During the Cold War, South Africa and Thailand were both members of the Western bloc and actively supported the anti-communist front.

However, the Thai government opposed South Africa's apartheid policies, therefore the two nations never established formal diplomatic ties[2] Following the end of the Cold War, Executive State President Frederik Willem de Klerk ended the apartheid regime and started mending relations with other nations, including Thailand.

[3] The two nations established consular relations on 9 March 1992 and decided to open general consulates in each other's major cities.

[4][5] In July 1997, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa made a two-day state visit to Thailand.

Thailand sought to collaborate closely with South Africa in 2018 hoping to boost investment and trade in sectors that would benefit both nations, such as the hotel, agricultural, and automotive industries.