International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says South Africa’s ambassador to the United States of America Ebrahim Rasool was at an advance stage preparing for Pretoria’s envoys to Washington.
This after the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his X account said Rasool was no longer welcomed in America. The envoy to the US was aimed at mending the relations between the two countries since Donald Trump became the President for the second term.
“He was at a very advanced stage to prepare for the special envoy to reset the relations. We are now where we are we have to work with what we have. We need to engage behind closed doors,” Lamola explains.
Political parties have reacted differently to the expulsion of Rasool. The country’s diplomat was booted out of Washington on Friday after being accused of hating America and its President Donald Trump. He was declared a persona-non-grata and given 72 hours to leave the country.
The Freedom Front Plus’ Dr Corné Mulder says Pretoria must work to normalize its relations with the Trump administration.
“The United States has drawn a clear line in the sand when it unceremoniously kicked South Africa’s ambassador in America, Ibrahim Rasool, out of the country. This is clear message also to the South African government that it seems that there is nothing more to discuss with him at the moment. South Africa should understand the seriousness of this reality and take necessary steps to normalize international relation with United States as soon as possible.”
Video: US-SA relations – Rasool no longer welcome in the USA: Thembisa Fakude
