United States Ambassador warns that South Africa will collapse and go the way of Haiti with the wrong policies

The United States Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, warned that South Africa will go the way of Haiti if it pursues the wrong policies.

He shared this information in an interview with Gabriel Makin from The Common Sense on Monday, 19 October 2026.

Makin highlighted that South Africa’s economy sits somewhere between the poorly performing Haiti and the prosperous United States.

Haiti is characterised by international analysts and political scientists as a failed state with a collapsed economy.

It suffers widespread gang control, non-functional public institutions, prolonged economic contraction, and extreme poverty.

The United States, in comparison, is the world’s largest economy and has robust institutions to support the country.

“South Africa can and will go the way of Haiti with the wrong policies. However, it can go the way of the United States with the right policies. As simple as that,” he said.

He said this is not even up for debate and that it is a simple choice South Africa and its government must make.

He praised South Africa for creating a new democracy following the divisive apartheid era without a war.  “You had struggles, but you didn’t have a full-scale war,” he said.

The United States, in comparison, had a brutal civil war. “We resolved it, and we came out of it a much stronger country. That is where South Africa wants to be,” he said.

He added that the United States has nothing that South Africa does not, which positions the country well for growth.

“We started with nothing, and look what we did. You started with something, so you could be every bit as successful as the United States has been,” he said.

“Just take that one to the bank. You could be every bit as successful as the United States.”

United States wants to partner with South Africa and help the country grow

Bozell said that South Africa is an important country for the United States and that better relations can benefit both parties.

“If the United States has a healthier relationship with South Africa, their success becomes our success. That is what partnerships are all about,” he said.

He is also bullish on South Africa, believing that the country can achieve great economic growth with the right policies.

“South Africa could become one of the largest economic powers in the world. You have the natural resources, you have tourism, and many other things going for you,” he said.

He urged the South African government to resolve the problems between the countries to unlock the country’s potential.

“Once the issues are resolved, that is when the United States goes to its business community and tells them to invest in South Africa,” he said.

“It will be good for the United States, and it will be great for South Africa. This is what partnerships are about.”

Bozell said that the United States is ready and willing to help address problems such as rural crime in South Africa.

“We stated that we would be willing to assist with technology and, if necessary, provide funding to address this as a joint partnership,” he said.

He added that the United States does not expect South Africa to sideline any of its current trade partners.

“We are not telling South Africa they cannot do business with China. What we are putting on the table is that true non-alignment is the answer,” he said.

“We are asking South Africa to return to a position where the country does business fairly with both sides.”