Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s diplomat, received a warm welcome as a hero at his residence in Cape Town. However, his exit signified a notably significant escalation in the worsening relations between Washington and Pretoria.
When former South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was greeted by massive crowds upon his return to Cape Town following his expulsion from the United States, he required a police escort due to their size. Rasool appeared delighted to be back home.
"A declaration of
persona non grata
(A diplomat who is unwanted and rejected) aims to shame you. However, when you go back among such gatherings with kindness, I shall regard my status aspersona non grataboth as a token of honor," he stated.
Despite the acts of defiance and the unusual situation that resulted in
Rasool being expelled from the United States
There’s no denying that this marks a new low point in relations between Pretoria and Washington. It’s quite rare for the US to expel ambassadors, particularly from countries they consider unfriendly, let alone those with significant trade ties.
"The breakdown of relations between these nations is widely known," said political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast from Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.
US President Donald Trump had previously signed an executive order in February.
eliminating all financial support for South Africa
The Trump administration alleges that South Africa backs the Palestinian militant organization Hamas and Iran. Furthermore, South Africa initiated a genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice, an action that has irritated the United States—a close ally of Israel and its primary arms provider.
Trump has accused South Africa of implementing anti-white policies following the enactment of legislation permitting the government to seize property without reimbursement when considered beneficial for the public. Additionally, he expressed his willingness to welcome white farmers to relocate to the United States. Consequently, approximately 70,000 white South African individuals have indicated their desire to move to America.
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Who is Rasool, and what led to his expulsion by the United States?
Rasool is broadly recognized as an accomplished diplomat and political figure, having acted as the premier of the Western Cape. Earlier in his career, he occupied significant roles within the governing ANC party. Prior to this, he became well-known through his activities as an anti-apartheid campaigner, leading him to serve time in prison. From 2010 to 2015, during President Barack Obama’s tenure, Rasool functioned as an ambassador to the United States. According to diplomatic insiders, Rasool was reinstated as ambassador in 2024 due to his extensive background handling affairs with Washington.
Rasool has strongly criticized Israel, labeling its actions toward Palestinians in Gaza as "genocide" and alleging that it practices apartheid. He was an influential supporter of
South Africa's lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ
.
However, during his participation in a webinar hosted by the South African research institute MISTRA, Rasool condemned Trump’s efforts to restrict diversity and equality initiatives as well as immigration policies. He also contended that these actions could stem from concerns about whites losing their status as the predominant voting group in the U.S., describing such moves as an “assault on those currently in power” rooted in supremacist ideologies.
Shortly afterward, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to Rasool as a "race-mongering politician" who "harbored hatred for America," before officially labeling him as persona non grata.
Rasool mentioned he was just informing intellectuals and political figures in South Africa about the transformations in the United States and its political landscape.
"I stand by my analysis since we examined a political phenomenon rather than focusing on an individual, a country, or even its administration," Rasool stated.
Was Rasool involved in crossing diplomatic borders?
Certain experts have condemned Rasool's comments for being poorly thought out, lacking diplomacy, and potentially harming the welfare of South Africans who rely on positive ties with the United States.
Given the circumstances, it was inevitable that we would suffer harm eventually. I simply hadn’t anticipated the speed at which things have progressed," Breakfast explained, "Rebuilding this two-way partnership will undoubtedly be an enormous challenge from here on out.
In addition, there is another element that the South African government has struggled to manage: separate lobbying groups based in South Africa but acting independently of the official government.
"A wildcard factor here involves former South Africans—individuals of South African descent in the U.S. who harbor grievances against their home country and channel these views through strong connections within the Trump administration," noted Cape Town-based analyst Daniel Silke.
"It’s nearly as challenging as tackling the concrete realities at hand," Silke stated.
This primarily involves influential figures of South African descent, such as Elon Musk, along with lobbying groups like Afriforum and Solidariteit. The so-called Cape Independence Advocacy Group, which advocates for the separation of the Western Cape province from the remainder of South Africa, even scheduled a visit to Washington.
"Trump has received from Solidarity and AfriForum an audience which informed him about the significant number of killings among white individuals in South Africa," Breakfast stated.
It will cause us the greatest pain
"Finding a way out of this predicament is crucial for the South African government," analyst Breakfast stated.
Currently, South Africa holds the presidency of G20, yet U.S. officials have chosen to boycott these meetings. On a bilateral level, the United States stands as South Africa’s second-biggest export destination following China.
Around 600 U.S. companies constitute the biggest individual investors in the nation, providing jobs for over 130,000 South African workers. These businesses exported merchandise valued at $14.7 billion (€14.1 billion) to America in 2024.
Silke mentioned that South Africa holds relatively minor importance for the U.S. economy.
He stated, 'If you plan to confront nations with foreign policies opposing U.S. interests—such as their involvement in BRICS—the United States might view South Africa as an easy target for retaliation.'
U.S. investments in South Africa could explain why the presidency mentioned the dismissal of a high-ranking diplomatic official only briefly.
"regrettable."
Although both Rasool and the South African government have emphasized enhancing ties with the US as a key objective, his expulsion most probably indicates that such reconciliation is improbable in the short term, thus making preferential treatment less likely.
South Africa gains trade access to American markets
as AGOA extends past 2025
appears in jeopardy.
"It could turn out to be a no-win scenario, although I believe we would suffer the greatest losses," Breakfast stated.
Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
Author: Cai Nebe
