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President Cyril Ramaphosa’s selection of Roelf Meyer as ambassador to the United States (US) has sparked controversy and elicited strong reactions from various political parties.
Meyer was the chief negotiator for the National Party in the negotiations to end apartheid.
He later co-founded the United Democratic Movement with deputy minister of defense and military veterans, General Bantu Holomisa, and served in President Nelson Mandela’s first post-1994 cabinet.
Meyer will be South Africa’s first ambassador to the United States since Ebrahim Rasool was declared persona non grata in March 2025 due to his controversial remarks about Donald Trump.
The African Transformation Movement’s Zama Ntshona expressed outrage and deep disappointment regarding the appointment of Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States by the president.
“Roelf Meyer is not a neutral historical figure. He was a senior representative of the apartheid regime, an apartheid-era minister, and played a central role in negotiating a settlement that, while ending formal apartheid, left intact the economic power structures that continue to disadvantage the Black majority.”
Activists and Citizens Forum expressed no surprise at Meyer’s appointment, deeming it an insult to the freedom fighters who struggled for liberation.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa and his comrades in the leadership of the ANC are disrespecting all those who have fought against the apartheid regime.
“He brought back apartheid masters through the back door, those with the blood of many freedom fighters in their hands.
“We have said there are so many qualified, competent, and credible leaders who can represent our country anywhere in the world with distinction.
“President Ramaphosa went to the retirement village and fetched the 78-year-old Meyer to represent our country. What an insult!” spokesperson Dennis Bloem expressed.
AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel stated that South Africa does not need another ANC cadre appointed as ambassador to the USA.
“Roelf Meyer is an ANC cadre. A principled ambassador is needed who can engage with the USA competently in the interest of South Africa.
“His history shows that he is someone who is willing to dramatically reposition himself to suit his own personal interests.
“His becoming a member of the ANC is a prime example. His shifting between parties and his eventual alignment with the ANC do not reflect steadfastness,” he remarked.
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Addressing the media, Ramaphosa defended his decision by describing Meyer as a very loyal and patriotic South African who has distinguished himself in a number of areas where he has worked.
“And yes, he did lead the National Party negotiating team together with myself. He was a cabinet minister in the initial government of National Unity and has done very well in those areas.
“Recently, he’s been involved in mediation processes in a number of countries, and that in many ways has sharpened his diplomatic skills, where he has been able to get involved either in conflict situations trying to bring peace amongst differing or warring parties at a very quiet level, continuing to assist even our government in its diplomatic efforts.
Recalibrate relationship with the US
“And when we needed to appoint an ambassador to the United States, I found him to be more than qualified to be able to work in the United States, recalibrate our relationship with the United States, interface with a number of stakeholders in the United States.
“As it is now, he’s been interfacing with a number of people in the United States, both in the Capitol Hill, in the various departments of the United States.
“So already a lot of interactions have taken place. So he is, for me, more than well qualified to execute this task of being South Africa’s ambassador to the United States,” he stated.
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