Bozell not ideal US envoy

EXPERT: INAPPROPRIATE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH AN ANIMUS FOR COUNTRY AS AMBASSADOR

- Faizel Patel & Eric Mthobeli Naki

US President Donald Trump has nominated conservative Leo Brent Bozell III as ambassador to South Africa to keep an eye on the country and report back to him.

This is the view of analysts after Bozell's nomination was published on the US Congress' official website this week.

He will replace Reuben Brigety, who resigned last year.

Bozell, whom the senate must confirm, will step into the role with tension high between South Africa and the United States.

Trump has cut financial aid to SA and issued an executive order against the country, alleging human rights abuses and criticising Pretoria for taking Israel to the International Court of Justice.

This has been exacerbated by the declaration of SA's former ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool as persona non grata. He was given just 72 hours to leave the US due to his comments about the Trump administration.

Bozell, a conservative activist, is the father of one of the people charged with storming the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.