Veteran politician tasked with mending strained ties with Washington after expulsion of previous envoy under Trump administration.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a key figure in the negotiations that ended white minority rule, as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.
The appointment, confirmed on Tuesday by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, comes after the post remained vacant for more than a year following the expulsion of South Africa’s previous ambassador by US President Donald Trump in 2025.
Meyer, 78, is widely respected for his role as the chief negotiator for the apartheid-era National Party government during the multi-party talks in the early 1990s that paved the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994 and the rise of Nelson Mandela.
A former defence minister under the last apartheid president, F.W. de Klerk, Meyer later served in Mandela’s government of national unity as minister for constitutional development.
Roelf Meyer Appointed as South Africa Moves to Reset US Relations:
The selection of Meyer-a white Afrikaner with deep experience in high-stakes negotiations as a deliberate signal from Pretoria aimed at rebuilding bridges with Washington.
Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years, particularly over South Africa’s foreign policy positions, including its criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its ties with countries such as Russia, Iran and China.
The previous ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, was declared persona non grata by the Trump administration in 2025 amid accusations of inflammatory remarks.
Meyer’s appointment comes as South Africa seeks to stabilise bilateral ties, especially in areas such as trade, investment and multilateral cooperation.
Meyer’s experience in high-level negotiations:
During the transition from apartheid, Meyer worked closely-and at times contentiously-with African National Congress (ANC) negotiators, including Ramaphosa himself, who led the ANC delegation.
His reputation as a pragmatic deal-maker who helped steer South Africa away from potential civil war has endured across political lines.
Meyer has remained active in public life, often speaking on reconciliation, federalism and democratic consolidation. He is expected to present his credentials in Washington in the coming weeks.
Mixed Reactions as South Africa’s US Ambassador Appointment Takes Effect:
The move has drawn varied responses in South Africa. Supporters praise it as a pragmatic step to repair damaged relations with a key economic partner.
Opposition parties and Afrikaner interest groups have largely welcomed the choice, seeing it as recognition of Meyer’s contribution to the peaceful transition.
Ramaphosa’s office described the appointment as effective immediately, though formal processes for Meyer to assume the role in Washington are still under way.
As South Africa navigates complex global alignments, Meyer’s task will include defending Pretoria’s independent foreign policy while seeking common ground on economic and security matters.