Ramaphosa’s next move with the United States

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is waiting for South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, to arrive in the country and deliver a full report before launching the next steps to address the falling out with the world’s biggest economy.

US Secretary of State Marc Rubio declared Rasool “persona non grata” on Friday (14 March) following the ambassador’s address in which he heavily criticised US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) webinar, Rasool accused Trump of running a global white supremacist movement.

Local analysts and government officials said the comments were a breach of diplomatic protocol and indefensible, noting that his expulsion from the United States was justified.

Ramaphosa confirmed on Monday (17 March) that Rasool is heading back to the country “soon” as the US State Department has rules he is no longer acceptable in the US.

“He is going to come back and give me a full report, and I will wait for that report from him,” Ramaphosa said.

“In the meantime, we have noted the displeasure expressed by the United States, particularly about the remarks (Rasool) made. We will engage with them as we already are engaging with them.”

Speaking on the next steps, including Rasool’s replacements and sending Government of National Unity (GNU) envoys to the States to repair the strained relationship, the president said that plans are underway.

He said engagements with the Trump administration will take “a variety of forms”, with envoys planned from the business community, labour, and the GNU.

The president stressed that improving South Africa’s relationship with the United States of America is a priority.

“(The United States is) a trading partner, the second largest after China. So we will seek, as we must, that our relations are on a good footing,” Ramaphosa said.

“South Africa seeks good relations with all countries in the world. We don’t have enemies; we always seek friendly relations.”

The president acknowledged that “sometimes relations have their ups and downs” but stressed that the responsible thing to do is to engage and straighten out difficulties.

“We have found that whenever there are challenges, and we engage, we find solutions. That is precisely what we are going to do,” he said.

“This is our job; our responsibility as the government is to advance the interests of our country and the interests of the people of South Africa.”

Following Rasool’s expulsion over the weekend, Ramaphosa’s office called the situation “regrettable” but warned stakeholders responding to the matter not to go off-script.

The office implored all commentators to “maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement on the matter”.

Unprecedented move

Department of International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola said the move to boot Rasool was unprecedented and circumvented typical diplomatic processes.

He said that the standard diplomatic process would involve issuing the ambassador with a démarche to engage on the comments he made and then take it from there.

“However, it has happened. We now have to follow all the diplomatic protocols and processes to facilitate the smooth return of Ambassador Rasool to South Africa.”

He added that it was disappointing, as Rasool had been at “an advanced stage” to welcome the South African envoys that will be heading to the United States to reset the relationship between the nations.

This has scuttled many of South Africa’s plans, and it is now “back to the drawing board”, Lamola said.

Regardless, the minister said the country will forge ahead and find a way to engage with the Trump administration.

“We have to work with what we have, and that is what we will do. We believe the relationship between the two countries is mutually beneficial and strategic and has to be maintained,” Lamola said.