🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Envoy to South Africa Summoned Over ''Inappropriate'' Remarks The ambassador's comments about a contentious societal issue have been criticised as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' comments regarding an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant amounts to hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not. A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Forum Speech Ignites Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix. One centered on the debate over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as demonstrating a disrespect for the country's legal system. He later retreated his position, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Government Responds Publicly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his recent undiplomatic remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''South African companies maintain a significant investment in the United States'', Lamola said. ''The ambassador conveyed his regret that his statements undermined the constructive partnership he seeks'', stated Zane Dangor, the senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two nations clashing over trade, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's minority white population and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has condemned 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. Tensions intensified last year when the US imposed 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 authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' comments regarding an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant amounts to hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not. A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Forum Speech Ignites Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix. One centered on the debate over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as demonstrating a disrespect for the country's legal system. He later retreated his position, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Government Responds Publicly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his recent undiplomatic remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''South African companies maintain a significant investment in the United States'', Lamola said. ''The ambassador conveyed his regret that his statements undermined the constructive partnership he seeks'', stated Zane Dangor, the senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two nations clashing over trade, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's minority white population and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has condemned 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. Tensions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.