Leo Brent Bozell III lands in South Africa: Will US ambassador receive a warm welcome?
Bozell, US President Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador to SA, still has to present to his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
US ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, has arrived in South Africa to ostensibly attempt a rescue of the crumbling relationship between Pretoria and Washington.
The arrival marks a critical juncture as diplomatic friction between the two nations reaches a historical peak.
According to Reuters, a US embassy official confirmed that the conservative activist had landed on Monday, 16 February 2026, and is now awaiting a formal ceremony with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Bozell must present his letter of credence to Ramaphosa before he can legally begin his duties.
Bozell faces a volatile diplomatic arena
The 70-year-old scion of the influential Buckley family comes with significant political baggage. In the 1980s, Bozell founded the Media Research Center and was a member of a coalition that actively opposed US engagement with the African National Congress (ANC) during the liberation struggle.
His mission is further complicated by recent tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Relations soured after Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s former envoy to the US, was declared persona non grata in March 2025 after criticising Trump. More recently, the US State Department revoked the visitor visa of former minister Naledi Pandor, citing her role in international litigation against Israel.
A major stumbling block remains South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Bozell has explicitly stated that pressuring Pretoria to withdraw this case is a top priority, a move likely to clash with South Africa’s core foreign policy regarding Palestinian rights.
The battle over credentials and street names
Beyond international litigation, the new ambassador may soon find himself reporting for work at a very differently named address.
While the US Consulate is currently located on Sandton Drive, local political pressure to rename the thoroughfare Leila Khaled Drive – honouring the Palestinian militant – remains a divisive and provocative issue. Critics argue the renaming is a deliberate attempt to “p*ss off” the US government.
Whether Ramaphosa will accept Bozell’s credentials without delay remains a point of intense speculation. While such ceremonies are governed by strict protocols, they offer a subtle space for political signalling. South Africa could choose to use this moment to express its displeasure with recent US trade tariffs and aid cuts.
As reported by SA People, bilateral ties are at an all-time low, and Bozell’s arrival may either mend or further fracture the fragile bond between the two countries.