President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided on South Africa’s next ambassador to the United States, but the candidate's identity has not yet been made public.

International Relations and Cooperation director-general Zane Dangor confirmed the development on Monday, saying the announcement will come once all formal processes are complete.

Name withheld pending formalities

Dangor told the Cape Town Press Club that the president has already made his choice but cannot reveal the name yet.

“In terms of the ambassador, what I can say is the president has made a decision. What I can’t tell you is the name until all the formalities are completed,” Dangor said, as reported by EWN.

He added that the appointment will happen soon and that the selected candidate is well-suited for the role.

Vacancy follows Rasool’s expulsion

South Africa has been without an ambassador to the US since 14 March 2025. This came after former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was declared persona non grata by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rasool was expelled after criticising US President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies, leaving a diplomatic gap for more than a year.

Dangor confirmed that Ramaphosa’s decision now aims to fill this vacancy and stabilise diplomatic representation in Washington.

Focus on strengthening US relations

The announcement comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between South Africa and the United States.

Last week, newly appointed US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, officially presented his credentials to Ramaphosa in Pretoria.

The move signals a shift towards strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. The appointment of a new South African ambassador to Washington is expected to play a key role in shaping this next phase.