Ramaphosa decides on SA ambassador to the US, name yet to be revealed

The International Relations and Cooperation director-general, Zane Dangor, said President Cyril Ramaphosa has chosen a person who is perfectly suited to be South Africa’s next United States (US) ambassador.

Dangor said the next ambassador to the US can’t be named just yet, but Ramaphosa has made up his mind and will make the announcement at the appropriate time.

Dangor was addressing the Cape Town Press Club on Monday about various international developments and the country’s foreign diplomacy.

South Africa hasn’t had an ambassador to the US since 14 March 2025, when the former ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, was declared persona non grata by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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Rasool was expelled from the country over his criticism of the Donald Trump administration and its policies.

Dangor said Ramaphosa has now decided on Rasool’s successor to fill the year-long vacancy.

He said the new ambassador will be catered to: “In terms of the ambassador, what I can say is the president has made a decision. What I can’t tell you is the name until all the formalities are completed. So, there will be an ambassador appointed quite soon, and it will be the kind of person I think ideally will be suited for that environment.”

The new US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, officially presented his credentials to Ramaphosa at an official ceremony in Pretoria last week, signalling a new era in SA and US relations.