South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday received the diplomatic credentials of the new US ambassador, as relations between the two countries languish at a low ebb.

Brent Bozell, a right-wing media critic and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, took up the post in February but got off to a rocky start with remarks on South Africa’s racial policies and court decisions.

In a brief ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in the capital, Bozell, alongside his spouse, was welcomed with a guard of honour before he handed over his credentials to Ramaphosa.

“Before I arrived here, I cannot tell you how many people told me that in short order, I’d fall in love with the country. It’s only taken two months and I can confirm that has happened,” Bozell said.

“We are two nations with great shared values and interests… It’s my goal in my time here to build on those shared interests, to build on self-respect, to build on our shared values, to take our two nations to places they’ve never been,” the 70-year-old envoy added.

Nineteen other envoys, including those from the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Haiti, and Cuba, also presented their papers.

Ramaphosa underscored the expectations for diplomats to respect their host country’s sovereignty, exercise discretion and raise concerns through quiet, constructive channels rather than “confrontational” public criticism.

“It is this approach that I believe builds strong relationships between nations and helps to advance the interests of our respective countries based on mutual respect,” he said.