South Africa Appoints Former Apartheid Negotiator as New US Ambassador

South Africa Appoints Roelf Meyer as New Ambassador to the United States

Roelf Meyer has been appointed as the next ambassador of South Africa to the United States, replacing the diplomat who was expelled from the US in 2025. According to local media reports, Meyer will assume his new role once all necessary protocols are completed in Washington, DC.

Meyer’s appointment comes after a period of diplomatic tension between Pretoria and Washington, which has been described as “turbulent” by South African Broadcasting Corporation. The diplomat’s predecessor, Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled from the US in March 2025 following criticism of the Make America Great Again movement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who opposed the US and its president.

Meyer, 78, is a seasoned negotiator with experience working under pressure. He previously served as a minister under the apartheid Nationalist Party government and played a key role in negotiating the end of segregation and white minority rule in South Africa during the 1990s. Meyer’s appointment is seen as an effort to improve relations between South Africa and the US.

Meyer will take up his new post once all necessary procedures are completed, according to Ramaphosa’s office. The diplomat has a background in working with different parties and has been involved in various negotiations throughout his career.

Source: Al Jazeera