On 28 October 2015, a delegation from the Free State Province of the Republic of South Africa headed by the Premier Minister Mr. ES Magashule visited JINR. The visit started with a meeting at the JINR Directorate where the guests were welcomed by JINR Vice-Director Mikhail Itkis and Director of the JINR University Centre Prof. Stanislav Pakuliak.

During a discussion at the JINR Directorate the SA delegation expressed big interest in JINR educational programmes and cleared out the requirements for SA students to participate in JINR programmes. Another area of interest for future cooperation is medical implementation of the JINR facilities in the fields of proton therapy, namely possible use of the medical center for treatment purposes.

After the meeting at the JINR Directorate the delegation visited JINR Laboratories for excursions: to the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions and the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics.

The visit was finished with signing of the Letter of intent on cooperation between the Free State Province of the Republic of South Africa and JINR and personal invitation for JINR Vice-Director Prof. M.G.Itkis to visit the Free State Province of the RSA next year.