Recently Appointed US Envoy to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Comments

The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they described as ''unacceptable'' observations regarding an historical chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant amounts to hate speech, although the highest court has previously determined that it does not.

A formal protest – known as a demarche – was lodged by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''.

He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a official of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and apologised for the remarks.

Forum Speech Sparks Dispute

On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix.

One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were interpreted as demonstrating a disrespect for the country's legal system.

He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''.

Government Responds Publicly

At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government declared 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.

''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 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, diplomacy 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 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 allegations of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence.

Frictions deepened last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.