US Senate Confirms Bozell Signals Tougher Line on SA

Leo Brent Bozell III has been confirmed by the United States (US) Senate as the next US ambassador to South Africa, filling a post that has been vacant since early 2025.

The confirmation lands at a moment when Washington and Pretoria are already locked into a tense relationship shaped by disputes over foreign policy posture, trade leverage, and domestic policy choices.

Bozell has signalled that he intends to treat South Africa’s international alignments as a central test of the relationship, arguing that Pretoria has been moving closer to US rivals and away from genuine nonalignment. He has also indicated he will prioritise the Trump administration’s approach to Afrikaner refugee processing and intends to push Pretoria to reverse course on the International Court of Justice case (ICJ) involving Israel.

The appointment is also a clear signal about style. Bozell is best known in the US for building a career in conservative media advocacy and criticism, including founding the Media Research Center (MRC) in 1987. The MRC is the most prominent group exposing left-wing media bias in the US.

Supporters of a harder line argue the new ambassador will bring clarity and pressure at a time when Washington wants firmer commitments and fewer evasions from Pretoria.