Two former National Party (NP) politicians, Roelf Meyer and Marthinus van Schalkwyk, are reportedly under consideration for the role of South Africa’s next ambassador to Washington DC.
Two other Afrikaners are also under consideration: Andries Nel, the current deputy minister of justice, and Gerhardus Koornhof, the son of a former NP minister, Piet Koornhof.
President Cyril Ramaphosa worked closely together with the two men during the transition from apartheid, with each being their respective parties’ chief negotiators.
Van Schalkwyk was the last leader of the NP’s successor, the New National Party, and subsequently served as a minister under ANC presidents. He was also the South African ambassador to Australia.
According to reports, Nel is the frontrunner for appointment as South African ambassador to Washington.