US ambassador warns billions in investment at risk as ties with South Africa fray

US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III says potential American investments worth billions are at risk as relations between Washington and Pretoria deteriorate. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Bozell criticised South African policy choices and diplomatic behaviour that he said are deterring investment and moving the country closer to US adversaries.

Ambassador flags stalled investment

Bozell told Fox News Digital that “there are literally billions of dollars from American firms and American government investments ready to go into mining”, but argued these funds are being held back by policies that require foreign companies to cede ownership stakes to local partners. He singled out race-based ownership requirements as a deterrent to investment, particularly in mining and telecommunications.

Accusations over political rhetoric

The ambassador also accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to condemn what he called an incitement to violence. Bozell said:

“You’ve got a president of South Africa who refuses to condemn an incitement to kill.”

Diplomatic fallout and visa measures

Bozell’s comments come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals accused of involvement in race-based discrimination and uncompensated land seizures in South Africa. Relations worsened when South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued a diplomatic rebuke, or démarche, against Bozellthe third such action since his arrival in the country.

South African officials accused the ambassador of “undiplomatic conduct” while saying both countries remain committed to resolving outstanding issues.

Concerns about geopolitical alignment

Bozell warned Washington is worried about South Africa’s international alignments, saying the country is moving closer to nations the US views as adversaries. He said President Donald Trump believes Pretoria has been “systematically leaving the non-alignment space and moving closer and closer to our adversaries.”

Washington still wants a partnership

Despite the tensions, Bozell said the United States wants to preserve its relationship with South Africa.

“We want this partnership. We want to figure this out. It’s good for South Africa. It’s good for the United States of America,”

he said.

Questions over investment policy, political rhetoric and diplomatic exchanges now frame a fraught chapter in US–South Africa relations, with economic and strategic stakes highlighted by the ambassador’s remarks.