A brand and reputation expert says the only way for Pretoria to maintain and protect its sovereignty is to take a firm stance and utilise its leverage over the United States (US) as best as possible.

This is in reaction to former South African Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, being declared persona non grata by America’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He called Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America and President Donald Trump”. This was in relation to criticisms Rasool made about Trump during a recent webinar, saying the US President was promoting global white supremacy.

Rasool has been ordered to leave the US and is expected back in South African soon.

VIDEO| President Cyril Ramaphosa says he expects a report from Rasool on the matter:

Managing Director of Reputation 1st, Tshepo Matseba, says while Rasool should have exercised better decorum, the US has chosen its narrative of South Africa as anti-US and anti-white.

He says that President Cyril Ramaphosa must stand firm, using the proper diplomatic channels to weather this storm.

“The former Ambassador may have had the right political tone in his messaging, ideology, his messaging at that webinar may have been correct and socially engaging and importantly, he may have been making academically sound arguments, but unfortunately, in an environment where there is already tension, it won’t be wise to attack that specific country.”