Sattherwaite was reappointed as an ambassador, this time to South Africa, from 1961 to 1965. Following the Sharpeville massacre, the new administration was taking a renewed look at the country. Satterthwaite later recalled that President John F. Kennedy had told him "You can tell the prime minister of South Africa that I'm not sending you out there to point your finger at them, (the South Africans) but that they must realize the problems we have with their racial policy". While in South Africa, Satterthwaite learned of Kennedy's assassination from the Belgian ambassador (who had been listenening to the BBC World Service). This forced him to break off a dinner party he was holding and announce the news, bringing some of the South African guests to tears. His embassy held a Catholic memorial service shortly after.