Who be Roelf Meyer wey South Africa name as new ambassador to di US

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa don appoint Roelf Meyer as di new ambassador to di United States.

South Africa no get any top envoy for di US since dem send Ebrahim Rasool comot last year afta e accuse President Donald Trump say e dey try to "project white victimhood as dog whistle".

Di action make di relations between di two nations get comma, and di relationship no jel since Trump return to office last year.

Ramaphosa tok-tok pesin Vincent Magwenya confam Meyer appointment to di BBC, say na immediate".

Meyer bin serve for di last govment of di apartheid era,

"I fit confam say President Cyril Ramaphosa don appoint Meyer as South Africa ambassador to di US," e tok.

Who be Roelf Meyer

Roelf Meyer, wey be 78 years old, play key role as one of di chief mediators, alongside Ramaphosa, during di tok to end di racist system of white-minority rule known as apartheid for South Africa for di 1990s.

E be di chief representative of di National Party, wey introduce apartheid, while Ramaphosa represent di African National Congress (ANC) led by Nelson Mandela.

During dat period, di two enjoy work trip togeda and go on to form lifelong friendship.

Meyer dey part of group of 32 prominent South Africans wey di president choose last year to guide di national dialogue, to address di different challenges wey di kontri dey face.

Meyer be di constitutional affairs minister for di last apartheid govment and later join di govment of national unity wey dem form for 1994 wen Mandela become president.

E comot two years later and go co-found di United Democratic Movement.

Meyer later become member of di ANC.

Im be white Afrikaner, wey dey seen as reformist and some right-wing Afrikaners see am as traitor sake of im role for di peace tok.

Afrikaners na mostly white descendants of early European settlers and President Trump say dem dey currently face genocide and persecution for South Africa - claim wey dey widely discredited.

Na part of why Trump announce pause for aid to di kontri early last year and introduce policy wey welcome Afrikaners as refugees.

Ramaphosa say na "complete false" to claim say "pipo of certain race or culture dey targeted for persecution".

South Africans react to Meyer appointment as ambassador

Di news of Meyer appointment don receive mixed reaction for South Africa, as some call am political appointment and odas raise im age as concern.

While di ANC Fikile Mbalula welcome Meyer appointment, Julius Malema of Economic Freedom Fighters party say na "politically tone deaf" and "deliberate insult to our democratic struggle".

Di most criticism of Meyer appointment come from right-wing Afrikaner groups, AfriForum and Solidarity Movement.