Minister Ronald Lamola was worried he was on the United States’ banned visa list

United States Ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, revealed that Minister Ronald Lamola was concerned that he was on the United States’ banned visa list.

Bozell shared this information during an interview with Fox News, where he discussed the deteriorating relationship between the United States and South Africa.

He explained that he has been démarched three times by South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry since he started his job on 23 February 2026.

A démarche is a formal diplomatic protest issued by one government to another to express concern, disagreement, or a warning regarding a specific policy or action.

Bozell dismissed them as showboating. “If I were going to be completely disrespectful, I would say these demarches are Kabuki theatre,” he said.

“The demarches from the South African government have a political agenda. They have not been on the up-and-up.”

He explained that in the first démarche, they took seven words from a very positive one-hour discussion, which they were unhappy with.

This was due to the fact that he said that he viewed the chant ‘Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer’ as hate speech, despite the South African courts ruling otherwise.

“We went along with that. Some people said that I had apologised. That is untrue. I never apologised,” he said.

The second démarche, he revealed, was to determine whether Minister Ronald Lamola was on the visa restriction list, as he was set to visit the United States.

“I told them that I was not going to tell them because it was against the law. I can’t tell them who was on the list,” Bozell said.

The third démarche was due to public discussions he held regarding the United States’ five demands of South Africa.

He also elaborated on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lackadaisical attitude towards these demands and his poor response after being pressed.

United States Ambassador L. Brent Bozell III strikes back

On Sunday, 4 October 2026, Bozell said that when he denounces a personal attack from Minister Ronald Lamola, he gets demarches.

He shared this information on social media following comments from Minister Ronald Lamola in the press.

Lamola told the Sunday Times that Bozell must ‘get out of the kitchen’ if he no longer believes in diplomatic engagements with Pretoria.

The Minister said that he was taken aback by Bozell’s comment that the time for talking was over, because it was his job as a diplomat to talk.

“It’s our job to talk. So, if you can’t talk as a diplomat and you cannot dialogue, get out of the kitchen,” the Minister told the Sunday Times.

“He has been involved in very undiplomatic conduct. As a diplomat, you cannot interfere in the domestic politics of your host.”

“It’s rule number one of diplomacy. He clearly, with his posture, public engagements, clearly he’s engaging in our domestic politics.”

Lamola said that despite the importance of the relationship with the United States, they will act on any ambassador who fails to toe the line.

Ambassador Bozell responded, saying that this is another case where he gets attacked but is expected not to respond.

“Here we go again. Another Minister Lamola personal insult aimed at an American leader, this time me,” he said.

“When denounced, which I’m doing now, it will result in a demarche with a lecture about being undiplomatic.”

“And then the South African government wonders why relations are collapsing,” Bozell added in his statement.