Cape Town – Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, stated that the replacement for expelled South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, would be a qualified and capable individual, regardless of race.
Speaking after the ANC NEC meeting over the weekend, Lamola emphasised that the ANC is a non-racial organisation and will select a suitable candidate based on merit.
Rasool was expelled by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and declared “persona non grata” following remarks he made in a webinar criticising the Trump administration for its ties to white supremacy.
[WATCH]
Relations between South Africa and the US have been deteriorating since President Donald Trump called some South African laws discriminatory to a minority group. DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola addressed the media at the ANC NEC. pic.twitter.com/oe1FnQG8FT— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 30, 2025
“With regards to whether the ambassador to the USA should be white or black, the ANC is a non-racial organisation and as we look at the ambassador who will be appointed by the president, in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, we are going to look for a capable South African that we believe is fit and proper, meets the requirements of being an ambassador to the United States or to any other country that we want to deploy that person to,” Lamola said.
According to ILO, ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane confirmed that the party had received Rasool’s report on his expulsion but did not indicate any further action.
She said that government processes had been followed and that the ANC was focused on moving forward to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic representation.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
