DA Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, says that if it were up to her, she would appoint Tony Leon as the new South African Ambassador to the United States. This follows the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool last week after the US declared him persona non grata for criticizing President Donald Trump.

Leon previously served as South Africa’s Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Zille made the remarks on the sidelines of the party’s Human Rights Day Commemoration in Claremont, Johannesburg, where the DA held marches and community engagements to address service delivery issues. 

As the country awaits Rasool’s return, the DA has proposed a replacement.

Zille has praised Tony Leon, saying, he has been a good ambassador in the past. 

“If I had to choose, I would choose somebody like Tony Leon. He would be absolutely excellent. He’s been a very, very good ambassador before in Argentina, and I think he has all the skills at the top level. He’s an intellectual, he reads very widely, he understands foreign policy. That’s the caliber of person you need,” says Zille.  

WATCH : Rasool Replacement | Tony Leon would be a perfect choice: Helen Zille

Zille has also addressed the DA’s recent visit to the US, during which party representatives met with US officials, including Marco Rubio, to work on improving relations between the two countries.

She says the party’s visit to the US was about painting a positive image of South Africa. She’s criticized Rasool’s comments, noting that as an ambassador, he had crossed the line by making negative statements about both his host country and president.

She has added that his support of Hamas and his diplomatic missteps led to his expulsion. 

Meanwhile, DA leader John Steenhuisen has remarked on the importance of the party’s role in the newly-formed Government of National Unity (GNU), emphasizing their fight for inclusive economic growth, job creation, and upholding the Constitution.

“For the first time in 30 years, South Africans are governed by a coalition of political parties. The DA is fighting hard for policies that focus on real economic growth and job creation. We want a government that creates an environment where every citizen can reach their full potential and enjoy equality of opportunity,” he says. 

The DA also aims to address local issues, such as the ongoing water outages experienced by residents of Claremont in Johannesburg.