Expelled South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool said on Sunday that he returned home with "no regrets".
Rasool and his wife Rosieda Shabodien received a hero's welcome by hundreds of supporters after emerging in the arrivals terminal of Cape Town International Airport.
"Rosieda and I have just traveled about 32 hours from the United States via Doha to Cape Town. It was not our choice to come home, but we come home with no regrets," he told the welcoming crowd.
Earlier this month, Rasool, 62, was declared "persona non grata" by the U.S. after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called him a "race-baiting politician who hates America". It followed earlier remarks the ambassador had made during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank, in which he criticized President Donald Trump.
Addressing around 300 supporters at the airport, Rasool stated that while being labeled a "persona non grata" was meant to humiliate him, the warm reception turned it into a badge of honor.
He said that the United States took action to expel him in attempt to undermine South Africa's resolve to pursue an independent foreign policy, but South Africa will not change its stance under external pressure, and will continue to uphold independence and firm principles in international affairs.
Rasool said that South Africa has to rebuild and mend its relationship with the United States, as the foundation of relations between the two countries lies in their people, not merely in government-to-government exchanges.
Expelled South African ambassador to US returns home with 'no regrets'
