Ramaphosa in no rush to replace Rasool - Presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa is in no rush to replace South Africa’s expelled ambassador to the United States.
Ebrahim Rasool, who was in the US for a short stint, is expected back home after being declared persona non grata by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a post on X, Rubio stated that Rasool was no longer welcome in the US, labeling him "a race-baiting politician" who harbors disdain for President Donald Trump.
READ MORE: US says it ‘deserves better’ from SA Ambassador Rasool
The move came after Rasool spoke at an online seminar, where he characterised Trump’s "Make America Great Again" movement as "a white supremacist response to growing demographic diversity in the United States."
Rasool previously served as ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2015, during President Jacob Zuma’s administration.
Barack Obama was in the White House at the time.
He returned to the US in January 2025, following Trump’s election victory.
On Thursday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president was still applying his mind to the matter.
"The president will not rush this process; he is carefully applying his mind. In fact, he appreciates the numerous messages he has received and has been inundated with suggestions.
"Many have volunteered themselves for the Washington post, while others have put forward names for consideration. However, the president will take his time in carefully evaluating his options before making this appointment," he said.
Magwenya said the absence of an ambassador in Washington does not mean a lack of engagement with the Trump administration.
"Similarly, just as South Africa has yet to appoint an ambassador, the U.S. has also not filled its post.
However, we have continued diplomatic engagements at various levels of government through the US Embassy. Likewise, our interactions with the Trump administration will persist even without an ambassador in place.
"This is not a process the president intends to rush. He wants to carefully consider his decision, taking into account the current circumstances as well as the opportunities that could strengthen our relationship with the Trump administration in the future.
As for whether the president has been informed of a U.S. ambassador appointment to South Africa no, he has not," Magwenya concluded.
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