Key Takeaways
- Alistair Ruiters is the preferred candidate to replace Ebrahim Rasool as Ambassador to the United States, with strong backing from the business community and the DA.
- The US government expelled Rasool after he criticized Donald Trump’s administration, and the process to replace him has been ongoing for ten months.
- The US government denied Mcebisi Jonas, a special envoy to the US, a diplomatic visa and rejected his credentials due to past critical remarks about Trump.
- Tensions between South Africa and the US have heightened over issues such as tariffs, the Venezuela crisis, and the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
- The appointment of a new ambassador is delayed due to the escalation of tensions between the two countries and the need to please both the US and Israel.
Introduction to the Ambassadorship
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special advisor for investment promotion, Alistair Ruiters, is still the preferred candidate to replace Ebrahim Rasool as Ambassador to the United States, ten months after Rasool was expelled and declared "persona non grata" by Donald Trump’s administration. Ruiters has a strong backing from the business community and the DA, who view him as a pragmatic and professional choice capable of navigating US markets and politics. Other candidates for the position include ANC veteran and former Minister of Defence and Constitutional Development Roelf Meyer, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Andries Nel, Gerhardus Koornhof, Trevor Manuel, and Tony Leon.
The Expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool
Rasool was expelled by the US government after he criticized Donald Trump’s administration during an online webinar, accusing it of "mobilising supremacism". This incident led to a significant deterioration in the relationship between South Africa and the US. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has not disclosed the current stage of the process to replace Rasool, and the Presidency has also not provided any updates on the matter. Following Rasool’s expulsion, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, as a special envoy to the US to manage bilateral, trade, and diplomatic priorities while the permanent position remained vacant.
The Rejection of Mcebisi Jonas
However, the US government denied Jonas a diplomatic visa and rejected his credentials, citing past critical remarks in which he reportedly called Trump a "racist", "homophobe", and a "narcissistic right-winger" in 2020. This incident further strained the relationship between the two countries. Dirco Minister Ronald Lamola stated in August that the process of replacing Rasool with a new ambassador to the US was at an "advanced stage" with a decision "imminent", but the current status of the process is unclear. The US has since appointed Leo Brent Bozell III as its new ambassador to South Africa, which was confirmed by the US Senate on December 18, 2025.
The Delay in Appointing a New Ambassador
The delay in appointing a new ambassador is attributed to the escalation of tensions between South Africa and the US, particularly over issues such as tariffs, the Venezuela crisis, and the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. An expert close to the situation said that the "right-wing" political interests in South Africa want to politicize the position, and that all candidates have been selected to represent specific interests. International relations expert, Professor Kgothatso Shai, said that the current timing is not good for appointing a new ambassador, as the US may want to frustrate the process as a way of asserting its superiority over South Africa.
The Future of South Africa-US Relations
Political analyst Sandile Swana said that there are no imminent prospects for a meaningful diplomatic relationship between South Africa and the US until the case at the ICJ is finished, and until South Africa separates itself from Iran, China, and Russia. The planned public military exercises between South Africa and these countries may further complicate the relationship. The appointment of a new ambassador will require careful consideration of the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, and the need to please both the US and Israel. The future of South Africa-US relations remains uncertain, and the delay in appointing a new ambassador is just one of the many challenges that need to be addressed.