By Monica Mynhardt and Tania Heyns
Brent Bozell, the US ambassador to South Africa. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
In his first public speech as the US’s new ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell reminded business people on Tuesday that pres. Donald Trump’s administration has made five demands to the South African government.
“We have been waiting for an answer for almost a year. Our patience is running out,” the ambassador said on Monday at BizNews’ conference in Hermanus.
“We believe that this is increasingly becoming a statement by the South African government by not responding. We may not get clarity on the ‘Kill the Boer’ chant which is hate speech. I don’t care what your court says. It is hate speech,” the ambassador said.
“We still don’t have clarity about expropriation either.
“The South African government will have to act. And the business community will also have to respond. I don’t want to hear businesses say one thing in public and then another in private. If South African businesses have a problem with black economic empowerment, they will have to say so in public,” Bozell believes.
Brent Bozell in conversation during BizNews’ conference in Hermanus. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
“I don’t want them to be afraid. There has to be that kind of outspokenness. This is an existential moment that no one wanted to have … I urge you to be more outspoken.”
-
- Brent Bozell, the US ambassador to South Africa. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
-
- Brent Bozell, the US ambassador to South Africa. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
The ambassador admitted that he is known for being straightforward. “That’s why the president asked me to do this.”
To a frustrated business community, Bozell said: “Don’t follow the rules of those (in government) who want to divide and conquer. Fight them with the very ideals they used to fight the racial laws of apartheid.”
Trump calls for non-alignment
Brent Bozell, the US ambassador to South Africa. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
Pres. Donald Trump approached Bozell directly last year to serve as the US ambassador to South Africa amid the two countries’ deteriorating diplomatic relations.
Bozell says that Trump explained to him the concerns he had about South Africa.
“When I spoke to the president, he had one mandate and it was so simple. The president said: ‘I want South Africa to become non-aligned again. That’s not too much to ask’.
“All we ask is fairness – from both sides.”
Bozell made it clear to business people that he did not come to South Africa as an ambassador to fight.
“I’m an optimist. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have accepted this position. So I believe we can come to an agreement. We’ll go with respect, but have to speak directly about what we disagree on.
“But there are some tough conversations ahead.”
SA high on USA’s priority list
However, Bozell feels strongly that South Africa and the US can be good partners if attention is paid to the US government’s concerns.
“Don’t think South Africa is low on Trump’s priority list,” Bozell told delegates at the conference.
According to Bozell, Trump actually has his eye on South Africa as a potential leading trading partner. The ambassador believes that South Africa is in fact among the top 10 in terms of American priorities.
“To understand this president is to understand that trade is his mindset.
“And he sees great opportunities in South Africa, but also understands the challenges. This is a president who looks at South Africa and sees what incredible music we can make together if we can only solve these problems we have.”
Listen to the ambassador’s speech at the BizNews conference in Hermanus at the top of the article.
The audience at BizNews’ conference in Hermanus. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)