• Ramaphosa appoints Roelf Meyer as U.S. ambassador

• Move aims to repair strained U.S.–South Africa relations

• Meyer expected to prioritize economic ties, trade cooperation

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer as ambassador to the United States, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said. He replaces Ebrahim Rasool, whose departure in March 2025 strained bilateral ties.

That same month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Rasool was no longer welcome in the United States, calling him a “race-baiting politician” and declaring him persona non grata amid rising tensions with the Donald Trump administration.

A key figure in South Africa’s democratic transition, Meyer rose to prominence in the 1990s. After the African National Congress (ANC) was unbanned and Nelson Mandela released, he took part in the Groote Schuur talks between the government and the liberation movement.

He later became the lead negotiator for the white minority government during constitutional talks, working closely with Ramaphosa, then representing the ANC. He was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid.

Focus on economic ties

Meyer’s appointment comes shortly after the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador in Pretoria, Leo Brent Bozell III, and signals an effort to revive diplomatic engagement.

Relations between Pretoria and Washington remain strained. In April 2026, the United States denied accreditation to South African officials for a G20 finance meeting, underscoring ongoing tensions. Disputes have centered on trade, foreign policy and South Africa’s positioning between the United States, China and the BRICS group.

Meyer is expected to take a pragmatic approach focused on economic issues. The United States remains a key trading partner, with several hundred U.S. companies operating in South Africa. In February, South African exports to the United States reached 12.4 billion rand, making it the country’s third-largest export market, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).

Charlène N’dimon