Ramaphosa appoints Roelf Meyer as ambassador to United States
The former National Party negotiator and ANC member will take up the posting amid strained bilateral relations.
Ramaphosa appoints Roelf Meyer as ambassador to United States
The former National Party negotiator and ANC member will take up the posting amid strained bilateral relations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Roelf Meyer, 78, as South Africa's ambassador to the United States following a year of diplomatic difficulties between the two countries12. The appointment requires approval by the host country1.
Meyer served as the National Party's chief negotiator opposite Ramaphosa during talks that produced the 1993 constitution1. After the 1994 elections, president Nelson Mandela appointed him to the government of national unity until the National Party's exit1. Meyer later co-founded the United Democratic Movement with Bantu Holomisa1.
In recent years, Meyer led the Public-Private Growth Initiative, which contributed to sector master plans during Ramaphosa's first term, and was appointed co-leader of the national dialogue a year ago1. Meyer has been a member of the ANC since 20063.
The appointment drew varied assessments. Business Day described it as "a shrewd decision" and noted that "various parties in and outside South Africa" welcomed Meyer as "a unifier and a committed patriot"1. The newspaper's opinion pages characterised the move as "a deliberate attempt by Pretoria to restore seriousness, continuity and outcome-orientated engagement" to the relationship2.
One letter writer questioned whether the appointment signalled substantive policy shifts, noting Meyer's ANC membership and arguing it "suggests both no backing down by Ramaphosa on his harmful and antidemocratic, anti-minority agenda" including Black Economic Empowerment, expropriation without compensation, National Health Insurance and cadre deployment3.
The appointment occurs as South Africa's standing in Washington has weakened and US foreign policy has become more transactional, with trade scrutiny and tariffs used to advance domestic priorities2. Republican and nationalist policy circles have exerted growing influence over Congress and trade policy2.