South Africa Appoints Apartheid-Era Politician as New U.S. Ambassador

President Cyril Ramaphosa has selected Roelf Meyer, a former member of the apartheid administration, to serve as South Africa’s next U.S. ambassador, according to his office. This marks the first time the nation has appointed a top diplomat to the United States since Ebrahim Rasool was dismissed last year for criticizing President Donald Trump’s alleged use of “white victimhood as a dog whistle” in shaping public opinion.

Rasool’s removal intensified diplomatic tensions that had already escalated following Trump’s inauguration. The decision to appoint Meyer signals a shift in approach, as Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated the move would take effect “immediately.”

“I can confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the US,” Magwenya told the BBC. This announcement underscores the new administration’s focus on reorienting international relations.

Meyer, now 78, was instrumental in mediating negotiations during the 1990s that dismantled apartheid. He represented the National Party, which spearheaded the racist regime, alongside Ramaphosa, who championed the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela. Their collaboration helped transition South Africa from white-minority rule to a democratic government.

Before joining the coalition government in 1994, Meyer held the position of constitutional affairs minister in the National Party’s final apartheid-era cabinet. His political career reflects a complex legacy, bridging the old regime with the new democratic era.

Visit BBCAfrica.com for additional news on the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica.