Envoy reignites SA-US diplomatic discord 

by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s relations with China and Iran are again a source of discord in the delicate ties with the United States.

Some events this week have left US Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, questioning the host country’s policy of non-alignment and accusing South Africa of siding with America’s adversaries.

The envoy’s comments, which are tantamount to interference in a host country’s domestic affairs, followed Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s participation in an event in China and South Africa hosting the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh.

“Deputy President Mashatile in Beijing. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister in Pretoria. Same week,” Bozell responded.

“South Africa can’t claim the mantle of non-alignment while actively courting America’s adversaries. These are choices, and they speak for themselves.”

The envoy continued his rant, “The Government of South Africa rolls out the red carpet for Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, while Deputy President Mashatile is in Beijing deepening ties with China. Pretoria calls this ‘non-alignment.’ We call it what it is: a choice.”

Bozell said the South African people deserve an honest conversation about who their government is choosing to stand with.

Making the envoy’s position duplicitous are recent developments the US has been involved in with China and Iran.

In May, President Donald Trump made a high-level state visit to China, holding high-stakes bilateral summits with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing.

The US and Iran are officially attempting to mend relations and end their recent conflict, having signed an interim memorandum of understanding to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Wu Peng, China’s ambassador to South Africa, said out of respect and diplomatic protocol, China does not comment on South Africa’s relations with other countries.

“Likewise, we oppose envoys of other countries publicly commenting on relations between China and South Africa,” Peng said.

Some South Africans have called Bozell out.

“Your own president was in China a few weeks ago, you just gave Iran billions of dollars and lifted oil sanctions against them, and here you are trying to dictate to our government who to be friends with. Are you being serious?” Itumeleng Mekoa asked rhetorically.

Tiisetso Malepa also responded.

“US President Donald Trump visited China on a state visit from 13 to 15 May 2026 to ‘deepen ties with China’. When South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile goes to China to deepen ties, it’s a problem for the US. On Iran, your enemies are not and should not be South Africa’s enemies,” Malepa said.

Bozell has been on a collision course with South Africa since he formally started his diplomatic work in the country in February.

The primary flashpoint was in March during a speech the ambassador delivered at a business forum.

He criticised the judiciary ruling over the anti-apartheid political chant, “Kill the Boer”, and some economic policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

Bozell repeatedly questioned South Africa’s position of non-alignment and condemned Pretoria’s diplomatic ties with China, Iran and Russia.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation and ruling party officials condemned the comments, resulting in the issuance of a démarche, a severe diplomatic reprimand one step short of expulsion.

Bozell apologised.

This fallout underlines a deterioration in ties between South Africa and the US following the return of Trump to office in 2025.

– CAJ News