Community of Gatesville in Athlone bid farewell to Ebrahim Rasool

CAPE TOWN - The community of Gatesville in Athlone has again bid farewell to Ebrahim Rasool who returns to the United States for a second stint as ambassador.

The former Western Cape Premier addressed a packed mosque in Gatesville where delivered a lecture on the implications of his appointment and being a Muslim.

Rasool also reaffirmed the country’s support for Palestine which has faced Israeli strikes for over a year with the United States' support.

Ebrahim Rasool used the Friday prayers to convey his message to worshippers and the importance of his ambassadorship to the US as a Muslim.

READ: DIRCO confirms Ebrahim Rasool returning to US for second stint as SA ambassador

He returns to Washington DC after serving as the country's ambassador to the us during the Barack Obama administration.

Rasool told the audience that he takes up his role during a “dangerous time”.

"Particularly in the very difficult, complex and even dangerous time that the world finds itself in and Muslims and the Global Ummah and the global community of Muslims."

Rasool said the global Muslim community finds itself in the “eye of the storm” with conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and what he calls the growing “mistrust” of Muslims.