Catalogue description Records of High Commissioners to South Africa

A British consul was first appointed to the Cape Colony in 1837. In 1854 the office was upgraded to that of high commissioner, with the title High Commissioner of the Adjusting Frontier. In 1857 the title was changed to High Commissioner of the Eastern Frontier and in 1880 to High Commissioner for South Africa. The high commissioner's post was held by the governor of Cape Colony until 1901.

Initially responsible for British relations throughout southern Africa, the territorial responsibilities of the High Commissioner for South Africa gradually reduced with the constitutional changes from 1900 and were thus ultimately limited to the three 'High Commission Territories' which did not become part of the Union of South Africa in 1910. From 1910 to 1930, the office of high commissioner was vested in the successive governors-general of the Union of South Africa.

In 1930, the UK government created the post of High Commissioner in the Union of South Africa, and combined this new post with that of High Commissioner for South Africa. The title of 'High Commissioner for South Africa' was changed in 1935 to 'High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland'. This post was abolished in August 1964. The High Commission for the Union of South Africa became an embassy in 1961 and responsibility passed to the Foreign Office.