Former South African ambassador to the United States, Dr Franklin Sonn, has died at the age of 86, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced today, 16 November 2025.
Sonn was an educator, diplomat and business leader notably, he served as South Africa’s first ambassador to the U.S. in the post-apartheid era, having been appointed by President Nelson Mandela in 1995.
Born in Vosburg and raised in the Eastern Cape, he rose through the education system to become principal of Spes Bona High School and later rector of Peninsula Technikon.
An anti-apartheid campaigner, he also built a distinguished corporate career, serving on the boards of companies like ABSA, Sappi and Pioneer Foods.
President Cyril Ramaphosa remembered him as a visionary who fought for equality, development, and intergenerational leadership.click on Read Original,if you are reading from phoenix to read full article
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
