On Tuesday, IOL reported that as South Africa prepares to receive former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool who was expelled by the State Department in Washington last week, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria says efforts are underway to replace him.

IOL has previously reported that Rasool was expelled from the USA on Friday, after sharing his opinion on Donald Trump’s presidency during a webinar.

Rasool previously served as SA ambassador to the US during the Barack Obama administration between 2010 and 2015. He was re-appointed in January 2025, as ambassador during the Joe Biden and then Donald Trump administration.

Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that Dirco will make a recommendation to President Cyril Ramaphosa before the president applies his mind.

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“The process has started to some extent so that we can make a recommendation to the president (Ramaphosa), internally so the department will attend to the internal issues once the person has been duly nominated. This person will be presented, the name, to the president and of course the president will decide,” he said.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL