By Johnathan Paoli
Former South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, returned to a hero’s welcome at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday following his expulsion by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Declared persona non grata, Rasool was forced to leave the US last week after his vocal criticism of American policies, marking a significant setback in South Africa-US relations.
Despite his abrupt removal, Rasool remained resolute, stating that he had no regrets about defending South Africa’s stance on global issues.
Addressing his supporters upon arrival, Rasool reiterated the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties with the US despite political tensions.
“What is diplomacy? We tried conventional diplomacy and to avoid discussions about the white genocide and the merit in the idea of land confiscations, we could not ignore it,” Rasool said.
Rasool’s expulsion came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him of making inflammatory comments in a webinar that criticised the Trump administration’s foreign policies.
South Africa’s government condemned the decision, viewing it as an overreaction that could worsen bilateral relations already under strain.
Many in South Africa, including trade unions and political allies, see Rasool’s removal as a badge of honour.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions in the Western Cape vowed to stand by him, with provincial secretary Malvern de Bruyn stating: “Ebrahim Rasool is one of us. He is a child of the soil.”
The African National Congress in the Western Cape also rallied behind Rasool, with party officials affirming their commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations despite this setback.
The Presidency urged restraint, calling on supporters to avoid any inflammatory actions that might further damage the already fragile ties with Washington.
As South Africa now faces the challenge of appointing a new ambassador to Washington, speculation is mounting over who might be next in line.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that he will not rush the process, emphasising the need for careful consideration in selecting the right candidate.
“The president is applying his mind to this appointment. He has received numerous suggestions and even volunteers for the position. However, the absence of an ambassador does not mean the absence of engagement with the Trump administration,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
Rasool himself weighed in on the matter, cautioning against choosing an ambassador purely based on racial or political considerations.
“We have this relationship that we must reset and rebuild, and we must hope that president Ramaphosa will pick up where we left off. But we cannot have a simplistic idea that you must put a white ambassador for a white president in the US,” he said.
Potential candidates rumored to be in consideration include former diplomats with extensive experience in US relations, as well as political figures with strong ties to Washington.
Despite his forced departure, Rasool remains hopeful that relations between the two nations can be rebuilt and warned that South Africa’s next ambassador will have a challenging task ahead of balancing diplomacy with principle in an era of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
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