Rasool's expulsion from US regrettable – Ramaphosa

The South African Presidency has expressed regret over the expulsion of its Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Presidency acknowledged the ambassador’s removal and called for all parties involved to maintain diplomatic decorum while addressing the situation.

"The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter," the statement read.

Despite the expulsion, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to strong bilateral relations with the US, stating, "South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America."

Tensions escalated on Friday when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool “no longer welcome” in the United States.

In a post on X, Rubio accused Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool of hating America and President Donald Trump.

He described him as a "race-baiting politician", adding "We have nothing to discuss with him".

The rare move marks the latest development in rising tensions between the two countries.

In his post on Friday, Rubio linked to an article from the right-wing outlet Breitbart that quoted some of Rasool's recent remarks made during an online lecture about the Trump administration.

"What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilising a supremacism against the incumbency, at home… and abroad," Rasool said at the event.

He added that the Maga movement was a response "to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate… is projected to become 48 percent white".

In response, Rubio called Rasool "PERSONA NON GRATA," referencing the Latin phrase for "unwelcome person".

The post from Rubio came as he departed Canada from a meeting with foreign ministers.

Ties between the US and South Africa have been deteriorating since Trump took office.

The US president signed an executive order last month that freezes assistance to South Africa. The order references "egregious actions" by South Africa and cites "unjust racial discrimination" against white Afrikaners - those who descended from Dutch settlers.