🔗 Share this article New US Envoy to South Africa Called In Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks The ambassador's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant amounts to hate speech, although the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A formal protest – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He issued a clarification on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Address Ignites Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the seaside resort of Hermanus, presenting 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 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 ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Reacts 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 added that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''Substantial South African capital is invested in the US economy'', 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 Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have soured since 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 openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with failing to protect the country's white minority and criticising its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution 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.
The ambassador's comments about a contentious racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant amounts to hate speech, although the highest court has ruled previously that it does not. A formal protest – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''. He issued a clarification on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks. Business Meeting Address Ignites Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the seaside resort of Hermanus, presenting 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 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 ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''. Government Reacts 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 added that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''Substantial South African capital is invested in the US economy'', 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 Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have soured since 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 openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with failing to protect the country's white minority and criticising its land reform plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution 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.