Deputy Director-General (DDG), Clayson Monyela, Acting Chief of State Protocol, receiving copies of Letters of Credence from His Excellency L Brent Bozell III, United States Ambassador to South Africa. South Africa’s engagement with the US remains a critical pillar of its broader trade strategy.
Image: DIRCO
So soon in the game, US Ambassador-designate Leo Brent Bozell III has already been given a talking to, or “scolded like a school child”, as the Economic Freedom Fighters’ foreign relations spokesperson Nqobile Mhlongo put it on Wednesday.
I wasn’t surprised, but disappointed. Neither were Mhlongo and other Red Berets who want our resident “Trump’s man” expelled for his recent undiplomatic and disrespectful remarks. They want him shown the same “persona non grata” red card our former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool received in Washington.
A couple of weeks ago in this column, I appealed for everyone involved, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, to work with the controversial US envoy sent here by the Disruptor-in-Chief in the White House to pursue his agenda on our democratic soil.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation did the right thing in simply giving the American a talking to - a démarche in diplomatic lingo. Giving Bozell a long rope is the perfect thing to do. If he thinks he can get away with being disruptive he should ask Ariel Seidman, Israel’s former top envoy in Pretoria who was declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave South Africa for “insulting attacks” and abuse of diplomatic privilege.
It was clear from the onset that Bozell would come to South Africa not to help mend relations or with “respect” for our country, as he promised before his arrival last month. It’s equally clear that Trump hasn’t abandoned his strategy of spreading misinformation and blatant lies about South Africa and its policies. What the end-game is, I don’t know.
But let’s all accept the apology Bozell has tendered and move on.
A lot of terrible things to happen in our beautiful country, but our laws – including our world-revered Constitution that leaves no room for racism – are good and beautiful. And there’s nothing much wrong with many of our social justice policies. The issue is with implementation. And, as for our judiciary, it’s as independent as they come.
Anyway, it looks like the Resident Disruptor will be very busy in the near future, taking pot shots at our government from time to time and following up with apologies. He’s going to behave like those naughty defenders in football who will launch foul tackle after foul tackle, apologising to the injured opponent and the referee profusely straight afterwards. But he mustn’t think he’s not being watched.