SOUTH Africa’s expelled ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, returned to Cape Town on Sunday to a hero’s welcome and struck a defiant tone over Washington’s decision to eject him. The move highlights growing tensions between the two nations under US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Rasool was forced to leave Washington after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him of being a ‘race-baiting politician’ who ‘hates Trump’. The expulsion follows months of deteriorating diplomatic relations, triggered by South Africa’s foreign policy stances and Trump’s decision to freeze aid to Pretoria.
A hero’s welcome in Cape Town
Arriving at Cape Town International Airport after a lengthy journey via Doha, Rasool was greeted by hundreds of supporters. According to AFP, many wore the green and yellow colours of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), cheering and waving placards as he emerged from the arrivals hall.
‘It was not our choice to come home, but we come home with no regrets,’ Rasool told the crowd, using a megaphone to address his supporters. ‘We would have liked to report that we turned away the lies of a white genocide in South Africa, but we did not succeed in America with that.’
Rasool, a veteran anti-apartheid activist, defended his controversial remarks about Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, which he previously described as a ‘supremacist reaction to diversity’ in the US.
Diplomatic tensions on the rise
Ties between South Africa and the US have become increasingly strained in recent months. Trump’s administration cut financial aid to South Africa in February, citing concerns over land reform laws which he claims allow the seizure of white-owned farms. Additionally, Pretoria’s decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has further worsened relations with Washington.
Trump escalated tensions by inviting white South African farmers to resettle in the United States, repeating claims—without evidence—that Pretoria was ‘confiscating’ land from white citizens. South Africa has consistently denied these accusations.
The situation has been further inflamed by comments from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who accused President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of ‘openly racist ownership laws’. Musk, born in South Africa during apartheid, is a close ally of President Trump.
Pretoria’s balancing act
Despite the diplomatic fallout, South Africa—currently holding the presidency of the G20 group—says it prioritises improving ties with the US. However, Rasool stressed that Pretoria would not compromise on its principles.
‘We should not try to mend our ties with Washington without sacrificing our values,’ Rasool declared. ‘The declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you, but when you return to a crowd like this, I will wear it as a badge of dignity.’
President Ramaphosa has announced plans to send envoys from both government and the business sector to engage with the United States and address the tensions. Rasool is expected to present a full report on his expulsion to Ramaphosa on Monday.
Looking ahead
The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner and will assume the G20 presidency next year. While Pretoria acknowledges the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship with Washington, it remains firm in defending its domestic policies and international positions.
Rasool concluded his speech by reaffirming his commitment to South Africa’s diplomatic stance: ‘The fact that my words reached the highest office in the US shows our message was heard loud and clear.’
