Pretoria – Relations between South Africa and the United States have come under renewed strain following a public exchange between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and US Ambassador to South Africa L. Brent Bozell III.
The latest dispute centres on comments by Lamola telling Bozell to “get out of the kitchen” if he was no longer prepared to engage in diplomatic discussions with Pretoria.
Bozell responded on Sunday through social media, accusing Lamola of personally attacking him and questioning the direction of relations between the two countries.
The ambassador’s remarks followed comments he had made about the US administration’s concerns over South Africa’s policies and its dealings with the government.
Bozell had previously outlined five issues raised by Washington, including attacks on rural farmers, race based measures affecting American companies seeking to invest in South Africa, the “Kill the Boer” chant, the Afrikaner refugee programme and land expropriation without compensation.
“No matter how many times we attempted to explain the commonsensical nature of these asks, they were met with formal silence from the government,” he said.
Bozell said that after continued pressure, President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote to US President Donald Trump but did not meaningfully respond to three of the outstanding issues.
“It is safe to say the United States government was not just disappointed, it was shocked,” Bozell said.
“The message was clear: The South African government does not want a constructive relationship with the United States.”
“At a time when the South African people need American investment the most, the SA government is rejecting a partnership with the United States,” he said.
Bozell said the time for discussions had passed and called for action from the South African government.
His comments prompted another diplomatic response from Lamola, who issued Bozell with his third démarche since the ambassador assumed his position earlier this year.
The latest démarche was linked to Bozell’s comments concerning what Lamola described as the falsehood of white genocide, as well as the ambassador’s meeting with AfriForum where he expressed frustration with the South African government.
Lamola told the Sunday Times that he was surprised by Bozell’s statement that the time for talking was over, arguing that dialogue was central to diplomatic work.
“It’s our job to talk. So, if you can’t talk as a diplomat and you cannot dialogue, get out of the kitchen,” the minister said.
“He has been involved in very undiplomatic conduct. As a diplomat, you cannot interfere in the domestic politics of your host.”
“It’s rule number one of diplomacy. He clearly, with his posture, public engagements, clearly he’s engaging in our domestic politics.”
Lamola said South Africa valued its relationship with the United States but would take action against any ambassador who failed to observe diplomatic norms.
Bozell subsequently accused the minister of attacking him while expecting him not to respond.
“Here we go again. Another Minister Lamola personal insult aimed at an American leader, this time me,” he said.
“When denounced, which I’m doing now, it will result in a demarche with a lecture about being undiplomatic.”
“And then the South African government wonders why relations are collapsing,” Bozell added.
The latest confrontation has raised further concerns about the future of trade and investment ties between Pretoria and Washington.
Critics and analysts have warned that continued friction could affect South Africa’s trade relationship with the United States, including access to preferential arrangements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, commonly known as AGOA.
Washington has already imposed targeted visa restrictions, which have been linked to disagreements over South Africa’s land policy, domestic legislation and international diplomatic positions.
Analysts have warned that continued resistance to US demands could lead to additional measures rather than a return to normal diplomatic relations.
Joshua Meservey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and an advocate for the visa restrictions, said the deterioration in relations had deeper roots.
Speaking on The Common Sense podcast, Meservey linked the dispute to tensions that emerged during the Biden administration, including the controversy surrounding the Lady R, South Africa’s positions on Russia and Ukraine, and its International Court of Justice case against Israel.
Meservey said the visa restrictions represented only an initial measure and that the United States could consider stronger economic pressure if negotiations remain stalled.
“Financial sanctions would likely be on the list of options the U.S. is considering. It would be targeted financial sanctions, not sectoral ones,” he said.
He said officials in the Trump administration were also aware of the potential for stronger trade and commercial relations with South Africa, including investments by American companies that could benefit the South African economy.
“However, the United States’ five asks have to be dealt with. Until that happens, we will see the potential benefits of a closer U.S.–South Africa relationship,” he said.
Meservey further suggested that the African National Congress led government could be delaying negotiations in the expectation that the Trump administration will eventually leave office.
He warned that such an approach was unlikely to resolve the dispute and could instead increase frustration among US policymakers.
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