Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool discusses the recent efforts to reset relations between South Africa and the United States. President Ramaphosa's recent visit to the White House was a success, the ambassador says. He reflects on the challenges faced during his tenure as ambassador, including the backlash from the Trump administration and the influence of powerful South African figures in the US. He does not regret the candid remarks he made about the state of US politics - remarks that got him expelled from the country.
We touch on the legacy of apartheid that continues to affect South African society today.
Ambassador Rasool reveals his own experience of living under apartheid. He first tasted teargas as a youngster in 1976 - politics is not a career choice in South Africa he says. He was imprisoned which was when he met Nelson Mandela for the first time, was placed under house arrest and suffered like all non-white South Africans under apartheid. His experiences shaped his views on supremacy and justice.
We also discuss the group of wealthy white South Africans who've come to be known as the Paypal Mafia and the influence they are having on U.S policy towards South Africa. How central is Elon Musk's Starlink satellite company to Pretoria's relationship with Washington? Abassador Rasool says that accepting Starlink is integral to Washington's dealing with African countries.
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