Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Called In Over ''Inappropriate'' Comments
The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' observations regarding an anti-apartheid chant.
Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role in recent weeks, caused offence by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Some argue the chant amounts to hate speech, even though the highest court has previously determined that it does not.
A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''.
He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and apologised for the comments.
Business Meeting Address Sparks Dispute
On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa needed to fix.
One involved the argument over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were interpreted as demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's legal system.
He later retreated his position, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''.
Government Responds Openly
At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest undiplomatic remarks.
Minister Ronald Lamola added that the relationship 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.
Broader Diplomatic Strains
Relations 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, 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 minority white population and denouncing its land redistribution plans.
The South African government, in turn, has condemned the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited 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.