Rasool's Welcome Will Not Strain Us-sa Relations: Cosatu

Western Cape COSATU secretary Malvern de Bruyn says the welcoming of expelled South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, will not escalate diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The ANC and its alliance partners have gathered at Cape Town International Airport ahead of Rasool's arrival. He was expelled by the US government following comments in a webinar linking former US President Donald Trump to white supremacy.

The Presidency has urged those welcoming Rasool to avoid actions that could further strain relations. However, De Bruyn says their gathering is not an act of defiance.

This is a call that was made before the president made his request. In our congress, we agreed we will welcome him back, not in defiance. He is one of us, son of the soil. So we said we are not happy with the decision taken by America. So we said we will welcome him and say we agree, there is nothing wrong with what he said, De Bruyn says.

The Western Cape leadership of the ANC, SACP, and COSATU have gathered at Cape Town International Airport ahead of the arrival of expelled South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool.