Amid the South Africa-U.S. rift, the government of South Africa is poised to appoint a new ambassador to the United States in a development that signals an effort to mend ties following a high-profile geopolitical feud with President Donald Trump’s administration.
The South Africa-U.S. rift escalated when former envoy Ebrahim Rasool was declared persona non-grata by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labelled him a “race-baiting politician” critical of Trump.
Rasool’s expulsion was tied to his remarks about the Trump administration, further exacerbated by South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which the U.S. viewed as anti-American.
In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mcebisi Jonas, a former Deputy Finance Minister, as Special Representative to the United States, effective April 14, 2025.
Jonas was tasked with working with U.S. officials and stakeholders to improve diplomatic and trade relations.
The South Africa-U.S. rift further escalated after the Trump administration criticized South Africa’s land reform policies, claiming without evidence that they amounted to land confiscation and persecution of white farmers.
These tensions culminated in the U.S. granting refugee status to 59 white Afrikaners in May 2025, a move South Africa’s government decried as politically motivated and an affront to its constitutional democracy.
This digital magazine had earlier reported that about 50 of the Afrikaners granted refugee status arrived in the U.S. on Monday for resettlement as Trump surprisingly cited “genocide” as the reason for their relocation.
Meanwhile, international Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will name a successor once Special Envoy Mcebisi Jonas lays the groundwork for restoring bilateral ties.
Lamaola emphasized that the new ambassador’s appointment aims to rebuild trust and foster constructive dialogue amid the South Africa-U.S. rift.
It is being reported that sources within the African National Congress (ANC) had suggested Ramaphosa was considering candidates like former Defense Minister Roelf Meyer or former National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk, both white Afrikaners, to appease U.S. concerns about the treatment of white farmers.
However, this proposal has sparked divisions within the ANC, with some members arguing it capitulates to U.S. pressure.
