Edgar Legoale
By Thabo Mosia
Edgar Legoale, Former ANCYL Regional Chairperson in Fezile Dabi Region, has publicly criticised the conduct of former South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, labelling it “reckless and not becoming of a diplomat.” Legoale’s comments come in the wake of Rasool’s expulsion from the United States earlier this month, a move that has deepened tensions between South Africa and the U.S. and sparked widespread debate about diplomatic responsibility.
A Diplomatic Storm Ignites
Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S., was expelled on 14 March 2025 after remarks he made during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra). Rasool described Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement as a “supremacist reaction to growing diversity in the United States,” a statement that drew sharp criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio called Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America” and declared him persona non grata, giving him until 21 March to leave the country.
Rasool, who previously served as ambassador from 2010 to 2015 under President Jacob Zuma, had returned to Washington in January 2025, just days before Trump’s inauguration. His second stint was meant to strengthen ties with the U.S., but his comments quickly unravelled those efforts. Upon his return to South Africa on 23 March, Rasool was greeted by hundreds of supporters at Cape Town International Airport, where he stood by his remarks, saying, “I will wear my persona non grata as a badge of dignity.”
Edgar Legoale’s Scathing Critique
Edgar Legoale did not hold back in his assessment of Rasool’s actions. “Guys, let’s be honest. Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s recent behaviour is honestly reckless and not becoming of a diplomat. I don’t say this lightly,” Legoale said. He compared Rasool’s conduct to that of a “COSAS member, talking for the sake of talking,” suggesting the former ambassador was acting more like a populist than a diplomat entrusted with representing South Africa on the global stage.
Legoale, whose foundation focuses on youth development and leadership, stressed the importance of discipline in diplomacy. “Diplomats are meant to be calm, measured, and always put their country’s image above personal opinions or popularity,” he explained. Drawing from his own interactions with past and present ambassadors, Legoale highlighted their adherence to protocol and their focus on protecting South Africa’s interests. “They don’t jump into public debates recklessly or make statements that could harm SA’s reputation,” he added.
Legoale offered a practical example to illustrate his point: “When you’re a South African ambassador in another country, you represent all South Africans, not your personal or political views. If, say, there’s conflict or tension in the host country, your role is to engage through proper channels, diplomatic backdoors, not Twitter or press statements that can make things worse. That’s what diplomacy is: quiet power with purpose.”
Thabo Mbeki Weighs In
Former President Thabo Mbeki echoed Legoale’s sentiments during a discussion hosted by the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria on Friday, 28 March 2025. Mbeki, who has known Rasool for decades, did not shy away from calling out his friend’s misstep. “The ambassador that gets posted is by agreement with the host country. You can’t go around expressing negative opinions about your host,” Mbeki said. He added, “From then onwards, there is no way you can talk to him. He ceases to be an ambassador that is respected by this host.”
Mbeki, reflecting on Rasool’s expulsion, noted, “Ebrahim Rasool is an old friend and comrade of mine, but I think in this instance he made a mistake. He said things about his host president.” He admitted that he was not surprised by the U.S. decision to declare Rasool persona non grata, saying, “When I saw that he was declared persona-non-grata I wasn’t surprised.”
A Diplomatic Faux Pas with Consequences
Rasool’s expulsion has been a rare and dramatic event in U.S.-South Africa relations, marking the first time in decades that an ambassador of such seniority has been expelled by the U.S. The decision followed a series of escalating tensions since Trump took office in January 2025. Last month, Trump signed an executive order cutting U.S. aid to South Africa, citing concerns over its land reform policies, which he claimed discriminated against white farmers, and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africa has denied these claims, arguing that its policies aim to address historical inequalities from the apartheid era.
Rasool’s comments during the Mistra webinar added fuel to the fire. He spoke of a “supremacist assault on incumbency” in the U.S., linking the MAGA movement to demographic shifts that project the white voting electorate in the U.S. to drop to 48% in the coming years. He also accused Trump of showing “disrespect” for global institutions like the United Nations and NATO, a stance that resonated with some South Africans but was seen as inflammatory by the Trump administration.
South Africa’s government has called the expulsion “regrettable,” with President Cyril Ramaphosa noting that Rasool was expected to return to Pretoria and provide a full report on the incident. Ramaphosa has yet to appoint a new envoy to the U.S., leaving a diplomatic vacuum at a time when relations between the two nations are at their lowest point in years.
Voices of Support and Criticism
Rasool’s return to Cape Town was met with a hero’s welcome, with supporters waving Palestinian flags and chanting “free Palestine.” Rasool, a devout Muslim, has been a vocal supporter of South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, accusing the country of genocide in Gaza. “As we stand here, the bombing (in Gaza) has continued and the shooting has continued, and if South Africa was not in the (International Court of Justice), Israel would not be exposed, and the Palestinians would have no hope,” he told the crowd. He also insisted that South Africa should not abandon its relationship with the U.S., saying, “We don’t come here to say we are anti-American.”
However, not everyone has rallied behind Rasool. Former diplomat Kingsley Makhubela described Rasool’s comments as “undiplomatic” and “reckless,” arguing that he should not have ventured into the polarised domestic politics of the U.S. Meanwhile, AfriForum leader Kallie Kriel accused Rasool of prioritising ANC interests over South Africa’s broader well-being, pointing to the ANC’s recent meeting with Iran’s ambassador as evidence of misguided foreign policy.
The Bigger Picture: Strained U.S.-South Africa Relations
The fallout from Rasool’s expulsion highlights deeper issues in U.S.-South Africa relations. Since Trump’s return to power, the U.S. has taken a hard stance against South Africa, criticising its growing ties with Russia, Iran, and BRICS nations, as well as its positions on Israel and land reform. The U.S. State Department has also launched a review of its South Africa policy, citing “aggressive positions” toward the U.S.
South Africa, for its part, has maintained its commitment to a “mutually beneficial relationship” with the U.S., but the lack of a new ambassador in Washington could hinder efforts to mend ties. Political analyst Oscar van Heerden noted that Rasool was “dealt a bad hand” from the start, with tensions already high before his arrival in Washington. “Knives were already out for Rasool before he even arrived,” van Heerden said, suggesting that the U.S. was looking for a reason to push him out.
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