Ramaphosa’s top picks for next ambassador to the United States

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is reportedly considering appointing an Afrikaner as the new South African Ambassador to the United States, amidst heightened political tensions between the countries.  

As reported by the Sunday Times, Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola are looking to appoint a senior Afrikaans political figure to replace Ebrahim Rasool. 

Rasool was kicked out of the USA last month after giving an address in which he accused US president Donald Trump of leading a global supremacist movement rooted in white victimhood. 

Ramaphosa is reportedly looking at four white Afrikaners to become the new ambassador in the USA, including former Chief National Party negotiator at CODESA, Roelf Meyer.

Meyer previously served as the Defence Minister in the final years of apartheid and would go on to co-found the United Democratic Movement (UDM), a current GNU member. 

Meyer and Ramaphosa famously formed a friendship during the CODESA talks, which was key to ensuring the transition to democracy. They were so close that they became known as R&R. 

Another shortlisted candidate is Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the final leader of the National Party. It would later become the New National Party and ally with the Democratic Party to form the DA. 

Van Schalkwyk would later join the ANC and serve as the Minister of Tourism and as the ambassador to Australia. 

Andries Nel, the Deputy Justice Minister, is also shortlisted for the role, as is Gerhardus Koornhof, the president’s parliamentary counsellor, the son of the late National Party Minister Piet Koornhof. 

The Sunday Times also reported that Ramaphosa is committed to having former Deputy Finance Minister Jonas lead an envoy to the US.

A 5-year-old video of Jonas in which he calls Trump a racist homophobe has made the rounds online, placing doubt over his continued involvement.

Although Jonas, the current MTN chair, has received support from Ramaphosa, other senior ANC officials have called for Ayanda Dlodlo to lead the lobby group. 

Dlodlo previously served as a Cabinet Member in South Africa, but left to become an executive director at the World Bank in Washington in 2022.

Tensions with the USA are high

South Africa’s relationship with the world’s largest economy faces an uphill battle following Trump’s return. 

Trump and other senior republican officials have been highly critical of South Africa’s new Expropriation Act and an alleged “genocide” against white farmers. 

Both positions are premised on misinformation and lobbying from special interest groups, with no evidence backing up the damaging claims.

Tensions between the two countries are also turning into action, with US Congressman Troy Nehls introducing the “Afrikaner” Act to the American legislature, which would give Afrikaans South Africans Priority-2 refugee status.

Nehls claimed that the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa is a human rights violation, stating that they face persecution based on their race, ethnicity, or ancestry.

He also claimed that the Expropriation Act would allow the government to confiscate land from Afrikaners without compensation. 

The South African government has repeatedly stated that the new law only allows expropriation without compensation in extreme circumstances and that no specific provision focuses on Afrikaners. 

Another potential piece of legislation indicative of strained ties is the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025. 

Ronny Jackson introduced the Bill, which would allow Trump to impose sanctions on South African officials who support America’s adversaries. 

Jackson said that South Africa has abandoned its relationship with the US to align itself with China, Russia, Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas. 

Trump has also cast doubt over attending the G20 meeting in South Africa later this year due to the claimed land confiscation and violence.

“They are taking the land of white farmers and then killing them and their families. The United States has held back all contributions to South Africa. Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so,” said Trump.

The G20 summit is taking place in Johannesburg this year. It is usually attended by the Heads of State of 19 countries and the leaders of the European Union and the African Union.