Ramaphosa shocked the United States
United States Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell, said that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response to “asks” from the Trump administration left Washington shocked.
It was this response—nine months late and failing to meaningfully address anything that was put forward—that led to visa sanctions against specific individuals, and the threat of worse to come.
According to Bozell, US President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14204 in February 2025, outlining Washington’s concerns with South Africa.
Broadly, the order related to farm attacks, BEE requirements for American businesses and South Africa’s steady drift toward the United States’ “adversaries”.
In June 2025, a list of four demands emerged through delegations engaging with the US, which was communicated to the South African government, but rejected as it had not gone through official channels.
When Bozell was appointed ambassador in February 2026, the list had grown to five “asks” and was formally presented to Pretoria, starting a waiting game to see whether bilateral relations could be restored.
Bozell said that two of the “asks” were effectively dealt with.
The first, that the South African government not interfere with the processing of Afrikaner refugees, has been met.
The second, that South Africa rejects expropriation without compensation, is in the hands of the Constitutional Court.
While Bozell noted that it was gravely concerning that Ramaphosa and the ANC fully backed South Africa’s Expropriation Act and its provision for “nil” compensation, he was satisfied that the courts would have the final say.
However, the three remaining asks—condemning the “kill the boer” chant, declaring rural crime a priority, and introducing BEE alternatives such as equity equivalent investment programmes (EEIP) in mining and telecoms—were met with silence.
The ambassador said that after months of silence from Ramaphosa, he was mandated by Washington to set a deadline for Pretoria.
A response came, and failed to address anything, he said.
“It is safe to say my government was not just disappointed, it was shocked. The message was clear: the South African government does not want a constructive relationship with the US,” Bozell said.
South Africa shooting itself in the foot
Bozell said that Ramaphosa’s non-answer to the United States’ “asks” resulted in the visa restrictions announced earlier in September.
The visa restrictions are not applied to all, and are targeted at individuals that Washington believes are responsible and perpetuate the issues left hanging in its “asks”.
Specifically, laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and the incitement of violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Bozell made it clear that it was just the start.
“This visa restriction policy is a first response, calibrated and specific. But I won’t pretend it’s the last word, either,” he said.
While not specifying anything in particular to follow, South Africa is awaiting an announcement on which countries will be eligible for the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) in 2027.
The US ambassador also noted that many US companies currently operating in the country create hundreds of thousands of jobs and invest in major infrastructure.
Instead of focusing on what the US could take away, Bozell highlighted what the South African government is holding back.
“Many more US companies are waiting to bring major investment in critical minerals, energy cooperation, and telecommunications, to name a few,” he said.
“This is capital looking for the certainty and security it needs to invest in South Africa.”
He said that the question is not how many American companies have been able to withstand the burdensome and inefficient race-based regulatory environment needed to do business in South Africa
“[The question] is how many companies are not investing in South Africa solely because of these additional hurdles?” he said.
“At a time when the South African people need American investment the most, the South African government is rejecting a partnership with the US. This is the cost of doing nothing.”
Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola have characterised the United States’ demands as an attack on South Africa’s sovereignty.
They said they are willing to negotiate and engage with the United States, but only on equal footing, without demands being forced on them.
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