Relations between Washington and Pretoria worsened on Friday after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata.
The move effectively bars Rasool from continuing his mission in Washington and signals a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Rubio’s announcement came after weeks of friction following President Donald Trump’s executive order to suspend aid to South Africa.
The White House said the decision was linked to South Africa’s land expropriation policy, which allows the redistribution of white-owned farms without compensation.
Trump also stated that affected farmers would be welcome to relocate to the United States.
In Pretoria, President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the land policy, saying it is rooted in the country’s constitution and aimed at correcting racial injustices inherited from the apartheid system.
He also criticized Washington for what he described as a misrepresentation of South African law and governance.
The expulsion of the ambassador is the latest setback in a relationship already strained by disagreements over human rights, foreign policy, and economic priorities.
Analysts warn that the fallout could further complicate cooperation on trade, investment, and regional security.