South Africa has appointed Roelf Meyer. Who played a key role in negotiating the end of white minority rule in the 1990s, as the next ambassador to the United States, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Meyer’s appointment is viewed as a strategic move to mend diplomatic ties with the U.S. following a period of strained relations.

South Africa’s Diplomatic Hiatus

South Africa has been without an ambassador in Washington, D.C., since March 2025, when U.S, though President Donald Trump expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for his criticism of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. The decision came amid heightened tensions between the two nations.

At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a ‘race-baiting politician’ who hates the U.S. and Trump. Rubio’s post linked to a story by the conservative news site Breitbart, which reported on a webinar Rasool gave about the Trump administration’s policies on diversity, equity, and immigration.

Rasool discussed the possibility of a future U.S. where white people would no longer be in the majority, according to the report — this sparked controversy and led to his expulsion from the U.S.

Tensions and Policy Shifts

Tensions between South Africa and the U.S. escalated further when Trump issued an executive order freezing most foreign assistance to South Africa. This came after the country’s legal action at the International Court of Justice over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the passage of a law aimed at correcting historic racial disparities in land ownership.

Trump also launched a refugee program for white South Africans, claiming they face government-led persecution in their home country, and this move added to the diplomatic friction between the two nations.

Rubio’s criticism of Rasool highlighted the sensitivity of the issues at play, particularly the role of race in U.S. policy and South Africa’s domestic debates over land reform and historical justice.

Roelf Meyer’s Background and Role

Meyer, 78, is a seasoned negotiator with a long career in politics, as As a member of South Africa’s white Afrikaans minority, he once served as a minister under the apartheid Nationalist Party government. His role in the 1990s as a chief negotiator during the final days of apartheid earned him a place in history.

During that time. Meyer worked with the African National Congress (ANC) to end segregation and white minority rule; the talks paved the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. As the chief negotiator. Meyer became familiar with current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was then an ANC negotiator.

Meyer later joined the ANC in 2006, marking a significant shift in his political allegiance. His experience in high-stakes negotiations and his historical role in the transition to democracy make him a unique choice for the U.S. ambassadorship.

Meyer is set to take up the post once all protocols are completed in Washington, D.C., according to Ramaphosa’s office. His appointment is seen as an effort to re-establish diplomatic channels and address the challenges that have strained relations between the two countries over the past year.