JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a diplomatic move aimed at mending fractured relations with Washington, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has named seasoned politician Roelf Meyer to serve as his nation’s ambassador to the United States.
Meyer brings extensive experience from South Africa’s transition to democracy, having served as defense minister under the white minority National Party government led by F.W. De Klerk from 1991 to 1992. He played a pivotal role as a lead negotiator during talks that dismantled apartheid and paved the way for Nelson Mandela to become the nation’s first Black democratically-elected president in 1994. Following that historic election, Meyer continued his public service as constitutional development minister in Mandela’s administration through 1996.
The selection comes during a challenging period for U.S.-South Africa relations under President Donald Trump’s administration, which previously removed former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after he publicly criticized Trump.
This diplomatic fallout created pressure on Ramaphosa to choose a representative who could work effectively with the Trump administration amid ongoing tensions.
Trump has taken a hostile stance toward South Africa, eliminating all financial aid while making unsubstantiated claims about a “white genocide” targeting the Afrikaner minority population. The administration has even established programs to provide migration opportunities and asylum for white Afrikaners who claim persecution in their homeland.
“I can confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s Ambassador to the US,” presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya told The Associated Press.
Meyer’s selection as an Afrikaner representative follows Ramaphosa’s recent acceptance of Leo Brent Bozell III as the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa just one week prior.
Bozell, a conservative activist chosen by Trump, immediately created controversy when South Africa’s foreign ministry called him in for discussions in March. During a business leaders’ gathering, Bozell questioned the South African government’s relationship with Iran and criticized affirmative action policies that prioritize opportunities for Black citizens.
University of the Witwatersrand professor John Stremlau, who specializes in U.S.-Africa diplomatic relations, praised Meyer as “the right person, at the right time.”
“He is an excellent and experienced negotiator who not only negotiated in South Africa, but has brokered agreements elsewhere in various other places under very difficult circumstances,” Stremlau explained, noting that Meyer must “stabilize the relationship” between the nations.
“But it will be difficult for him because Trump’s executive orders last year laid out a racist agenda against South Africa’s Black majority, cutting all financial assistance to them and offering refugee status to Afrikaners,” Stremlau added.
Additional friction exists over South Africa’s pursuit of an International Court of Justice case alleging Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Trump declined to attend the G20 Leaders Summit that South Africa hosted in 2025 and has excluded South Africa from upcoming G20 meetings scheduled for Miami in December.
