Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to receive Letters of Credence from several newly appointed Heads of Mission at a ceremony in Pretoria on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, including US Ambassador-designate Leo Brent Bozell.
“Letters of Credence are official diplomatic documents presented to the President by Heads of Mission-designate who have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as ambassadors to South Africa,” the President said in a statement.
Bozell’s accreditation comes amid strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States, which have worsened since US President Donald Trump returned to office.
He was nominated in March 2025 to replace former ambassador Reuben Brigety.
President @CyrilRamaphosa will on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-Designate at a Credentials Ceremony to be held at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
🔗 https://t.co/VIH27gk3bQ pic.twitter.com/6Stb0VjHSG
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) April 6, 2026
Tensions between the two countries have been marked by disagreements over South Africa’s domestic and foreign policy positions, including comments made by Bozell that drew diplomatic backlash and a démarche over remarks on policy direction and the “Kill the Boer” chant.
Relations further deteriorated after the US suspended aid to South Africa, launched a refugee programme for Afrikaners, and expelled South Africa’s ambassador in Washington in 2025. The US has also made claims of “white genocide” in South Africa, which Pretoria has strongly denied.
Despite the tensions, the upcoming ceremony will also see Ramaphosa receive envoys from several other countries, including Angola, Barbados, Cuba, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, the Philippines, Ukraine and Zimbabwe, among others.
Picture: X/@USEmbassySA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
