Former South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, and his wife, Rosieda, arrived at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday morning to a frenzied welcome from hundreds of supporters.
Their return followed a 32-hour journey from the U.S. via Doha. As Rasool made his way through the international arrivals terminal, he was immediately surrounded by dozens of police officers and media while attempting to greet as many supporters as possible amidst the chaos.
In a statement, Rasool said that after weeks of attacks on his character — where he was labeled a terrorist, jihadist, Islamist, and anti-Semite — it was good to return home, where Ubuntu is valued.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the ANC’s Dullah Omar Region had called on the public to gather at the airport, calling for a “hero’s welcome” for Rasool following his expulsion from the U.S.
Earlier this month, Rasool was declared persona non grata (PNG) by the U.S. after remarks he made during a webinar hosted by the South African think tank, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).
Rasool left for the United States to assume the position of ambassador in late December.
Addressing around 300 supporters at the airport, Rasool stated that while being labeled PNG was meant to humiliate him, the warm reception turned it into a “badge of dignity.”
“There is nothing that I will say there that I would not say elsewhere, and so I stand by my analysis because we were analyzing a political phenomenon, not a personality, not a nation, and not even a government. So, I stand by that,” Rasool said.
“When you return to a crowd like this, with warmth and the sense of Ubuntu like this, then I will wear my persona non grata status as a badge of dignity… as a badge that we have done the right thing.”
While their return to South Africa was not under ideal circumstances, he said they had returned home with no regrets.
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Rasool stated that despite attempts at conventional diplomacy, they ultimately had to resort to what he called the “diplomacy of Ubuntu.”
“The diplomacy of Ubuntu is not the art of lying for your country. It is the art of speaking the truth but gently. The diplomacy of Ubuntu is not flattering your host, and the diplomacy of Ubuntu is not denying what is wrong. The diplomacy of Ubuntu is intellectual engagement, and it is the persuasion of your host about a better way,” he said.
He said he hoped for President Cyril Ramaphosa to find someone capable of mending the relationship with the U.S. without sacrificing the country’s values.
“We cannot sacrifice the Palestinians, we will not give up on BRICS, we will not give up on our relationship with China, but we will also not give up on our relationship with the United States. We must fight for it, but we must keep our dignity.”
He said that the conditions in the U.S. were changing and that it was not the same as under previous administrations. His remarks during the webinar were meant to alert attendees to these changed conditions.
“It is a different U.S., and therefore our language must change—not only through transactionality but also with a language that can penetrate a group that has clearly identified a fringe white community in South Africa as their constituency, surrounded by their white diaspora in the White House.”
When questioned on whether diplomacy had failed, he said the fact that his remarks had reached the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, prompting them to declare him PNG, showed that his message had reached the highest office of the U.S.
“They were stunned by our characterization, and they were not happy. So, the diplomacy of Ubuntu has certainly worked because we bore witness to the values of our society,” Rasool said.
While South Africa was able to negotiate over many things, its case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was non-negotiable.
He said withdrawing from the ICJ was not an option until Palestine is free and Israel is held to account.
Rasool is expected to provide a detailed report on the matter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, one that he began drafting last week and is set to finalize soon.
COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary Malvern De Bruyn expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. decision.
“I think what should happen is that they should open diplomatic channels and engage with the American government to find a way to resolve this impasse. We don’t agree on a GNU group going there. The president and DIRCO can deal with this matter because they are capable enough.”
ANC Dullah Omar Region regional secretary Mvusi Mdala said they had come out to support Rasool, but it was also important to assert the country’s sovereignty.
“South Africa, as a sovereign country, is entitled to define its development path and also its foreign policy posture.”
He said it was important that South Africa’s future relationship and cooperation with the U.S. be founded on mutual respect.
SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary Benson Ngqentsu affirmed that Rasool had represented the country well.
“As the SACP, we reject the expulsion of Rasool, and if we leave this unchallenged, right-wingers internationally and in the country will be emboldened. We must tell the U.S. and all Western forces that our national sovereignty is not for sale.”
Going forward, Ngqentsu said the government should appoint an ambassador who could effectively communicate South Africa’s policies, particularly on land redistribution.
“The South African government must not appear desperate, as if we have nominal resources in this country, as if we solely depend on the West. If need be, South Africa should look East.”
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Member of Parliament and Al Jama-ah representative Shameemah Dollie Salie expressed gratitude to Rasool for standing up for the values and ethics of Ubuntu.
“And most importantly, for standing up for the cause that we have with regards to Palestine.”
Dollie Salie said that racism and Islamophobia within South Africa and elsewhere had become more apparent and expressive, particularly when seeing sentiments shared online related to Rasool’s expulsion.
“There is a move by the Democratic Alliance, AfriForum, CapeXit, and others to create their own international relations and relationship with America. That goes against South Africa, it goes against our government, and it’s actually an insult to us as South Africans.”
Rasool’s expulsion was announced on social media by Rubio, who described him as a “race-baiting politician who hates America and its president.”
“We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio posted on X.
Rasool was given 72 hours to leave the U.S. and was deemed “unacceptable” for future accreditation as a representative of South Africa in Washington.
Rasool’s expulsion prompted mixed reactions from the public and experts, with some criticizing Rasool for a lack of diplomatic decorum while others highlighted the incident as an example of American exceptionalism.
A comparison was raised regarding former U.S. ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who in 2023 claimed that South Africa was providing arms to Russia via a cargo ship, despite providing no evidence.
“Brigety went as far as to hold a media briefing, expressing confidence in his claims and placing under scrutiny South Africa’s non-partisan stance in the Russia-Ukraine war.”
Images: Shakirah Thebus/Salaamedia
