South Africa looks set to appoint Alistair Ruiters, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special advisor on investment promotion, as the nation’s next ambassador to the United States, filling a post that has been vacant since March.
The seat has been empty since Ebrahim Rasool was recalled after being declared persona non grata by the US government following accusations he made against President Donald Trump. Rasool has since returned to South Africa, leaving the role open amid a tense bilateral relationship.
Ruiters, who took up his current advisory role in April, brings decades of experience from both the public and private sectors. His résumé includes serving as director general of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition from 2000 to 2005, as well as time as a competition commissioner. He has also led the National Empowerment Fund and the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project, and in 2009 he joined mining group Afarak as CEO.
Despite his lack of prior diplomatic experience, his involvement in South Africa’s engagement with the US is considered an advantage. Analysts note, however, that the new ambassador will face significant challenges due to strained relations between Pretoria and Washington, as per Business Tech.
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Trade tensions pose a significant concern. Earlier this year, President Trump imposed export tariffs of 30% on South African goods, a move that was temporarily paused for 90 days but took effect in August.
Although 35% of exports are exempt, many industries are feeling the impact. Additionally, the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on 30 September 2025 revoked duty-free access to the US market for numerous South African exporters, complicating negotiations further.
DTIC Minister Parks Tau confirmed that talks with the US are ongoing, though no agreement has yet been reached.
Diplomatic tensions extend beyond trade. Mcebisi Jonas, Ramaphosa’s special envoy to the US, has struggled to make headway after past criticisms of Trump resurfaced, and senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have declined to visit South Africa.
Trump himself will send Vice President JD Vance instead of attending the G20 Conference in Johannesburg in November.
Compounding these difficulties, new legislation in the US could further strain relations. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, tabled in the Senate by John Kennedy in September, seeks to review ties with Pretoria, cut South Africa from AGOA, and sanction ANC members.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has added South Africa to a human trafficking watch list, citing inadequate efforts to tackle forced labour and modern slavery. Failure to address these concerns could see the country classified as Tier 3, exposing it to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.
Ruiters’ appointment, if confirmed, will mark the start of a challenging chapter for South Africa’s diplomatic and trade relations with the United States.
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