French Consulate of Cape Town

Consulate of France in Cape Town
Consulat de France au Cap
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Address 78 Queen Victoria Street
Ambassador Xavier d'Argœuves
Website http://www.consulfrance-lecap.org/english

The Consulate of France in Cape Town is a consular representation of the French Republic in South Africa. The consular district includes the 3 Cape provinces, Prince Edward Islands and the British territory of Saint Helena (Saint Helena Island, Tristan Da Cunha Archipelago, Ascension Island). Three honorary Consuls, in Port Elizabeth, East London and Saint Helena depend on the Consulate of Cape Town.[1] People living in Lesotho or in one in the six other South African provinces depend on the French Consulate of Johannesburg.[2]
The Consulate is currently located on 78 Queen Victoria Street.

Under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (France), the Consulate of France is responsible for the protection and administrative affairs of French nationals settled or traveling within South Africa.

The Consulate provides many services to the French community and those who desire to travel to France.

History

The French Consulate in Cape Town, according to the archives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is, the oldest in Southern Africa. In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte nominated a certain Gaillande "superintendent of trade relations in Cape Town", equivalent to what is now the rank of Vice-Consul. His responsibility was to provide supplies to the naval division of Rear-Admiral Linois. Gaillande stayed in this post until January 10, 1806, the date when Cape Town was taken over by the English.

A Consular Agency, dependent of the French Consulate General in London, was recreated after the fall of the First Empire in June 1817 and Count des Escotais was appointed. The latter began his job in August 3, 1818. The Consular Agency was erected as a Consulate in November 1818.

The first civil status act registered in the French Consulate of Cape Town was in January 6, 1871 between Charles Marie Ernest de la Cornillière, from Cape Town and Miss Stella Hendrina Hampt, from Paarl.[3]

The French Consulate of Cape Town in 2014
View from the main balcony
78 Queen Victoria Street
Main entrance from Queen Victoria Street

Consular Services

Opening hours

Reception Monday to Thursday : 9h00 to 17:00.
Opening hours to the public: 9h00 to 12h00 from Monday to Friday and in the afternoon, by appointment.[4]

Visas service

A visa allows a foreigner and non-European Union member, to enter and travel temporarily within French territory.

The Chancellery

The chancellery provides all of administrative services to French citizens abroad. It is necessary to contact the chancellery as soon as your documents have been lost or stolen, regarding the renewal of passports or to obtain scholarships, grants, or other scholar financial aides. This service establishes itself as a direct interface between migrants and their nation of origin.

Cultural Services

The Alliance Française in Cape Town possess a cultural service department that satisfies the following missions:[5]

France Abroad

The Consul

The current Consul of France is Xavier d'Argœuves, incumbent since 30 August 2013.[6]

Consuls of France in Cape Town Dates
Émile Samuel Rolland ? –1872
Richard Sonthen 1872–1884
Comte de Tunemy 1884–1887
Charles de Coutouly 1888–1888
Joseph Napoleon Perrette 1892–1894
Marie Jacques Achille Raffray 1894–1904
Fernand Aymot 1904–1905
Louis-Pierre Vossion 1905–1906
Adrien Laurent Cochelet 1906–1910
Émile Jore 1911–1915
Consul de Belgique, Gérant du Consulat-général de France au Cap 1920–1921
Paul-Marie Suzor 1921–1922
Louis de Francquevilly 1922–1923
Paul Suzor 1923–1925
Marie Charles de Francqueville 1923–1923
Henri Soiray 1925–1930
Emile Feer 1930–1932
Maurice de Semouin 1932–1938
Marc Édouard Batezat 1938–1941
Pierre Armand 1941–1942
Louis Morand 1942–1944
André Brénac 1944–1948
Eugène Edmond Haimet 1948–1952
Guy de Coulhac 1953–1956
Claude Cansou 1956–1961
Max de Montalembert 1962–1965
Jean-Joseph Ortoli 1966–1968
Louis Pannier 1968–1971
Hubert Isnard 1971–1973
Gilbert Février 1973–1978
Marcel Fleury 1978–1982
Jean Biron 1982–1985
Gérard Perrolet 1985–1990
Jean Michel 1990–1993
Claude Berlioz 1993–1996
Jean-Christophe Belliard 1997–2001
Bruno Clerc 2001–2005
Jean-Luc Bodin 2005–2008
Denis François 2008–2009
Antoine Michon 2009–2013
Xavier d'Argœuves 2013–présent

Honorary Consuls

Three honorary Consuls, in Port Elizabeth, East London and Saint Helena depend on the Consulate of Cape Town.[7]

French Presence

The Consulate collaborates regularly with numerous French associations and organizations abroad.[8]

The French community in Cape Town

As of December 2013, there are about 7300 French citizens in South Africa and 2804 living in Cape Town.[9]

See also

References

External links

Coordinates: 33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E / 33.9253°S 18.4239°E / -33.9253; 18.4239

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