Cape Town – Brent Bozell III, nominated by former US President Donald Trump as ambassador to South Africa, has told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he will raise US objections to South Africa’s “geostrategic drift” toward countries like Russia, China, and Iran.
He also intends to push South Africa to drop proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice and to address issues related to property rights, corruption, and violence.
“I come before you at a challenging moment for US-South Africa relations. The President has expressed serious concerns about South Africa that have, for too long, gone unaddressed.
“When people and businesses in South Africa believe their private property risk rights are at risk, when many South Africans feel unsafe in their homes, when rampant corruption and unfair business practices hold back the South African economy, and when South African politicians greet as friends those who seek to destabilize the world’s peace and security, then common ground between our two countries feels harder to find,” Bozell III said.
U.S. Ambassador-Designate to SA Brent Bozell III tells Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he will communicate U.S. objections to South Africa’s “geostrategic drift from non-alignment” towards U.S. competitors, will press SA to “end proceedings against Israel at the ICJ”,… pic.twitter.com/XImZq9nw7r
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) October 23, 2025
“I’ll press South Africa to end proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice, and to pressure the International Criminal Court prosecutor to discontinue this lawfare, which is belied by Israel’s support for the ceasefire in Gaza and commitment to the rules of war throughout the conflict.”
Bozell III said he would promote fair trade and support US business interests while approaching his role “with respect for the South African people.”
He also mentioned Trump’s invitation for Afrikaners leaving South Africa due to “unjust racial discrimination.”
During questioning, Bozell III could not definitively answer whether the US considers allegations of genocide against Afrikaners in South Africa to be legally valid, citing lack of legal expertise.
His nomination comes amid strained US-South Africa relations, including aid cuts, an executive order against Pretoria, the expulsion of South Africa’s former US ambassador, and tensions over Israel-ICJ proceedings.
Previous Trump-Ramaphosa meetings focused on economic cooperation but were overshadowed by Trump’s claims of white farmer persecution, citing videos of EFF and MK party leaders.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
