A South African legation was established in 1967 and relations were then upgraded to ambassadorial level in March 1991.

[3] South Africa supported Finland during the Winter War and supplied 25 Gloster Gauntlets to the Finnish air force.

[6] In 2008 South Africa and Finland signed a cooperation agreement to support biosciences projects in the Southern African Development Community.

[10] South Africa exports to Finland fresh and dried fruits, wine, pulp, paper, iron, steel and coal.

South Africa imports telecommunication equipment, paper, board products, and machinery from Finland.