President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer as SA ambassador to the United States, President’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says on Tuesday.
Pretoria is seeking to stabilise its relations with Washington following a turbulent year.
Meyer, aged 78, is set to replace Ebrahim Rasool as ambassador.
BREAKING NEWS | President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States. SABC News Specialist Correspondent Sophie Mokoena has more details. pic.twitter.com/wvRsFyQKQ8
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 14, 2026
President Ramaphosa appoints Roelf Meyer as SA Ambassador to US – Sophie Mokoena
After the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990, Meyer joined the government delegation for the Groote Schuur talks with the ANC – an early step in South Africa’s transition.
A seasoned negotiator, he later became the chief representative of the white minority government in the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid, working alongside Cyril Ramaphosa, who represented the ANC.
A prominent political figure, Meyer brings extensive experience from both the pre- and post-democratic eras of government.
