Cape Town readies for Ebrahim Rasool’s homecoming as Ramaphosa urges restraint

Ebrahim Rasool

Cape Town – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) are reportedly pushing ahead with a planned rally on Sunday to welcome former South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appeal for restraint.

Rasool, who was expelled from his diplomatic post, is set to return to South Africa on Sunday, amid rising tensions between Pretoria and Washington.

The rally, spearheaded by Cosatu and the SACP, is expected to take place at Cape Town International Airport.

Ramaphosa has urged political allies and supporters to avoid actions that could further strain relations with the US.

On Thursday Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya called for restraint to avoid further straining ties with Washington, emphasising that South Africa is not seeking conflict but aims to keep diplomatic channels open.

“We would like to urge all political formations that are planning various homecoming rallies for ambassador Rasool to assist us and refrain from partaking or engaging in action that may seem inflammatory and that may worsen the already volatile diplomatic relationship with the United States,” he said during a media briefing on Thursday.

However, Cosatu’s Western Cape provincial secretary, Melvin de Bruyn, questioned what Ramaphosa meant by “toning down” the event, indicating that the rally would proceed as planned, IOL reported.

The ANC’s Western Cape leadership, initially in support of the rally, has since stated it will adhere to Ramaphosa’s directive.

However, ANC provincial executive member Khaled Sayed maintained that the party would still support Rasool’s homecoming, albeit in a more subdued manner.

SACP Western Cape provincial secretary Benson Ngqentsu said the rally was not just about Rasool’s return but also a statement of South Africa’s sovereignty.

“We deployed Rasool to the US to advance and deepen our diplomatic relations, not as a puppet of right-wing authoritarian imperialists,” he said.

Rasool’s return comes amid broader diplomatic tensions, including controversy over the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, a move opposed by the US.

The Presidency has acknowledged the sensitivities around the issue and is in discussions with the City of Johannesburg to manage potential fallout.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa is carefully searching for a replacement for Rasool as ambassador to the US, with Magwenya saying that he will take his time to make the appointment.

“With respect to the appointment of a new ambassador to the United States, the president is not going to rush the process. In fact, the president appreciates the numerous messages he has received. He has been inundated by people volunteering themselves to be posted in Washington, from people making suggestions of individuals to be considered for Washington,” Magwenya said.

“The president is going to take his time with regard to this appointment. The absence of an ambassador in Washington DC does not mean an absence of engagements with the Trump administration. Equally, just as you have here in South Africa the US has not appointed an ambassador yet, but we have been able at various levels of government to continue to have engagements with diplomats from the US embassy.”

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