{
  "id": 9278119,
  "title": "Can Mbeki help repair South Africa’s ties with Washington?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/can-mbeki-help-repair-south-africas-ties-with-washington",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/can-mbeki-help-repair-south-africas-ties-with-washington/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III seems to have been responding to questions about the role that former President Thabo Mbeki could play in normalising relations between Washington and Pretoria. Bozell did not suggest Mbeki himself, but he did enthusiastically advocate for him as the \"best person\" to calm diplomatic tensions. Bozell praised Mbeki's understanding of \"global diplomacy mechanics\" as being \"better than anyone else in South Africa.\"\n\nMbeki, the seemingly aloof man who believed in an \"African Renaissance,\" may be just the person South Africa needs to address its domestic issues. However, South Africans, particularly those in the ANC government of national unity, generally do not appreciate being told what to do. Bozell's suggestion of Mbeki as a peacemaker for another country might be seen as presumptuous at best.\n\nOn the other hand, Bozell noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa has not responded to the \"asks\" of President Donald Trump, which include publicly condemning the \"Kill the Boer\" slogan and song. The US government has the right to decide who it lets into its country, and is using the visa mechanism to impose sanctions on those in government – and elsewhere – who support the persecution of \"white Afrikaners.\" It remains to be seen whether the American strong-arm tactics will bring about change or unite fence-sitters behind the ANC in resisting foreign attempts at manipulation.",
  "summary": "Bozell pointed to Mbeki's understanding of the \"mechanics of global diplomacy\" as being \"better than anyone else in South Africa\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 14,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/new-patrol-and-special-edition-x-trail-leading-nissan-south-africa-in",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Mpox cases in South Africa rise to 22",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mpox-cases-in-south-africa-rise-to-22",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "At least 11 dead in mass shooting at house party in South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/at-least-11-dead-in-mass-shooting-at-house-party-in-south-africa",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:57:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "South Africa: 11 killed in attack on homestead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/south-africa-11-killed-in-attack-on-homestead",
        "published": "2026-09-23T06:12:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "A mass shooting at a house in South Africa leaves 11 dead and 3 wounded, police say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/a-mass-shooting-at-a-house-in-south-africa-leaves-11-dead-and-3",
        "published": "2026-09-23T06:43:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "At least 11 dead in mass shooting at house party in South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/at-least-11-dead-in-mass-shooting-at-house-party-in-south-africa-9293264",
        "published": "2026-09-23T06:58:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "Mass shooting in South Africa leaves 11 dead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mass-shooting-in-south-africa-leaves-11-dead",
        "published": "2026-09-23T07:01:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Eleven killed in mass shooting at house in South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/eleven-killed-in-mass-shooting-at-house-in-south-africa",
        "published": "2026-09-23T07:02:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Shooting at South Africa house party kills 11, injures three",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/shooting-at-south-africa-house-party-kills-11-injures-three",
        "published": "2026-09-23T07:40:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "At least 11 dead in mass shooting at house party in South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/at-least-11-dead-in-mass-shooting-at-house-party-in-south-africa-9300934",
        "published": "2026-09-23T08:08:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Eleven killed in mass shooting at house in South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/eleven-killed-in-mass-shooting-at-house-in-south-africa-9367583",
        "published": "2026-09-23T13:48:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Mass shooting in South Africa leaves 11 dead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mass-shooting-in-south-africa-leaves-11-dead-9403242",
        "published": "2026-09-23T20:04:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Mass shooting in South Africa leaves 11 dead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mass-shooting-in-south-africa-leaves-11-dead-9403222",
        "published": "2026-09-23T20:04:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}