Tensions between African National Congress leadership and the United States have flared after strong remarks from the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to South Africa.
Leo Brent Bozell III, the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, recently warned that Washington was growing impatient with the country’s political direction. In his remarks, Bozell pointed to billions of rands invested by American technology companies and cautioned that investor confidence could be affected if relations between the two countries deteriorate further.
However, Fikile Mbalula, Secretary-General of the ANC, responded forcefully on the social media platform X, rejecting what he described as attempts to pressure South Africa’s foreign policy.
“We must make it clear to all whom we welcome in our beautiful country, including the new U.S. ambassador, that South Africa’s international relations policy will not be dictated to by anyone else but South Africans and their government,” Mbalula wrote.
We must make it clear to all whom we welcome in our beautiful country including the new US ambassador. That South Africa’s international relations policy will not be dictated to by anyone else but South Africans and their government.
Threats of investors pulling out such as…
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) March 11, 2026
Mbalula also dismissed speculation that major American companies such as Amazon, Google, Visa and Microsoft could withdraw investments from South Africa due to political tensions. According to him, such claims are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of business confidence in the country.
He pointed out that several international companies recently participated in events linked to the Group of Twenty, even in the absence of senior officials from the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
To further underline his point, Mbalula cited the expansion of global retail giant Walmart into the South African market as evidence that international businesses still view the country as an attractive investment destination.
“South Africa is open for business and remains a safe destination for global companies,” he said.
Mbalula concluded by reiterating that South Africa supports a multipolar global order grounded in international law and multilateral cooperation, stressing that the country will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy while maintaining constructive relations with global partners.
