US Ambassador Bozell Refuses to Say if White South Africans Face Genocide
- US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III dodged repeated direct questions from a 702 radio host about whether Washington believes white South Africans are being targeted
- Ronald Lamola publicly condemned the Trump administration's Afrikaner resettlement programme at the African Diaspora Forum in Washington, calling it a race-based policy
- The Ambassador admitted that expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough with Pretoria had not materialised, linking the stall to Lamola's public criticism of the US
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
SOUTH AFRICA — US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III declined to confirm or deny that white South Africans are victims of targeted killing, deflecting a series of pointed questions during a live radio interview. He spoke after the US imposed visa restrictions on African officials, including South Africans.
According to Eyewitness News, 702 host Bongani Bingwa pressed Bozell for a straightforward yes or no answer on whether the United States government believes a white genocide is taking place in South Africa. The ambassador repeatedly avoided committing to a position, instead redirecting attention to five specific requests the Trump administration has submitted to the South African government, noting that the word genocide does not feature in any of those formal demands.
Bozell slams Lamola
The interview follows public remarks by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola at the African Diaspora Forum in Washington. Lamola condemned the US resettlement initiative for Afrikaners as a racially selective policy, describing it as "Apartheid 2.0." He further rejected white genocide claims as baseless narratives constructed to justify preferential immigration treatment for a specific group.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Bozell acknowledged that Lamola's vocal criticism of Washington's approach has directly contributed to friction between the two countries. He conceded that he had previously indicated to American leadership that a diplomatic resolution with Pretoria was close at hand, but those signals have not translated into any meaningful progress.
Pretoria stands firm on constitutional protections
The South African government has consistently pushed back against the narrative driving the resettlement programme. Officials maintain that allegations of racial persecution and widespread illegal land grabs misrepresent the country's legal framework, arguing that South Africa's constitution guarantees equal protection to all citizens regardless of race.
The standoff reflects deepening tensions between Pretoria and Washington over how the Trump administration has characterised conditions for white South Africans, with both sides showing little sign of softening their public positions. Watch South Africa's Lamola Blasts Trump Over "White Genocide" Claims for direct context on the minister's public statements rejecting white genocide claims and addressing US diplomatic relations.
The US Ambassador to South Africa's X account posted about the interview.
View the tweet here:
Roelf Meyer speaks on SA-US relations
In a related article, Briefly News reported on South Africa’s continued efforts to negotiate with the United States despite newly announced visa restrictions against its policymakers. Ambassador Roelf Meyer said Pretoria preferred dialogue, while Washington warned that further measures could follow.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
