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Former South African Ambassador to Turkey, Mr Tom Wheeler, passed away on 19 May 2017. Ambassador Wheeler joined the South African foreign service in 1961 and served in Washington DC (twice); Blantyre, Malawi; London; New York and as ambassador to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan between 1997 and 2001. He was a chief director in the multilateral branch of the Department of the then Department of Foreign Affairs (now Department of International Relations and Cooperation) between 1993 and 1997 and was involved in the return of South Africa to the United Nations and other multilateral organisations. His last post was as chief director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Wheeler retired from the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003 and joined the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) which he served until retiring in March 2014. Ambassador Wheeler was made an Honorary Member of the SAIIA after retiring. He joined SAIIA as the chief operating officer and then moved into research, diplomatic liaison and media. During his time at SAIIA he produced a History of the Department of Foreign Affairs and a three-volume set of recollections of many former South African diplomats – an important contribution to the preservation of South Africa’s contemporary history.

The South African Embassy extends its condolences to the family and friends of Ambassador Wheeler.