EFF and FF+ slam Roelf Meyer's appointment as US Ambassador

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw his appointment of Roelf Meyer to serve as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.

The party says Meyer’s selection appears to be an attempt to appease US President Donald Trump by presenting a figure who is palatable to white power structures.

But the EFF is not the only grouping unhappy with the choice.

Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader Corné Mulder said Meyer holds no credibility among the Afrikaner community.

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The EFF said that at a time when the US is grappling with entrenched racism and the resurgence of right-wing, white supremacist policies, South Africa should not be deploying individuals whose past aligns with systems of racial domination.

In a statement, the Red Berets said Meyer's appointment is deeply offensive and politically tone-deaf.

“His involvement in the transition process in the 1990’s cannot be used to sanitise or erase his earlier role in upholding apartheid,” says the party.

“The EFF, therefore, firmly rejects the narrative that such an appointment represents ‘experience’ or ‘stability.’”

Meanwhile, Mulder said that by joining the African National Congress (ANC) after being a democracy-negotiator, Meyer is not a reliable figure.

"To think that he is now going to address those issues that are paramount to the Trump administration with regard to “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, rural safety, the whole question of black economic empowerment, and expropriation without compensation is far-fetched and will not be the case."

Ramaphosa, however, said on Wednesday that Meyer has always been loyal and patriotic, with a good understanding of the country’s policies.