South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States (US) Ebrahim Rasool will depart the US later today, meeting a deadline set by the Secretary of State for his exit from the country after being declared persona non grata.

Ambassador Rasool says he leaves the US with no regrets and will arrive in Cape Town on Sunday around 11am local time.

SABC News also understands that private security officers were posted at his official residence in Washington since his public rebuke by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after comments linking the administration of President Donald Trump to white supremacy.

It’s unclear if a specific threat was received or if the action was done out of an abundance of caution.

His departure ends a little more than a three-month stint in the US at a time when relations between Pretoria and Washington reached a new low.

VIDEO | Rasool expected back in the country: