Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged diplomats to respect host nations and avoid public criticism, stressing that ambassadors must promote strong, respectful relations, trade, and cooperation.
His remarks came as South Africa remains without an ambassador to the US following the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool by the administration of Donald Trump.
After accepting credentials from 20 ambassadors at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday, Ramaphosa extended a warm welcome to them in South Africa, noting that their own leaders had similarly received South African ambassadors and high commissioners in their respective countries.
“Ambassadors should never criticise their hosts.
“Whenever I send our Ambassadors and High Commissioners to various countries, I always make it a point to inform them that they should never criticise their host countries publicly and in a confrontational manner, but should always seek to raise issues privately and constructively,” Ramaphosa said.
“They should always seek to build relationships with various stakeholders in the host country. They should always choose to preserve dignity and partnership between our respective countries. It is this approach that I believe builds strong relationships between nations and helps to advance the interests of our respective countries based on mutual respect.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was quite clear on how ambassadors and high commissioners should conduct themselves. #sabcnews #Credentials pic.twitter.com/YlEygXZ10t
— Khayelihle Rafiq Khumalo-James (@KhayaJames) April 8, 2026
On global affairs, Ramaphosa welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, echoing calls for dialogue and a lasting peaceful resolution in the Middle East.
Bozell also supported the truce, while cautioning about potential instability linked to Iran’s regional proxies.
