Former United States (US) diplomat J. Brooks Spector has urged the newly appointed US Ambassador to South Africa (SA), Leo Brent Bozell III, to prioritise listening to all segments of SA society rather than focusing solely on government officials, highlighting a fresh approach amid fraught bilateral ties.

“Understanding the way SA got to where it is will be important,” Spector said, adding that Bozell should engage not only with politicians but also with academics, business leaders, workers, and commentators across the country. “A good Ambassador builds upon the full breadth of the relationship, not just government-to-government interactions.”

The appointment comes after a year of heightened tensions between Washington and Pretoria over SA’s relationships with Russia and China, trade disagreements, and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The US has also promoted a refugee programme for white South Africans, further complicating diplomatic relations.

Spector noted that Bozell, a conservative media analyst rather than a career diplomat, will represent US government policies while bringing his own style to the role. “An ambassador doesn’t represent himself as much as the government and the head of state that appointed them,” he said.

On historical concerns, Spector said past opposition by Bozell to US engagement with the African National Congress during apartheid should not overshadow his current role. “Events change; circumstances change. We need to judge him on what he says and does now, not 40 years ago,” he explained.

Bozell is expected to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria to present his credentials, formally taking up his post at a time when SA still lacks an ambassador in Washington.

–ChannelAfrica–