South Africa names apartheid-era politician as new ambassador to the US

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, who served in the last government of the apartheid era, as his new ambassador to the US, his office has said. The country has not had a top envoy in the US since Ebrahim Rasool was expelled last year after he accused President Donald Trump of trying to "project white victimhood as...

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, who served in the last government of the apartheid era, as his new ambassador to the US, his office has said.

The country has not had a top envoy in the US since Ebrahim Rasool was expelled last year after he accused President Donald Trump of trying to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle".

This worsened already strained relations between the nations, which took a downward spiral after Trump's return to office last year.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed Meyer's nomination, telling the BBC it would be "immediate".