List of ambassadors of South Africa to the United States
The position of South African ambassador to the United States was first held in March 1949, following the upgrade of South Africa's diplomatic mission to an embassy. The post has been held by many important politicians and was most recently held by Ebrahim Rasool until being declared persona non grata by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March 2025.
| # | Picture | Name | Term of office | Prime Minister/State President(s)/President(s) served under | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Thomson Andrews | 1 March 1949- 26 September 1949 | Daniel François Malan (NP) | ||
| 2 | Gerhardus Petrus Jooste | 26 September 1949- 26 August 1954 | Daniel François Malan (NP) | ||
| 3 | John Edward Holloway | 26 August 1954- 7 August 1956 | Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (NP) | ||
| 4 | Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis | 7 August 1956- 13 September 1960 | Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (NP) Hendrik Verwoerd (NP) |
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| 5 | Willem Christiaan Naude | 13 September 1960- 9 February 1965 | Hendrik Verwoerd (NP) | ||
| 6 | Harald Langmead Taylor Taswell | 9 February 1965- 18 August 1971 | B. J. Vorster (NP) | ||
| 7 | Johan Samuel Frederick Botha | 18 August 1971- 30 July 1975 | B. J. Vorster (NP) | ||
| 8 | Pik Botha | 30 July 1975- 11 May 1977 | B. J. Vorster (NP) | ||
| 9 | Donald Bell Sole | 11 May 1977- 4 June 1982 | Pieter Willem Botha (NP) | ||
| 10 | Bernardus Gerhardus Fourie | 4 June 1982- 23 September 1985 | Pieter Willem Botha (NP) | ||
| 11 | Johannes Albertus Hermanus Beukes | 23 September 1985- 1 May 1987 | Pieter Willem Botha (NP) | ||
| 12 | Piet Koornhof | 1 May 1987- 6 March 1991 | Pieter Willem Botha (NP) Frederik Willem de Klerk (NP) |
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| 13 | Harry Schwarz | 6 March 1991- 12 January 1995 | Frederik Willem de Klerk (NP) Nelson Mandela (ANC) |
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| 14 | Franklin A. Sonn | 12 January 1995- 8 March 1999 | Nelson Mandela (ANC) | ||
| 15 | Sheila Sisulu | 8 March 1999- 28 August 2003 | Thabo Mbeki (ANC) | ||
| 16 | Barbara Masekela | 28 August 2003- 14 August 2007 | Thabo Mbeki (ANC) | ||
| 17 | Welile Nhlapo | 14 August 2007- 4 August 2010 | Kgalema Motlanthe (ANC) | ||
| Jacob Zuma (ANC) | |||||
| 18 | Ebrahim Rasool | 4 August 2010- 23 February 2015 | Jacob Zuma (ANC) | ||
| 19 | M. J. Mahlangu | 23 February 2015 – March 2020 | Jacob Zuma (ANC) | ||
| 20 | Nomaindia Mfeketo | March 2020 – August 2023 | Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) | ||
| 21 | Ndumiso Ntshinga | 5 November 2023 – January 20, 2025 | Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) | ||
| 22 | Ebrahim Rasool | January 2025 – March 2025 | Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) |
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