Governmental relations began in 1928, during the colonial era, when the Union of South Africa entered into formal agreements with the Portuguese Empire for the colony of Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) in regard to labour, transport and commercial matters.

She was previously married to Mozambique's first president, Samora Machel, who died in a plane crash on October 19, 1986, aged 53.

The Shangaan or Tsonga people live on both sides of the Mozambique–South Africa border.

Black movement between the two states existed to a large extent due to the possibility of employment of Mozambicans in the mines of South Africa.

South Africa played an important role in the Mozambican Civil War in supporting RENAMO against the FRELIMO government.