🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks The ambassador's comments about a contentious societal issue have been criticised as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' comments concerning an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not. A official objection – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He issued a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the remarks. Forum Speech Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix. One centered on the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's legal system. He subsequently walked back his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Officials Reacts Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''Substantial South African capital is invested in the US economy'', 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 Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two nations disagreeing on commerce, diplomacy and South Africa's international alliances. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of not safeguarding the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
The ambassador's comments about a contentious societal issue have been criticised as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' comments concerning an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not. A official objection – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He issued a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the remarks. Forum Speech Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix. One centered on the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's legal system. He subsequently walked back his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Officials Reacts Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''Substantial South African capital is invested in the US economy'', 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 Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two nations disagreeing on commerce, diplomacy and South Africa's international alliances. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of not safeguarding the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.