Trump nominates conservative media personality to become next ambassador to SA

JOHANNESBURG - United States (US) President Donald Trump has nominated pro-Israel, conservative media personality Brent Bozell III to become the next ambassador to South Africa.  

Bozell’s nomination was published on the US Congress’s official website on Tuesday.  

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Since Trump took The Presidency three months ago, Washington has been without an ambassador to South Africa amid the deteriorating relationship between the two governments.  

Senior US officials have publicly stated that one of the reasons for the deteriorating relationship between Washington and Pretoria is South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  

Bozell, who has been nominated to be the next US ambassador to South Africa, is a staunch supporter of Israel, with his profile pictures on his social media accounts containing both the US and Israeli flags.  

In the meantime, speaking on the sidelines of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) conference on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he doesn’t need to consult parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) when appointing the next US ambassador.  

“The president appoints ambassadors, and it is within his sole right to appoint ambassadors.”  

Ramaphosa said a “top-class” diplomat would be appointed to represent South Africa’s interests in the US.