It is located at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the Embassy Row neighborhood.

The original portion now serves as the ambassadorial residence and a new chancery wing was built next door in 1964.

Both structures are in the Cape Dutch style, but with Indiana limestone instead of the traditional whitewashed plaster.

The complex is no longer large enough to house the entire ambassadorial delegation service, and is being renovated.

The embassy was the target of the anti-apartheid movement in the United States.