International Relations Department Concerned By Us Calls For Policy Change In Sa

Remarks by the US State Department in the wake of the expulsion of South Africas ambassador to Washington reaffirmed ties between the two countries but also read, concerningly, as a wish to dictate domestic policy, the international relations ministry has said.

We are concerned that the comments could suggest that the US wants to interfere in SAs sovereign, national policy, ministerial spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told the Mail Guardian. This is a matter which we will pursue in our engagement with our US counterparts.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Ebrahim Rasool, who became South Africas envoy to Washington in December, had fallen short of the basic standards of respect demanded of a diplomat.

We deserve better. Weve had a decent level of diplomacy with South Africa. There are some challenges but you want people in each embassy who can actually facilitate a relationship.

Phiri said this acknowledged the relevance of the relationship between the two countries, a point President Cyril Ramaphosa has underscored since the government learnt, initially via a social media post by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that Rasool had been declared persona non grata by Washington.