Ramaphosa says appointing a new US ambassador his sole responsibility

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said the appointment of the new United States (US) ambassador remains his sole responsibility.

His comments come on the back of the Democratic Alliance (DA) calling for all Government of National Unity (GNU) partners to be consulted on all ambassadorial appointments.

This as South Africa is currently without an ambassador in Washington following the recent expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool.

READ: Expelled ambassador to US Rasool says he has no regrets

On Tuesday, Ramaphosa attended the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa's (DENOSA's) ninth congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

On the sidelines of the DENOSA congress, Ramaphosa was asked whether he would be consulting all GNU partners when appointing the next ambassador to the US. 

"The president appoints ambassadors, and it is within his sole right to appoint ambassadors."

Ramaphosa said it was important that there be a suitable replacement for Rasool.

"The United States is the second-largest trading partner to South Africa, and therefore we need to have top-class representation in the US and that is something we are still working on."

This weekend, the DA put forward the name of its former leader, Tony Leon, as a possible candidate to become the next ambassador to the US.