The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed on Monday that Minister Ronald Lamola had met with ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after his return from the United States.
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Rasool landed at the Cape Town International Airport to a hero’s welcome on Sunday after being expelled by the US.
“Following the meeting, a formal report will be submitted to the President for his consideration. Pending this, the Ministry or Department will not engage in public engagements on the matter,” a statement issued by the Ministry stated.
Last week, the Presidency said it remained committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States.
Leading candidates
Meanwhile, former DA leader Tony Leon and former ANC MP Lindiwe Sisulu have emerged as the leading candidates as South Africa’s next ambassador to the United States following the well-documented expulsion of Rasool from the role.
DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille endorsed Leon for the position this past weekend, praising his diplomatic experience.
She argued that the US is a key partner for South Africa and emphasised the need for an effective diplomat to maintain relations.
‘It doesn’t help South Africa to alienate the United States. Many American companies are invested here; we cannot turn America into an enemy. We have to put an excellent diplomat into that position to build relations with the US,’ said Zille.
‘I would choose somebody like Tony Leon. I think he would be excellent. He has been a very good ambassador in Argentina. He has all the skills and is a good intellectual and understand foreign policy.’
‘Leadership qualities’
Meanwhile, the Activists and Citizens Forum nominated Sisulu, citing her leadership qualities, according to IOL.
‘We believe that former Minister Dr Lindiwe Sisulu, has the necessary qualities to represent the country,’ the report quoted Dennis Bloem as saying, on behalf of the forum.
‘Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool has been expelled by US President Donald Trump and on his way home, President Cyril Ramaphosa has the responsibility to speed up the appointment of the Ambassador. We urgently need a replacement. President Ramaphosa must avoid leaving a vacuum in such an important office.’
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Rasool was expelled after he described US President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement as a supremacist reaction to diversity in the United States.
Rasool was greeted with cheers and applause from hundreds of placard-waving supporters mostly clad in the green and yellow of the ruling African National Congress party at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday.
Rasool addressed the crowd and his tone and words did nothing to help mend relations between South Africa and the United States.
‘No rush’
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said last week that the president will carefully consider the ambassadorial appointment, aiming to resolve the diplomatic stalemate without rushing the process.
‘It’s not a process the president wants to rush. It is a process he wants to apply his mind to against the prevailing conditions as well as the opportunity we see further down the line for an improved relationship with the Trump administration,’ said Magwenya.
The United States is South Africa’s second-biggest trading partner.
Ebrahim Rasool was due to provide a report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.
Who would you like to see replace Ebrahim Rasool as SA ambassador to the US?
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