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Diplomatic expulsions at the ambassador level are extremely rare, generally reserved either for diplomats caught violating laws (spies), or when relations with the country are deteriorating extremely badly, as a step before closing the embassy altogether.

Diplomacy around expulsions is generally tit-for-tat. That is, the predictable, almost required, response by South Africa will be to expel the US ambassador.

A bit of terminology background:

An "Ambassador" is the the chief diplomat sent abroad to represent a country to another country, and can generally negotiate and communicate on its behalf.

A "Chargé d'Affaires" is an official empowered to act in the role of ambassador when there is no current ambassador. (Some countries don't use the "ambassador" title.)

A "Consul" is a foreign diplomat who represents their country in some area, such as trade or providing expat services.

A "Diplomatic Mission" is an officially recognized outpost of a country abroad. It includes embassies, consulates, and other specialized offices such as trade representives

An "Embassy" is the main diplomatic mission in a country, where its ambassador works and communicates with the host country's government.

A "Consulate" provides services and information to individuals, such as processing visas.

A "Chancery" is (approximately) another term for embassy.

Diplomats (including ambassadors) and diplomatic missions have to be recognized and accepted by the host country, which can reject them or expel them at will (but, again, rejection or expulsion is very unusual among countries on even moderately good terms).

Diplomats and missions have "diplomatic immunity", which means they can't be searched or detained, nor can their vehicles or residences. But a diplomat who goes on a crime spree is likely to be expelled.

The US is a special case as a host county, because not only do countries have ambassadors, embassies and consulates here, but they also have ambassadors and diplomatic missions to the UN in NYC. The US government has less discretion about rejecting or expelling foreign diplomats assigned to the UN, generally only for specific cause (such as when they're caught spying). There are countries with which we have no diplomatic relations that nonetheless have UN missions and diplomats in NYC.

@mattblaze when Rubio got nominated I described him to a friend as “not a complete chucklefuck,” which I regrettably must still stand by, as, someone who is 99.999% a chucklefuck is still not a complete chucklefuck. Nevertheless I wish for A LOT MORE COMPETENCE in the role

@kevinriggle @mattblaze everyone after the Zelenskyy meeting was saying ‘look at Rubio. He knows this is all wrong and he’s embarrassed’ and I was like ‘nope. He went on CNN after the meeting and was blaming Zelenskyy. He’s just as bad as the rest of them. He doesn’t get a hall pass’