The United States has raised pressure on South Africa after Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III said Washington is still waiting for a response to five demands handed to Pretoria nearly a year ago. He said the US is “running out of patience” and views the lack of a response as a serious signal from the South African government.

Bozell made the remarks at the BizNews Conference in Hermanus. He said he had been in South Africa for about three-and-a-half weeks in his official capacity and had already seen how complex the local political and business environment is. He also claimed the South African government is not internally aligned on how it wants to work with international partners and support business.

The Five Issues at the Centre of the Dispute

According to Bozell, the first demand is stronger protection for rural communities from violence, with farm attacks again being raised as a key concern. The second is a public condemnation of rhetoric that incites hatred and glorifies violence, including the “Kill the Boer” chant, which the US regards as hate speech.

The third demand focuses on expropriation policy. Bozell said the US wants clear and fair compensation standards, especially as South Africa moves ahead with laws that allow for nil compensation in some cases. The fourth targets broad-based black economic empowerment requirements, with Washington opposing policies that force businesses to give up ownership or decision-making control. The fifth demand is for greater digital and critical minerals cooperation to strengthen trade ties.

Investor Confidence now in the Spotlight

Bozell said these issues affect investor confidence, strategic trust and the future of the bilateral relationship. While he acknowledged that BEE aims to expand opportunity and correct historical injustice, he argued that policies tied to ownership demands, complex compliance and corruption concerns can make investors reassess risk.

He also said Washington wants South Africa to remain non-aligned, pointing to concerns over Pretoria’s growing ties with countries the US sees as adversaries. That means the dispute now goes beyond trade and into diplomacy, investment and South Africa’s broader global positioning.