André van Straten is currently the Counsellor of Political and Economic Affairs for the South African Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. With a strong interest in international politics and economics, leadership and management he joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Cadet in 1984. He then went on to establish the South African Representative Office in Antananarivo, Madagascar as Assistant Representative in 1991, and established the South African Embassy in Cairo, Egypt in 1994.

André was Head of Operations Centre, Department of Foreign Affairs in 1996 where he was responsible for analytical reports to the President, Ministers and Top Management. He became the Acting Ambassador, South African Embassy in Copenhagen Denmark in 1998.

André served as First Secretary at the South African Embassy, Ankara, Turkey between 2002 – 2009 and was Acting Director, Central Africa between 2010 – 2012.

He served as Counsellor at the South African High Commission, Singapore in 2010 and during this period also acted as Charge d’Affaires a.i from 1 December 2012 – 1 April 2013. He was appointed as Charge d’Affaires a,i at the South African Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand from 15 December 2016 - 5 April 2017.