South Africa appoints former apartheid-era negotiator as US ambassador

South Africa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a former negotiator for the end of white minority rule, as the new ambassador to the United States. This appointment is seen as an effort by Pretoria to improve its relations with Washington after a turbulent year. The country has been without diplomatic representation in Washington since March 2025, when Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled by President Donald Trump for his criticism of the MAGA movement.