President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is expecting a full report from Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool following his expulsion from the United States.
The announcement was made last Friday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X (formerly Twitter), where he accused Rasool of being a divisive political figure.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Ramaphosa confirmed that the Trump administration had formally communicated the decision through diplomatic channels.
However, he emphasised that this development does not signal hostility between the Union Buildings and the White House.
The president reiterated that maintaining strong relations with the US remains a national priority, given its role as South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China.
Rasool is expected to return to South Africa and brief the president on the circumstances surrounding his expulsion.
In the meantime, tensions between the two nations appear to be mounting, with the US citing concerns over Rasool’s criticism of former president Donald Trump and his administration.
The incident comes amid a broader decline in diplomatic relations since Trump began his second term.
In recent weeks, the US administration has voiced disapproval over South Africa’s handling of land reform, suspended PEPFAR funding, and boycotted G20 meetings hosted in Johannesburg. Rasool’s expulsion is the latest in a series of diplomatic setbacks.
Despite these challenges, Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the two countries could still find common ground.
He noted that South Africa has consistently pursued constructive, non-hostile relations with all countries and will continue to engage with the US through diplomatic channels in an effort to resolve ongoing disputes.
The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) also weighed in, stating that South Africa is unlikely to escalate the situation. During a recent webinar, Rasool had criticised Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign, describing it as a reactionary movement driven by racial and political anxieties.
MISTRA’s Na’eem Jeenah defended Rasool’s remarks, arguing they were factually grounded and diplomatically phrased, even if they were poorly received by Washington.
Jeenah added that while South Africa would not tolerate being bullied, it also had no intention of fuelling further tension.
The country’s approach, he said, is to uphold its dignity while remaining committed to maintaining a functional and respectful relationship with the US.
