The position of South African ambassador to the United States was first held in March 1949, following the upgrade of South Africa's diplomatic mission to an embassy. The post has been held by many important politicians and was most recently held by Ebrahim Rasool until being declared persona non grata by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March 2025.
#PictureNameTerm of officePrime Minister/State President(s)/President(s) served underRef1Harry Thomson Andrews1 March 1949- 26 September 1949Daniel François Malan (NP)2Gerhardus Petrus Jooste26 September 1949- 26 August 1954Daniel François Malan (NP)3John Edward Holloway26 August 1954- 7 August 1956Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (NP)4Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis b. 5 March 1906; m. Marie During 1934; one d. ed. Transvaal Univ. Coll. In Dept. of Lands 1924-1927, Dept. of External Affairs 1927- 1945; Admin. Sec. SA Del. to Imperial Conf. From 1 December 1963 to 1 November 1968: List of colonial heads of Namibia (South-West Africa)7 August 1956- 13 September 1960Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (NP) Hendrik Verwoerd (NP)5Willem Christiaan Naude13 September 1960- 9 February 1965Hendrik Verwoerd (NP)6Harald Langmead Taylor Taswell Harald Langmead Taylor Taswell b. 14 Feb. 1910, Cape Town; s. of Stephen Taswell and Helen Simkins; m. Vera Blytt 1940; three d.; ed. Christian Brothers Coll. 9 February 1965- 18 August 1971B. J. Vorster (NP)7Johan Samuel Frederick Botha18 August 1971- 30 July 1975B. J. Vorster (NP)8Pik Botha30 July 1975- 11 May 1977B. J. Vorster (NP)9Donald Bell Sole11 May 1977- 4 June 1982Pieter Willem Botha (NP)10Bernardus Gerhardus Fourie4 June 1982- 23 September 1985Pieter Willem Botha (NP)11Johannes Albertus Hermanus Beukes23 September 1985- 1 May 1987Pieter Willem Botha (NP)12Piet Koornhof1 May 1987- 6 March 1991Pieter Willem Botha (NP) Frederik Willem de Klerk (NP)13Harry Schwarz6 March 1991- 12 January 1995Frederik Willem de Klerk (NP) Nelson Mandela (ANC)14Franklin A. Sonn12 January 1995- 8 March 1999Nelson Mandela (ANC)15Sheila Sisulu8 March 1999- 28 August 2003Thabo Mbeki (ANC)16Barbara Masekela28 August 2003- 14 August 2007Thabo Mbeki (ANC)17 Welile Nhlapo 14 August 2007- 4 August 2010Kgalema Motlanthe (ANC)Jacob Zuma (ANC)18Ebrahim Rasool 4 August 2010- 23 February 2015Jacob Zuma (ANC)19M. J. Mahlangu23 February 2015 – March 2020Jacob Zuma (ANC)20Nomaindia MfeketoMarch 2020 – August 2023Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)21Ndumiso Ntshinga5 November 2023 – January 20, 2025Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)22Ebrahim RasoolJanuary 2025 – March 2025Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)23Roelf MeyerNominated 14 April 2026Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)
See also Embassy of South Africa in Washington, D.C.
References