President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, will return home to explain his expulsion by Washington on 14 March 2025, as the two nations grapple with a deepening diplomatic row.

Speaking to reporters after a speech in Braamfontein at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on 15 March, Ramaphosa confirmed Rasool’s recall. The US State Department declared Rasool “persona non grata” following comments he made about President Donald Trump.

“Ebrahim Rasool will come back soon and give me a full report,” Ramaphosa told journalists. He said he would wait for Rasool’s account before deciding on further steps.

The US decision came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X at 15:00 EDT (19:00 GMT) on 13 March, calling Rasool a “race-baiting politician”. Rasool had spoken at a South African think-tank webinar, prompting the sharp response.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the US concerns. “We have noted their displeasure, and we are already engaging with them,” he said, adding that talks would involve government, business, and labour envoys.

South Africa views the US as a key partner, with trade worth over 40 billion rand ($2.1bn) annually. Ramaphosa stressed the need to maintain good ties, saying, “We seek positive relations with all countries.”

He described diplomacy as having “ups and downs”. “When challenges arise, we engage to find solutions,” he said, framing the situation as manageable through dialogue.

The president linked the effort to national priorities. “Our job is to advance South Africa’s interests and its people,” he said, vowing to address the dispute constructively.

Tensions have grown over issues like South Africa’s stance on global conflicts. Political analysts suggest the expulsion signals a shift in US policy towards Pretoria, though details remain unclear.

Rasool’s return date has not been specified. South Africa’s government has yet to release an official statement beyond Ramaphosa’s remarks.