International Relations Minister Lamola confirms meeting expelled US ambassador Rasool
DIRCO said following Monday’s meeting, a formal report would be submitted to the president for his consideration.
Former US Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool at the Cape Town International Airport following his return from the US on 23 March 2025. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/EWN
CAPE TOWN - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has met with former ambassador to the United States (US) Ebrahim Rasool following his expulsion as a diplomat.
However, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said it won’t be divulging the contents of Monday’s meeting.
Rasool returned to South Africa on Sunday after being stripped of his diplomatic privileges and given just a week to leave the US over comments he made during a webinar about interacting with the country under the Trump administration.
In a brief statement, DIRCO confirmed meeting with Rasool just 24 hours after his arrival.
READ: Rasool welcomed back home
The department said following Monday’s meeting, a formal report would be submitted to the president for his consideration.
The ministry, however, said it won’t be making any further comments on the matter.
On Sunday, Rasool said his report was almost complete.
As for his future plans, the former Western Cape premier and Member of Parliament said he needs time to process what’s happened.
“It is too soon. Sometimes you must get some distance between a moment designed to humiliate you, and the anger that would come from it, and then expressing yourself. Give me a week or two of a vow of silence on that, until I can get some distance between my former role in Washington, and my new role as a private citizen.”
African National Congress (ANC) members in the Western Cape who came out in support of Rasool on Sunday said they would welcome him home once again playing a role in boosting support for the party in the province.