President Cyril Ramaphosa has sought to assure the nation that there’s no need to panic, following the US Administration expulsion of Ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool.
Rasool was expelled over the weekend, after US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described him as being a race-baiting politician.
These following comments he made about the US Administration and President Donald Trump.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the Bana Pele 2030 Roadmap Leadership Summit in Johannesburg on Monday, Ramaphosa said diplomatic relations will be resolved.
“People must not have sleepless nights, have peaceful nights, knowing that we’re working on ensuring that this relationship is put on a good footing going forward.
Because we trade together, we play together in various sports, political interactors in a number of forums, so we have to deal with each other without any doubt,” said Ramaphosa.
The president dismissed insinuations that the US government is ignoring South Africa’s request for a meeting.
This as a previous request seeking an audience with the US Administration, seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
“We’re not being blue ticked, we’re not being ignored and we’re engaging with them.
We’re continuing to engage with them.
As it is now, a great deal of progress has been made by our ambassador, in strengthening the path, to ensure that there is meaningful engagement at the diplomatic level.
This is a hiccup that we’re working on straightening out.
We cannot be blue ticked, because we’re such an important player to the US, as they’re an important player to South Africa, from a political point of view, trade, and a whole number of issues,” remarked Ramaphosa.
Rasool is expected in the country on Friday, and Ramaphosa said he’ll provide him with a full report on what led to his expulsion.
“I’ll wait for a full report from him, but at the same time we’ve noted the displeasure that has been expressed by the US, particularly about the remarks he made.
We’ll continue to engage with them, and this engagement is going to take a variety of forms, through envoys, people either from the business community, labour, government, etc.
Improving our relationship with the US is a priority for us.
They’re our second largest trading partner, after China, we will therefore seek, as we must, to ensure that our relations are on a good footing,” highlighted the president.
Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa doesn’t have enemies and will always seek good relations with all the countries of the world.
