🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks The ambassador's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A formal protest – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Address Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were interpreted as demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Responds Publicly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his recent undiplomatic remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the relationship between South Africa and the US was not one-sided. ''South African companies maintain a significant investment in the United States'', Lamola said. ''Mr Bozell expressed his regrets that these comments detracted from any impression that he wanted to work with us constructively'', stated Zane Dangor, the senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Broader Bilateral Strains Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two sides disagreeing on trade, diplomacy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a white genocide have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions deepened last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
The ambassador's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A formal protest – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Address Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were interpreted as demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Responds Publicly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his recent undiplomatic remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the relationship between South Africa and the US was not one-sided. ''South African companies maintain a significant investment in the United States'', Lamola said. ''Mr Bozell expressed his regrets that these comments detracted from any impression that he wanted to work with us constructively'', stated Zane Dangor, the senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Broader Bilateral Strains Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two sides disagreeing on trade, diplomacy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a white genocide have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions deepened last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.