🔗 Share this article New US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks Bozell's comments about a contentious societal issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' comments regarding an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the highest court has previously determined that it does not. A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was issued by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. 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 Ignites Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One centered on the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's judiciary. 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 Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced 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 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 senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Bilateral Tensions Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides clashing over trade, foreign policy and South Africa's international alliances. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with not safeguarding the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has condemned the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the most severe import duties 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 called in the new US ambassador after he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' comments regarding an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the highest court has previously determined that it does not. A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was issued by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. 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 Ignites Controversy On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One centered on the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's judiciary. 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 Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced 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 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 senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Bilateral Tensions Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides clashing over trade, foreign policy and South Africa's international alliances. Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with not safeguarding the country's white minority and denouncing its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has condemned the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the most severe import duties of any African country on South Africa.