Al-Qalam 
By Aslam Fataar
Ebrahim Rasool’s departure as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is more than a diplomatic shake-up; it is a calculated strike in the global right-wing agenda to undermine justice-aligned democratic forces. His departure underscores the treacherous machinations of Donald Trump’s supremacist politics, which has been systematically aligning with reactionary forces across the world to reassert white colonial racism and diminish anti-imperialist actors.
The Trumpian Playbook: A Global Assault on Justice
From the outset, Trump’s presidency was characterised by an aggressive dismantling of the international order that had, at least nominally, promoted human rights and a rules-based international order. His administration’s strategy was clear: embolden right-wing autocrats, undermine democratic institutions, and weaponise global diplomacy to serve supremacist and capitalist interests.
For South Africa, this meant facing the wrath of an administration that viewed its progressive stance as a direct challenge to Trump’s global right-wing alliance. The country’s positions on Palestine, its ICJ case against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and its growing role in BRICS all made it a prime target. The very existence of a post-apartheid South Africa—one that champions human rights and justice—threatens the white nationalist imaginary that Trump’s movement seeks to preserve.
Rasool, a seasoned strategist and politician, stood in the way of this agenda. His removal was not an incidental casualty but the culmination of a concerted campaign to neutralise a political engagement process that was effectively countering right-wing interference in South Africa’s sovereignty.
The Role of South African MAGAns: Musk, Pollak, Sacks, Thiel
South African-born MAGA influencers such as Elon Musk, Joel Pollak, Peter Thiel and David Sacks have played a significant role in feeding reactionary narratives about South Africa to their ideological allies in the US. Journalist Rebecca Davis described their treacherous role in a Daily Maverick article in November 2024. Their ideological alignment with groups like AfriForum and Solidariteit—organisations dedicated to the preservation of white Afrikaans interests—has helped shape the discourse in US right-wing circles about South Africa as a so-called “failed state.”
Pollak, a senior editor at Breitbart News and a former Tony Leon speech writer, has long used his platform to amplify racist and anti-progressive narratives about South Africa. He, along with others, has actively sought to frame the country’s policies on land redistribution, anti-imperialism, and justice for Palestine as existential threats to Western civilisation. Through their influence in Republican circles, these figures have been instrumental in shaping US policy towards South Africa.
At home, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has found a common cause with these external forces. The party’s pro-Zionist wing and its tacit alliances with AfriForum and Solidariteit have allowed it to serve as the local arm of the broader right-wing assault on South Africa’s political trajectory. The DA, which has increasingly courted the white conservative base, aligns closely with US Republican interests, particularly in its criticisms of the ANC government’s foreign policy decisions.
The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) Webinar: A Moment of Calculated Retaliation
Having watched the entire MISTRA webinar, one thing became clear: Rasool’s ouster was not about a single moment of “offensive” speech but rather about the larger strategic threat he posed to reactionary forces. Extracted from his presentation, a 90-second piece, which ostensibly triggered the backlash, was merely the pretext; the real target was his broader project of repositioning South Africa on the international stage as a justice-aligned democracy. In his webinar presentation, he articulated a perspective that sought to resist external manipulation and bolster South Africa’s standing in multilateral institutions.
For figures like Pollak and the right-wing media machine, the webinar was likely the moment of affirmation—a recognition that Rasool had to be taken down at all costs. From the moment he was appointed ambassador, efforts to discredit him had been in motion. The webinar simply provided the opportunity to pounce.
Rasool as a Strategic Threat to the Right-Wing Agenda
Rasool posed a significant challenge to the right-wing project due to his ability to counter its influence on multiple fronts. He was well-positioned to push back against Afriforum and the DA’s role in shaping Western narratives about South Africa. Additionally, he would have been engaging US institutions in ways that complicated efforts by reactionary forces to dominate discourse on South Africa.
Second, his commitment to South Africa’s pro-Palestinian stance was a direct threat to the pro-Zionist lobby in both the US and South Africa. At a time when Palestine solidarity movements were gaining momentum globally, Rasool’s diplomatic work had the potential to strengthen South Africa’s position as a leading voice for justice on the world stage. The US right-wing, heavily influenced by Zionist interests, could not allow such advocacy to go unchallenged.
Finally, his strategic role in shifting international perceptions of South Africa away from right-wing fearmongering and towards a recognition of its progressive foreign policy meant that the Trump-aligned forces had to act decisively. His continued presence as ambassador would have posed a serious barrier to their agenda, making his removal an imperative.
The Broader Implications: A Call for Vigilance
Rasool’s departure is a stark reminder that the struggle for South Africa’s sovereignty and value-based internationalism is far from over. The intersection of Trumpian supremacist politics, South African-born MAGA influencers, and local reactionary forces has created a formidable network intent on undermining progressive leadership in the country. The attack on Rasool is but one battle in a larger war to realign South Africa’s political and diplomatic positioning towards a reactionary, imperialist-friendly posture.
South Africans must recognise that this was not just an attack on an individual but an assault on the very principles that define a just and democratic South Africa. Moving forward, vigilance is required to counteract the insidious influence of right-wing forces both within and beyond the country. If anything, Rasool’s removal underscores the urgent need to fortify South Africa’s diplomatic and political resolve against external manipulation.
The challenge now is to ensure that a justice-aligned vision continues to shape South Africa’s engagement with the world.
Aslam Fataar is a Research Professor in Higher Education Transformation, Department of Education Policy Studies, at Stellenbosch University.
