President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday officially received the diplomatic credentials of the new United States ambassador, as relations between Pretoria and Washington remain tense.
The new envoy, Brent Bozell, a conservative media commentator and supporter of US President Donald Trump, assumed his post in February but has already faced criticism following remarks on South Africa’s racial policies and judicial decisions.
At a ceremony held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, Bozell, accompanied by his spouse, was welcomed with a guard of honour before formally presenting his credentials to Ramaphosa.
Speaking at the event, Bozell said he had been encouraged by widespread positive impressions of the country prior to his arrival.
“Before I arrived here, I cannot tell you how many people told me that in short order, I’d fall in love with the country. It’s only taken two months and I can confirm that has happened,” he said.
He added that his mission was to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
“We are two nations with great shared values and interests... It’s my goal in my time here to build on those shared interests, to build on self-respect, to build on our shared values, to take our two nations to places they’ve never been,” Bozell said.
Alongside the US envoy, 19 other ambassadors—including representatives from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Haiti and Cuba—also presented their credentials.
In his remarks, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of diplomatic respect, urging envoys to engage constructively with host nations and avoid public confrontation on sensitive issues.
He stressed that strong bilateral relations are best maintained through “mutual respect” and discreet diplomatic engagement.
Relations between South Africa and the United States have become increasingly strained over issues including South Africa’s genocide case against US ally Israel and Trump’s disputed claims regarding the persecution of Afrikaners.
Bozell was previously summoned by South African authorities after describing the apartheid-era chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as hate speech and criticising policies aimed at redressing historical inequality. He later said he respected South Africa’s judiciary and its independence.
Tensions have also been reflected in diplomatic reshuffles, with Washington expelling Pretoria’s ambassador Ebrahim Rasool last year after controversial remarks about the MAGA movement. A replacement has not yet been announced.
South Africa remains a key US trading partner on the African continent, hosting more than 500 American companies and approximately 30,000 US citizens.