The United States has a new ambassador-designate in South Africa at a time of strained relations. Leo Brent Bozell III has arrived in Pretoria amid a year of sharp disagreements over race, trade, foreign policy, and aid.

Washington has criticised South Africa's ties with Russia and China, pushed a refugee programme for white South Africans, and called on Pretoria to drop its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, all issues at the heart of South Africa's foreign policy.

With Pretoria still without an ambassador in Washington, can this appointment signal a reset - or more friction?  

To unpack this is former US. diplomat and international relations expert, J. Brooks Spector......