South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, returned home to a hero’s welcome on Sunday after being deported by Washington over his critical comments against US President Donald Trump.
Rasool, who was declared persona non grata by the US government, was greeted at Cape Town International Airport by a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, many of whom wore the green and yellow colours of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Addressing the crowd, Rasool said he had no regrets about his deportation, adding: “It was not our choice to return, but we returned home with our dignity intact.”
Rasool’s expulsion follows comments reportedly made by Trump describing the Make America Great Again movement as a reactionary response to diversity. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him of promoting divisive rhetoric, citing the comments as grounds for his dismissal.
Defiant Attitude of the Ambassador
Rasool defended his remarks by arguing that his aim was to highlight changing political dynamics and alert South Africans to the changing relationship with the US. He stressed the need for a new approach to diplomatic interaction, saying: “Our language must go beyond transactional agreements and address the realities of a US administration that defines a white minority in South Africa as a constituency.”
He also said his comments had reached the highest levels of the US government, adding: “The fact that both the president and the foreign minister responded shows the impact of our message.”
South Africa’s Response
Despite the diplomatic fallout, South Africa has indicated its intention to strengthen relations with Washington. Pretoria, the current chair of the G20, stressed the importance of maintaining strong economic ties with the US, which remains its second-largest trading partner.
But Rasool warned that efforts to repair relations should not come at the expense of South Africa’s values. “Being persona non grata is a humiliation, but I wear it as a badge of honour,” he said.
US-South Africa Disputes
Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated by Trump’s comments inviting white South African farmers to settle in the US, citing unsubstantiated land-grabbing allegations. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a South African-born US citizen, has also criticised the country’s government, claiming it has “clearly racist property laws.”
In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government would seek diplomatic engagement and planned to send business and government envoys to the US to address concerns.
Rasool is scheduled to be deported to Ramaphosa on Monday and brief him on the broader diplomatic situation.