With the departure of Ambassador Mfeketo, Mr Ismail Esau, the Charge d’Affaires at the South African Embassy in Washington D.C. was recently appointed by President Ramaphosa as the Acting Ambassador.
Mr Esau will take charge of the South African mission to the US until the arrival of a permanent appointment. He is an esteemed career official with the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and has a rich history of engagement in both bilateral and multilateral domains. Assuming the role of Minister Plenipotentiary / Deputy Head of Mission at the South African Embassy in Washington DC on May 2, 2022, Mr Esau has brought a wealth of experience and a strategic outlook to his current post.
Prior to his assignment in Washington, Mr Esau’s diverse and impressive career included serving as Director for both Levant and Southeast Asia regions. His involvement with DIRCO further included key positions within the Bilateral Directorate focusing on Mediterranean Europe, as well as Multilateral Directorates dealing with critical aspects of Economic Development – particularly Finance for Development and Economic Relations. Mr Esau’s international experience is further highlighted by his time as Counsellor: Political at the South African Embassy in Seoul, South Korea from January 2014 to December 2017, and as Counsellor: Political & Economic at the South African Embassy in Berlin from January 2008 to December 2011.
Before his prominent career with DIRCO, Mr Esau was influential as a policy adviser at the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). During this time, he also represented South Africa’s economic interests in Germany, serving at the South African Consulate in Munich.
In terms of education, Mr Esau is an accomplished scholar with degrees from prestigious institutions. He graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a degree in Economics and further enriched his academic credentials with a post-graduate degree from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Complementing his formal education, he completed various specialised training and development courses, such as the Leadership & Economic Diplomacy Course from Singapore’s Cooperation Programme (SCP); the Public Management Development Programme from the University of Pretoria; the Multilateral Diplomacy course by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and a Management Training Programme from the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft in Germany.
Mr. Esau’s extensive background and hands-on experience in international relations, policy development, and economic diplomacy make him a vital asset to South Africa’s representation in the United States. His leadership and continuous pursuit of excellence reflect his commitment to fostering positive relations and advancing South Africa’s interests on the global stage. SACCUSA wishes Mr Esau well in his new role and he can count on our collective support.
