By John Ogunsemore
The South African presidency said the expulsion of its Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, is “regrettable”.
The presidency stated this in a short statement published on X on Saturday.
However, it called for decorum on both sides to resolve the matter that precipitated the decision.
“The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool.
“The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America,” the statement reads.
Daily Sun earlier reported that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, took to X on Friday to declare Rasool persona non grata in America following the South African Ambassador’s controversial remarks about the Trump administration.
Explaining Trump’s recent foreign policy stances against South Africa’s property expropriation legislation, Rasool said the US President was leading a white supremacist movement in America and around the world.
In response, Rubio said Rasool was a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates POTUS”.
“We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” the US Secretary of State declared.