🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Called In Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks Bozell's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The South African government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they described as ''unacceptable'' comments concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role in recent weeks, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Some argue the chant constitutes hate speech, although the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A official objection – known as a demarche – was lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and apologised for the remarks. Forum Address Ignites Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One centered on the argument over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as showing a lack of regard for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Government Reacts Openly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain 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. ''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 Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have soured after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides clashing over commerce, foreign policy 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 criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has condemned the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
Bozell's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The South African government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they described as ''unacceptable'' comments concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role in recent weeks, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Some argue the chant constitutes hate speech, although the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A official objection – known as a demarche – was lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and apologised for the remarks. Forum Address Ignites Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One centered on the argument over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as showing a lack of regard for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''. Government Reacts Openly At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain 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. ''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 Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have soured after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides clashing over commerce, foreign policy 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 criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has condemned the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.