US ambassador to SA on thin ice as pressure mounts
Mounting pressure on Lamola to act decisively as frustration with right-wing diplomat appointed by Trump reaches boiling.
South African Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III is facing increasing pressure to take decisive action, with officials urging his expulsion or declaration as persona non grata. The demand comes amid frustration within the ruling ANC and government circles over Bozell's right-wing views and perceived subservience to US President Donald Trump.
Frustration has reached a boiling point, with some calling for an end to diplomatic protests that are ignored by Washington. The situation echoes the 2022 removal of South Africa's former ambassador to the US, Ibrahim Rasool, who was dismissed for expressing anti-Trump sentiments. ANC officials argue that South Africa must retaliate and demonstrate its sovereignty, stating that the current approach of issuing diplomatic protests is futile.
International relations expert Oscar van Heerden, close to the ANC, believes that continuing to issue demarches without any response is unacceptable and could lead to drastic steps, including asking Bozell to leave the country. He warns that the unpredictable Trump administration may retaliate with visa restrictions, tariffs, or targeted sanctions, potentially affecting the much-anticipated bilateral trade agreement.
Moreover, Van Heerden suggests that Trump's motives may extend beyond trade, citing geopolitical concerns such as South Africa's role in Brics and rare earths. ANC scholar Dominic Maphaka adds that Bozell's presence is untenable, describing him as Trump's "ears and eyes" in South Africa and urging Pretoria to stand firm on its domestic policy while waiting for Trump's term to end.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
