(FILES) Prince Albert of Monaco (unseen) shakes hands with South Africa Premier Ebrahim Rasool ahead of signing a memorandum of Understanding between the Principality of Monaco and South Africa on December 29, 2005. (Photo by AFP)
Johannesburg: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Monday that the expelled Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool was returning to South Africa to brief him on recent developments.
"Ebrahim Rasool will be back soon. The U.S. State Department has ruled that he is no longer acceptable in the United States. I will wait for a full report from him," Ramaphosa stated.
Speaking at the Bana Pele Early Childhood Development (ECD) Leadership Summit in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa's commitment to engaging with the U.S. government, describing Rasool's expulsion as a minor setback in bilateral relations.
The expulsion came after Rasool addressed a webinar recently organized by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, commenting on the Trump administration.
"What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and I think I've illustrated abroad as well," Rasool said.
Ramaphosa said that they had taken note of the United States' concerns with his remarks. "We have noted the displeasure of the United States with regard to remarks made by Ambassador Rasool. Engagements with the U.S. government are ongoing," he said.
