President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States.
The Presidency made the announcement on Tuesday, 15 April 2026. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed the appointment to Reuters.
South Africa has not had an ambassador in Washington since the Donald Trump administration expelled Ebrahim Rasool in March 2025, declaring him persona non grata and giving him a week to leave the US over his comments about the administration.
Meyer, 78, is a seasoned negotiator who played a key role in the transition to democracy in the 1990s. He is known for his role as chief negotiator for the white minority National Party government during the talks to end apartheid, where he worked closely with Ramaphosa, who was then chief negotiator for the ANC.
A privilege to meet Roelf Meyer today and learn more about the work he did to help create South Africa’s democracy. Our countries share a commitment to dialogue, democratic values, and working together to address today’s challenges. pic.twitter.com/vxZds9M9ao
— U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa (@USAmbRSA) March 17, 2026
After South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, Meyer served in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet as Minister of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs. He also co-founded the United Democratic Movement with Bantu Holomisa in 1997 before retiring from active politics in 2000. Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant for peace processes in regions including Northern Ireland, Rwanda, Kosovo and the Middle East.
Last month, the new US ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, met Meyer to discuss challenges between the two countries. Bozell said it was a privilege to meet Meyer and learn about the work he did to help create South Africa’s democracy, adding that the countries share a commitment to dialogue and democratic values.
Relations between South Africa and the US have deteriorated since Trump signed an executive order suspending US aid to South Africa and announcing a refugee programme targeting Afrikaners. The Trump administration has also repeatedly accused South Africa of conducting a white genocide against Afrikaners, claims strongly rejected by the South African government.
The US largely abstained from participating in G20 activities hosted by South Africa last year. Trump has also publicly stated that South Africa would not be welcome in the US for G20-related events scheduled for 2026.
