H.E. Ambassador Grobler is currently serving as South Africa’s Ambassadorial envoy to Japan having presented his credentials to the Emperor of Japan in 2008..

Ambassador Grobler has had a distinguished career in the South African Foreign Service that spans 40-years.
Educated in the Orange Free State Ambassador Grobler matriculated at the Wessel Maree High School in 1964 and thereafter proceeded to obtain the following tertiary qualifications:
BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State (1967)
BA Honours degree (History) at the University of the Orange Free State (1968);
Postgraduate courses in Law at the University of South Africa (1970-71).

Whilst studying through the University of South Africa he joined the South Africa Foreign Service (in 1970) in the capacity of Cadet/ Foreign Service Officer (Trainee) and was assigned to the North and South American desk.
Ambassador Grobler went on to hold the following positions as the duly appointed South African representative abroad:

May 1971 – Dec 1974
Vice Consul (later Consul): South African Consulate General, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany

May 1977 – Oct 1983:
Consul and later Consul General: South African Consulate General, Chicago, Unites States of America

Aug 1985 – Dec 1989
Minister: South African Embassy, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

Aug 1993 – Dec 1996
Minister / Deputy High Commissioner: South African High Commission, London, United Kingdom (UK)

Feb 2002 – Mar 2006
Ambassador: Madrid, Spain

Nov 2008
Ambassador: Japan