Minister Lamola says the most qualified person will be the next ambassador to the US.

By: Bright Ntuli 

ANC National Executive Committee member and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says the most qualified person will be appointed as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States. 

There have been calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a white individual to replace Ebrahim Rasool, with DA Federal Council Chair Helen Zille suggesting former leader Tony Leon for the role.  

Zille’s suggestion has sparked debate within political circles, with some arguing that a diverse representation at the ambassadorial level would better reflect South Africa’s commitment to reconciliation and non-racialism. 

The position became vacant after Rasool was expelled from the United States for accusing President Donald Trump and his administration of supremacism.  

Rasool, a former South African ambassador to the US, had been vocal in his criticism of the Trump administration, particularly its policies on race and immigration. His expulsion followed a series of diplomatic tensions between the two nations, further complicating South Africa’s relationship with the US at the time. 

Lamola says that the ANC remains a non-racial party, emphasising that the selection of the new ambassador will be based on merit and qualifications, not race.  

He also added that the party’s commitment to non-racialism reflects the values embedded in South Africa’s Constitution, which continues to guide the country’s foreign policy decisions. 

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