Presidency confirms US engaging SA through official diplomatic channels
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Monday that the US government communicated the expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool through diplomatic channels.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Leadership Summit in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on 17 March 2025. Picture: Sphmandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Presidency has confirmed the United States (US) is engaging South Africa through official diplomatic channels following concerns that the Trump administration has been raising grievances informally.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Monday that the US government communicated the expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool through diplomatic channels.
Rasool was expelled last week after criticising US President Donald Trump during a webinar.
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In recent weeks, the US government has not been communicating decisions involving South Africa officially, but instead publishing them using social media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X his decision to skip G20 meetings in Johannesburg in February.
Similarly, Trump publicly shared his executive order against South Africa on the same social media platform, without formally communicating the decision to the Union Buildings.
This has shone the spotlight on the Trump administration, with criticism that it may be unwilling to engage South Africa through official diplomatic channels.
But President Ramaphosa said that although the expulsion of Rasool from America was initially communicated on X, the official channels were eventually used.
"They have sent a message. They sent a not verbal to inform us about the action that they took, so that shows that they have formalised the communication. So we are not being blue-ticked. We are being recognised. As much as it first came out in a tweet but it did finally come out in a formal communication."
Last month, Rwandan President Paul Kagame also faced criticism after expressing his frustrations with Ramaphosa on social media.