🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Inappropriate'' Comments Bozell's comments about a contentious societal issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the new US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations regarding an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim 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 viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Speech Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a lack of regard for the country's legal system. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Reacts Openly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his recent inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola added 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 director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Strains Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides disagreeing on trade, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with failing to protect the country's white minority and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence. Tensions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
Bozell's comments about a contentious societal issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has summoned the new US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations regarding an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim 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 viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Speech Sparks Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a lack of regard for the country's legal system. He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Reacts Openly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his recent inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola added 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 director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Strains Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides disagreeing on trade, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with failing to protect the country's white minority and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence. Tensions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.