Pretoria – South Africa is moving swiftly to replace its Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, after he was dramatically expelled and declared “persona non grata” by the US government.
The expulsion, triggered by Rasool’s critical comments about US President Donald Trump, has left Pretoria scrambling to manage the diplomatic fallout and ensure the crucial relationship with Washington remains intact.
The Dirco spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, told Sunday World that an announcement regarding Rasool’s replacement is imminent, with a shortlist of three candidates already under consideration. “We have had a meeting this morning as Dirco and have short-listed three people to fill the position,” he said, declining to reveal any names.
Monyela emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that the plan is to have Rasool back in South Africa before the March 21 deadline imposed by the US. He also clarified that the incident is isolated to Rasool, with other South African diplomats remaining at their posts and continuing their work.
The US decision to expel Rasool came with unprecedented speed, according to Monyela. “Once they made the decision, the Secretary of State tweeted, and then officials made contact with our embassy in Washington to deliver the official notification,” he explained.
The expulsion stems from comments Rasool made during a webinar facilitated by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Johannesburg. Speaking on Friday, Rasool launched a scathing critique of Trump, accusing him of leading a “white supremacist movement” both domestically and internationally.
In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media platform X to declare Rasool “persona non grata,” accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician” who hated America and Trump. “Rasool is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio wrote.
The Presidency has described Rasool’s expulsion as “regrettable,” reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic decorum and a beneficial relationship with the US. Phiri stated that “Ambassador Rasool was on the verge of an engagement with strategic officials in the White House. This regrettable development had scuttled the significant progress.”
Lamola, speaking to the SABC, echoed these sentiments, calling the US decision “unprecedented” and regrettable, as it bypassed normal diplomatic channels. He emphasised the importance of face-to-face engagements to address concerns and maintain the strategic relationship between the two countries. “We need to find time to engage with each other behind closed doors, where the US can raise their concerns with us, and we can also raise our concerns with them because it is not helpful to engage in megaphone and Twitter diplomacy,” Lamola said.
Despite the setback, Lamola affirmed that South Africa would continue to engage and open lines of diplomatic engagement with the US. He criticised the Trump administration’s reliance on tweets, stating that it was not conducive to mending the relationship.
Behind the scenes, government insiders have painted a starker picture of Rasool’s conduct. One insider, speaking anonymously, claimed that “Rasool misbehaved; he forgot that he is a diplomat, and he decided to be a political analyst, which you cannot do as a diplomat.” The source added that Rasool’s language was inappropriate for a diplomat and represented a fundamental misunderstanding of his role.
A source in diplomatic circles elaborated on the ramifications, drawing a parallel to South Africa’s own diplomatic measures. “You should play the situation in reverse. We have summoned [former US ambassador] Reuben Brigety for going off on us on Lady R,” the person said, highlighting the strict adherence to diplomatic protocols across nations. “As a diplomat of SA, you cannot be in Washington and say the kind of things he (Rasool) was saying.”
The incident has raised questions about the balance between freedom of speech and diplomatic responsibility, as well as the potential impact on the relationship between South Africa and the United States. As Pretoria prepares to name Rasool’s replacement, all eyes will be on whether the two countries can navigate this diplomatic hurdle and maintain their mutually beneficial partnership.
Cabinet spokesperson and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni referred questions to Dirco.
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