[2] Japanese immigration to South Africa began when Japan emerged as the country's largest trading partner when it was under apartheid.

"[3] Daniel François Malan argued that Japan was vitally important to South Africa as a long-term ally to combat the influence of communism.

As the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1948 until 1954, D. F. Malan laid the foundations for apartheid by implementing segregationist policy.

"[10] Due to inconsistencies with the apartheid, opposition party politicians and the press since the early 1960s questioned why Japanese were granted special privileges.

The stated goal was to fund relatively small development projects initiated by nonprofit organizations which address the well-being of disadvantaged communities.

At TICAD V in June 2013, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged $14 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa over the next five years.