framed pictures, posing for a photo.
A formal dinner with many people seated at a long table in a wood-paneled room, engaged in conversation. The table is set with glasses, plates, and silverware, and some people are eating while others are talking.
A group of nine people in formal attire standing together in a wood-paneled room with green carpet, framed pictures on the wall, and curtains on a window.
A large group of people seated at a long dining table in a formal setting, eating a meal, with various glasses, plates, and bottles on the table.
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Business professionals in suits and glasses socializing with drinks on a boat deck near the River Thames, with the Palace of Westminster and modern buildings in the background on a partly cloudy day.
A group of people dressed in business attire, standing and talking outdoors near the River Thames in London. The London Eye Ferris wheel is visible in the background against a blue sky with some clouds, along with the iconic London skyline.
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