Can SA reject new US ambassador's past?

Experts weigh in on diplomatic implications of rejecting the new US ambassador's credentials

- THAMI MAGUBANE AND THEOLIN TEMBO

SOUTH Africa is within its rights to reject the newly appointed US ambassador based on his previous utterances and personal behaviour.

International relations experts said the rules governing such processes allow a receiving country to reject an ambassador based on the ambassador's personal conduct, not on the position of their government.

Leo Brent Bozell III was on Friday sworn in as the ambassador-designate to South Africa and is expected to take up the post next month.

Currently, South Africa has no ambassador to the USA after the country expelled Ibrahim Rasool for comments deemed defamatory to US President Donald Trump. Washington has also refused to accept envoy Mcebisi Jonas.

These incidents have led to questions about whether South Africa should accept the new ambassador, especially as recent letters circulating on social media show that he opposed the USA engaging with ANC leadership as it sought to dismantle the apartheid system.

A letter written in 1987 that bears Bozell’s name has surfaced online, in which he is said to express opposition to a meeting between the ANC, led by Oliver Tambo, and US officials.

The letter, under the headline “National Conservative Political Action; stated that, “the NCPAC is proud to be a member of the coalition against ANC terrorism. We agree that the impending meeting between Secretary of State Shultz and ANC President Tambo represents an unsatisfactory trend in US policy towards South Africa.’