EDITORIAL: Serious diplomacy needed
With President Donald Trump tearing into South Africa, our diplomats need to be diplomatic
Picture it: an ambassador to South Africa attends a think-tank in their home country. There, they describe President Cyril Ramaphosa as racist. Of course it is an unimaginable act for a career diplomat from any respected country because it is the opposite of their job, which is to maintain good relations or create them where they do not exist.
Ebrahim Rasool had just one job. A nicely paid, prestigious job. Appointed ambassador to the US for a second stint in the months ahead of the second Trump administration, he cannot have been unaware of the sensitivities around South Africa’s relationship with the US. He was sent there precisely because he did know, because he did understand...
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