ANC rejects engagement with US ambassador-in-waiting Leo Brent Bozell until formal credentials are presented to President Ramaphosa
Image: Kris Connor / Getty Images North America / AFP
African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane says the party will not engage with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, until he is formally received by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday ahead of the ANC's planned People's March this Saturday, Mokonyane made it clear that Bozell’s position remains unofficial as he has not yet presented his credentials to the President.
"Until the time when the President receives his credentials, he is not an ambassador based in the Republic of South Africa," she said.
The ANC, according to Mokonyane, would not meet with Bozell until the head of state officially acknowledges him.
She also pointed out that while others have already interacted with the ambassador, the ANC would not give legitimacy to his role without following proper diplomatic protocol.
“Others can meet with him and interact with him, but until the head of state receives him and accepts his credentials, we are not even looking forward to an invitation because it would be informal, it would not add value,” Mokonyane said.
Mokonyane further emphasised that, while the party has been in touch with the US Embassy on several other programs, they would not support what they view as an illegitimate engagement.
"We have also been in touch with the United States of America’s embassy here over many other programmes of the ANC. But what we will not do is to give legitimacy to that which is as yet to be legitimate in our country,” she said.
Mokonyane’s comments come amid rising tensions between the ANC and the United States, particularly over South Africa’s domestic policies, including land expropriation and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
Additionally, Bozell had raised concerns regarding the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant during a meeting with business leaders last week.
Mokonyane said that the ANC’s upcoming march on Saturday is not an anti-US protest, but rather a demonstration in defense of South Africa’s sovereignty and its hard-won democratic gains.
“This march is not against the United States of America,” Mokonyane clarified. “It is in defense of the rights of South Africans to demand economic transformation.”
She explained that the ANC’s march is meant to assert South Africa's right to govern its own affairs, including transforming its economy to reduce dependency on government and challenge the role of private sector monopolies.
“We are marching in defense of the rights of South Africans to demand the transformation of our economy, to ensure that we are not overly dependent on government, and to challenge the role of the private sector and multinational companies in perpetuating inequality,” she said.
Mokonyane highlighted that the march would also mark the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution, a reminder of the country’s commitment to its democratic principles.
"We will use that historic date to come out in our numbers and defend our sovereignty. Our policies cannot be written by others, as they serve the interests of our country,” Mokonyane said. .
The Deputy Secretary-General also took aim at the US government’s stance on South Africa’s economic policies.
“Our policies cannot be written by others because they serve the interests of our country,” Mokonyane said, referencing the United States’ criticisms of South Africa’s policies on BEE and affirmative action.
She pointed out that these policies were central to addressing inequality in South Africa, and the country would not allow outside forces to dictate its approach.
Mokonyane also called for an end to aggression in the Middle East, particularly between the US, Israel, and Iran.
“We are communicating with our own progressives in the United States of America. We are talking to the world about the need to cease fire and negotiate,” she said.
"But if those who are aggressively undermining sovereignty and multilateral platforms act outside of a rules-based approach, we want to affirm the need for dialogue and respect for sovereignty," Mokonyane added.
She also reaffirmed the ANC’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and warned against the exploitation of countries for foreign gain.
“If there is an interest in our minerals, it must be for the good of South Africa. It can’t be about stealing our resources and imposing foreign leaders on us,” she said.
Mokonyane also took a strong stand on the ANC’s historical commitment to resistance, stressing that the party would not be intimidated by external forces.
“Nobody must shut us up because US President Donald Trump has become a bully. We can’t be bullied,” she said.
"We died in prison, we died in the streets of Sharpeville, and we died on the streets of every township. Nobody must silence us because Trump has become a bully.”
Her remarks were also a direct response to concerns over Trump’s influence on international relations.
“We can't fold our arms when Trump is still in office tonight, and he can tweet, and you have an ambassador in waiting already wanting to divide South Africans,” Mokonyane stated.
She reiterated that South Africa’s unity and sovereignty were paramount, saying, “Our unity is paramount. Our sovereignty is paramount.”
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