By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

The new United States Ambassador, Leo Brent Bozell III, has arrived in South Africa to take his post, amid political tensions between the United States and South Africa.

The new Ambassador will be expected to present his credence to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, which is seen as an official process that will recognise him as the US Ambassador of the United States to South Africa. 

United States President Donald Trump nominated Bozel to be Ambassador last year despite the tensions between South Africa and the United States that have been brewing since early last year, which began with false claims that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa as well as being on opposite sides in regard to the International Court of Justice case between South Africa and Israel. 

South Africa had filed a case against Israel claiming that they are perpetrating a genocide against the Palestinian people. Bozel’s appointment came shortly after the US expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, after he made a claim that Trump is creating a “supremacist revolution” during a think tank webinar.

 Bozel also serves as the Founder of the Media Research Centre, which is aimed at campaigning against liberal bias in mainstream media as well as building an organisation dedicated to going against liberal influence in the American zeitgeist. 

Bozel used to oppose Trump’s views until there were claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” from Trump and he shifted his stance ever since, to now advocating for Trump.

 The former US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, had resigned from his post in November 2024.