Ramaphosa to announce ambassador to US very soon

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will announce an ambassador to the United States (US) very soon.

Several political parties, both in and out of the Government of National Unity (GNU), have criticised the lack of a replacement for former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata in March following remarks he made about the Trump administration during a lecture.

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Answering questions in Parliament on Tuesday about relations with the US in light of its imposition of a 30% trade tariff, Ramaphosa said the country’s next ambassador will be well-versed about the US market.

Ramaphosa said government has opted to negotiate better trade deals with the US rather than choose the aggressive approach of reciprocating with a higher tariff for its second largest tradingpartner.

“We go to the United States negotiating table with a strong hand. We do not go with a weak hand. Our endowments are exactly what we take to the table.”

He said South Africa’s next ambassador to the US will be capable and experienced.

“We will be appointing a well-versed, and a well-rounded person who has the necessary skills.”

Ramaphosa has hinted that even parliamentarians want to be considered for the job.

“There have been a lot of applications, and some of them have come from this house.”

Five months since the nomination, Brent Bozell is yet to be confirmed by a US Senate committee as the country’s next ambassador to South Africa, which Ramaphosa said could also be interpreted as careful consideration being given to that appointment.