South Africa faces US investment freeze warns ambassador
L. Brent Bozell III said Pretoria’s measures aimed at redressing inequalities caused by apartheid were barriers to investment.
Washington's ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, has warned that the country's post-apartheid Black empowerment rules are preventing billions of dollars in American investment. Bozell highlighted mandatory local equity transfers in the mining and telecommunications sectors as major obstacles to investment. Since early 2025, the US has increased pressure on Pretoria regarding property rights, rural safety, and foreign policy alignment.
Bozell noted that the US has billions of dollars in capital on the sidelines, which is currently unavailable due to South Africa's reluctance to form a better partnership. He expressed disbelief at the lack of progress and questioned whether South Africa remains a viable partner. Earlier this week, the Trump administration imposed visa restrictions on certain South African officials accused of "government-sponsored" discrimination, signaling the start of a series of measures against Pretoria.
South Africa is leveraging its dominant position as a global supplier of platinum group metals to mend its fractured ties with the US, which heavily relies on these metals for its industrial base.
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