Bozell is not in SA to sip rooibos

US ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell hands over copies of his letters of credence to the department of international relations and cooperation’s acting Chief of State Protocol, Clayson Monyela. Picture: Dirco Donald Trump’s ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, has arrived in Pretoria – perhaps now sipping the 10th cup of our rooibos and nibbling specially prepared koeksisters from Orania behind the embassy’s heavily fortified walls in Tshwane, while plotting his next move against President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa’s office at the Union Buildings is just a few streets from Bozell’s new workspace.

They could effortlessly meet on the lush lawns of State House whenever they wish under the shadow of the towering statue of Nelson Mandela while enjoying rooibos in the presidential blue-and-white porcelain jars. If you thought the previous US ambassador, Reuben Brigety II, was a diplomatic disaster for South Africa with his tendency to overreach in our internal affairs (his allegations of Russian Lady R docking and terrorist bombing in Sandton), think again. Even the recently expelled chargé d’affaires of Israel, Ariel Seidman’s unrestrained outbursts directed at our president, would be child’s play compared to what we can expect from Bozell.

Wait until Bozell completes his welcome diplomatic protocol. After that, brace yourself for the inevitable shouting match with Cyril or Ronald Lamola. Bozell’s frustrations with Pretoria are clearly visible on his bearded face.

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From the looks of things, the new envoy won’t wait to reach his 20th cup of rooibos before he unleashes his first outburst and tells Ramaphosa how wrong he is about Israel. American cable channel MS Now describes Bozell as a right-wing activist who once defended apartheid. His son joined the Trump-supporting mob that stormed the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021. Labelling him an “apartheid-friendly ambassador”, the channel argues his mission is to advance Trump’s narrative of a supposed white genocide in South Africa.

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