Parliament to summon DIRCO over third Bozell diplomatic protest in nine months

The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation has raised concerns over the three diplomatic protests involving US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III in less than nine months.

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The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation has raised concerns over the third diplomatic protest against US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III in less than nine months.

Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said the committee was concerned about the repeated demarches.

He said the committee would invite the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) to explain the circumstances that led to three demarches in less than nine months, their impact on bilateral relations and the steps being taken to ensure adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

DIRCO confirmed that Bozell was summoned on September 30 over what it described as “undiplomatic conduct”.

The committee said the latest summons was the third formal diplomatic protest since Bozell's accreditation on April 8. It said it was awaiting a full briefing from DIRCO on the substance of the latest demarche.

Committee warns against diplomatic interference

Mahumapelo said respect for South Africa's sovereignty and judiciary must always be maintained.

The committee said South Africa was a constitutional democracy and that the Vienna Convention required diplomats to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state and not interfere in its internal affairs.

Public commentary that undermined decisions of the Constitutional Court and questioned domestic transformation policies aimed at redressing apartheid inequalities was incompatible with diplomatic norms.

The committee said disagreements over issues including trade, visa restrictions and domestic policy should be raised through established diplomatic channels with DIRCO, rather than through media interviews that could inflame sentiment.

The committee's position comes amid continued public tensions between Bozell and South African officials.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola recently criticised Bozell's approach to diplomacy, saying a diplomat could not declare that the time for talking was over and accusing him of interfering in South Africa's domestic politics.

“You can't have a diplomat who says the time for talking is over,” Lamola said. “It's our job to talk. So if you can't talk as a diplomat and you cannot dialogue, get out of the kitchen.”

Bozell later hit back on X, accusing Lamola of personally insulting an American diplomatic representative and questioning why the South African government “wonders why relations are collapsing”.

Committee backs continued engagement

The committee said the United States remained an important trade, investment and historical partner for South Africa.

It supported the government's continued commitment to constructive engagement and the recalibration of bilateral relations, pointing to the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Bozell at Mahlamba Ndlopfu on August 27.

“However, constructive engagement requires mutual respect,” Mahumapelo said.

The committee also called on all foreign missions accredited to South Africa to uphold the highest standards of diplomatic decorum.

“We reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to international law, multilateralism and non-racialism as enshrined in our Constitution,'' Mahumapelo said.

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