Dana Brown resigns as US Chargé d'Affaires

JOHANNESBURG - The US mission has confirmed the stepping down of Dana Brown as US Chargé d'Affaires.

Brown has been the most senior official at the mission since the resignation of former US ambassador to South Africa, Ruben Brigety.

In a written response to EWN, an official at the mission confirmed Brown's departure, labeling it as retirement.

Brown's retirement follows her attendance of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Johannsburg last week, where she represented the US government after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio snubbed the gathering.

While insiders suggest Brown’s resignation is unrelated to Pretoria’s turbulent relationship with Washington, there are suggestions that she possibly didn’t want to align herself with the Republican brand.

International relations expert, John Stremlau, has also echoed this sentiment.

"If Joel Pollack is going to be the ambassador here, we don’t know that yet, but how could a responsible, non-partisan and professional foreign officer like Dana Brown work for Joel Pollack."

The US mission said that Brown decided to go on retirement to spend more time with her family.