EFF Calls For US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III To Be Expelled From South Africa

South Africa’s political tensions with the United States have flared again after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) demanded the immediate expulsion of US ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III.

The opposition party says the diplomat crossed a line by criticising South Africa’s policies and suggesting the country should rethink its relationships and legislation to maintain American investment. According to the EFF, those remarks amount to interference in the country’s sovereignty.

Diplomatic Tensions Surface At Biznews Conference

The controversy stems from comments Bozell made during an address at the Biznews 2026 conference.

Speaking at the event, the ambassador reportedly expressed frustration from Washington over South Africa’s policy direction and its relationship with countries considered adversaries by the United States.

Bozell also referenced the significant presence of American businesses operating in South Africa, including companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Visa. He suggested their continued investment demonstrated American goodwill and commercial diplomacy.

For the EFF, that framing was unacceptable.

The party argues that multinational companies operating in South Africa are driven by profit, not generosity. In their view, portraying corporate investment as goodwill misrepresents the economic reality.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the idea that these corporations operate out of goodwill reflects a misunderstanding of how global business works.

He said these companies benefit from South African resources and markets, and therefore their presence should not be used as leverage in political discussions.

Dispute Over South Africa’s Policy Direction

Bozell’s remarks also touched on sensitive policy areas that have long been debated in South Africa.

Among them were expropriation without compensation and Black Economic Empowerment legislation. The ambassador reportedly suggested that policy decisions like these could affect the willingness of foreign investors to continue doing business in the country.

He also indicated that South Africa should reconsider its diplomatic relationships with countries such as Iran.

The EFF strongly rejected those suggestions, saying no foreign government has the authority to influence South Africa’s domestic or foreign policy.

According to the party, South Africa must determine its own path without pressure from external powers.

Persona Non Grata Call

In response to the comments, the EFF has formally called for Bozell to be declared persona non grata.

In diplomatic terms, that status means a host country no longer accepts an ambassador’s presence and can require them to leave.

The party argues that Bozell’s statements show contempt for South Africa’s institutions, including its courts, legislature and presidency.

One of the most contentious elements of the dispute relates to comments attributed to the ambassador about the struggle song “Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer”.

The EFF says Bozell dismissed South African court rulings on the song and indicated he did not care about the legal decisions surrounding it.

For the party, that dismissal of judicial authority was particularly offensive given the historical context of the song within the anti-apartheid struggle.

Historical And Political Context

The controversy arrives at a time when relations between Pretoria and Washington are already under scrutiny.

Debates over South Africa’s foreign policy positioning, especially its stance toward global conflicts and non-Western allies, have drawn international attention in recent years.

Domestically, policies such as land reform and B-BBEE remain politically sensitive topics that regularly feature in both economic and diplomatic discussions.

For the EFF, however, the issue is less about policy debate and more about principle.

The party insists that no foreign diplomat should attempt to shape South Africa’s political agenda or question decisions made by its democratic institutions.

EFF Escalates Criticism Of US Foreign Policy

Beyond the ambassador’s remarks, the EFF also criticised the broader actions of the United States government under President Donald Trump.

The party pointed to international conflicts and US military actions as examples of what it described as hypocrisy in Washington’s approach to global politics.

According to the EFF, if the ambassador wishes to discuss international issues, he should instead address controversies linked to American foreign policy.

The party maintains that South Africa’s sovereignty must remain non-negotiable, regardless of pressure from powerful global partners.

Whether the government will respond to the EFF’s demand to expel the ambassador remains unclear. For now, the dispute highlights the delicate balance between diplomacy, political rhetoric and national sovereignty in South Africa’s evolving relationship with the United States.