US Ambassador Brent Bozell impressed with Roelf Meyer

America's Ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell, says Roelf Meyer is a wise man and exactly who the president needs in Washington.

Speaking to Cape Talk’s Lester Kiewit, Bozell said: “I’m not getting ahead of my government on this, but I think President Ramaphosa has chosen a terrific man. South Africa needs desperately to have its ambassador in Washington just like the United States desperately needed to have an ambassador in Pretoria.”

Bozell stressed that if his government asks for his opinion on Meyer, he will say that he was very impressed by him during their meeting at the embassy. “He’s a wise man. He’s a man who’s seen it all…He’s a man who helped craft your constitution so he’s a man of vision… So, if asked, will I give my endorsement, I think you’ve heard my answer.”

Bozell said a few times during the interview that he didn’t want to speak about politics and at one point said: “I’m not going to be interested in politics, that’s not my job. My job is to represent my country. And I’m going to represent my country fiercely. And we have an America first agenda to advance American interests. We have American exceptionalism. My job is to push that unapologetically.

“I want to be met with South Africa first unapologetically. I want to be met with South African exceptionalism unapologetically. That’s when you have a meeting of the minds. That’s when you have mutual respect. And that’s the way we need to be discussing issues.”

He said there are currently around 600 American companies operating in South Africa. “Why can’t we have double that number? We’ve created 250,000 jobs for South Africans. Wonderful! Why can’t we double that number? There’s no reason.”

To listen to the full discussion, click the media link above.