Ebrahim Rasool (born 15 July 1962)[1] is a South African politician and diplomat who served as the South African Ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015 and again in 2025, as a member of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2010, and as the 5th Premier of the Western Cape from 2004 to 2008. He is a member of the African National Congress and has held various leadership positions in the party.
Ebrahim Rasool | |
|---|---|
 Rasool in July 2012 | |
| South African Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 13 January 2025 – 14 March 2025 | |
| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Preceded by | Ndumiso Ntshinga |
| In office 4 August 2010 – 23 February 2015 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Preceded by | Welile Nhlapo |
| Succeeded by | M. J. Mahlangu |
| 5th Premier of the Western Cape | |
| In office 30 April 2004 – 25 July 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Marthinus van Schalkwyk |
| Succeeded by | Lynne Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 July 1962 Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | Rosieda Shabodien |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Ismail and Aziza Rasool |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
On 14 March 2025, while serving as ambassador to the US, Rasool was declared persona non grata by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expelling him from the United States.[2]
Early life and education
editEbrahim Rasool was born 15 July 1962 in District Six, Cape Town, to a Muslim family of mixed English-Javanese-Dutch-Indian heritage.[3] The apartheid system classified him as Coloured. When he was nine years old, he and his family were forcefully evicted from the area in which they lived due to the government declaring the area a "Whites-only" residential suburb,[3] and his family relocated to Primose Park near Manenberg on the Cape Flats.[4]
Rasool was matriculated from Livingstone High School in Claremont in 1980. He proceeded to study at the University of Cape Town and was graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1983, and a Higher Diploma in Education in 1984 from the university. During this period, he became involved in student politics. He was employed as a teacher at Spine Road High School in 1985.[4][5]
Political career
editHe soon became involved in the anti-apartheid movement. He held senior positions in the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress. He served prison sentences and was also frequently placed under house arrest. Between 1991 and 1994, he was an assistant to the Rector of the University of the Western Cape and the Treasurer of the ANC's provincial structure.[6]
Rasool was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Legislature in April 1994 following the country's first democratic election. He served as the MEC for Health and Social Services from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he was elected Provincial Chairperson of the ANC. He was appointed as the MEC for Finance and Economic Development in 2001 and held this position until his appointment as the 5th Premier of the Western Cape in April 2004. Mcebisi Skwatsha succeeded him as Provincial Chairperson.[7][8]
Following the arrest of gang leader Quinton Marinus, or "Mr Big", Rasool and the then Western Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety, Leonard Ramatlakane, started receiving death threats allegedly from the Chinese Triads. This led Ramatlakane to controversially spend R347,716 of public money on security improvements to his home.[9]
On 14 July 2008, Rasool was recalled from the position of premier by the National Executive Committee of the ANC, as the ANC leadership had disapproved of him giving preference to the large Muslim and Cape Coloured populations in the Western Cape. The MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Lynne Brown was designated as his successor.[10][11]
Rasool then briefly worked as a special advisor to the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, prior to him being elected a Member of the National Assembly in April 2009. President Jacob Zuma appointed him as South Africa's Ambassador to the United States in July 2010. He returned to South Africa in February 2015.[12]
In April 2018, the ANC National Head of Elections, Fikile Mbalula, announced Rasool as the party's Provincial Elections Head for the 2019 general elections. This move was seen as part of a campaign to have him return as Provincial Chairperson of the ANC. Following the elections, the ANC's support declined even further in the province. Rasool was elected as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, but tendered his resignation to the incoming Speaker.[13][14][15]
Rasool had been ranked 75th on the ANC's national party list for the 2024 general election but this was not high enough for him to be returned to the National Assembly given the ANC's decline in electoral support at the election.[16]
Expulsion from the United States
editOn 14 March 2025, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool persona non grata after Rasool accused President Donald Trump and allies including the South African-born billionaire Elon Musk of promoting white supremacy, in comments to a South African think tank.[17] The expulsion came in the broader context of Trump's criticism of a land expropriation law that he claimed unfairly targeted Afrikaners.[18]
The expulsion was met with mixed reactions in South Africa. In a statement, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa called the decision "regrettable" and called on "all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter."[19] However, Congress of South African Trade Unions praised Rasool, and promised to give him a hero's welcome on his return.[20] Congress of the People called for South Africa to expel US chargé d'affaires David Greene in return. They also pointed to South Africa's genocide case against Israel as influencing the decision of the Trump administration.[21] Sanusha Naidu said, "for the first time, we see South Africa is dealing with an irrational White House and leadership.”[20]
Controversy
editIn 2010, before taking up his position as ambassador to the United States, an investigation was launched into allegations that Rasool was paying a political reporter in a mainstream newspaper to write articles that portrayed him favourably. The investigation stalled due to material witnesses refusing to cooperate with the investigation.[22]
Personal life
editRasool is married to Rosieda Shabodien. They have two children together.[23]
Bibliography
edit- Rasool, Ebrahim (Winter 2010). "South African Muslims Over Three Centuries: From the Jaws of Islamophobia to the Joys of Equality" (PDF). Arches Quarterly. 4 (7): 147–154. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
References
edit- ^ Ebrahim Rasool, leader of the ANC in the Western Cape and premier of that province, is born.. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Looker, Rachel (15 March 2025). "South African ambassador 'no longer welcome' in US, Rubio says". BBC News. Washington. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b "The Spirit of Freedom". publishing.cdlib.org. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b Ebrahim Rasool, South African History Online. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Ebrahim Rasool, The Love and Forgiveness Project. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Ebrahim Rasool Premier Western Cape Provincial Government, Wharton Cape Town. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Jordaan, Willem. Mbeki deals his premier cards, News24, Cape Town, 22 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Rasool ousted as ANC Western Cape chairperson, Mail & Guardian, 12 June 2005. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Cape gangs: Targeting the untouchables, Mail & Guardian, 28 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Jika, Thanduxolo (17 January 2011). "Ebrahim Rasool explains why he was fired". News24. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Lynne Brown sworn in as Western Cape premier". Mail & Guardian. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Ambassador from South Africa: Who is Ebrahim Rasool?, AllGov, 10 April 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Davis, Rebecca.Ebrahim Rasool returns as ANC gets serious about reclaiming Western Cape, The Daily Maverick, 23 April 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Whittles, Govan. Tainted, but Rasool’s back with a bang, Mail & Guardian, 26 April 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Ebrahim Rasool declines Western Cape legislature seat, IOL, Cape Town, 22 May 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ Merten, Marianne (5 June 2024). "The ANC haemorrhaging continues — Cele, Modise, Zulu and Pandor won't return as MPs". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Wong, Edward; Eligon, John (15 March 2025). "Trump Administration Expels South Africa's Ambassador to the U.S." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Ewing, Giselle Ruhiyyih (14 March 2025). "Rubio says South Africa's ambassador no longer welcome in US after criticizing Trump". Politico. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "South Africa committed to US ties after 'regrettable' expulsion of envoy". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b Majadibodu, Simon (17 March 2025). "Cosatu plans hero's welcome for expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool". IOL. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ Cala, Nobantu (17 March 2025). "Diplomatic row deepens COPE slams US decision to expel SA Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool". IOL. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "'Brown envelope' probe dropped". SAPA. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ Adams, Sheena. W Cape premier tells of racism towards wife, IOL, 26 March 2005. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
External links
edit
Media related to Ebrahim Rasool at Wikimedia Commons