Recently Appointed US Envoy to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks
The South African government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they described as ''unacceptable'' comments concerning an anti-apartheid chant.
Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Some argue the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the highest court has ruled previously that it does not.
A official objection – known as a diplomatic note – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''.
He issued a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had expressed regret and apologised for the comments.
Forum Address Ignites Dispute
On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa needed to fix.
One involved the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as showing a lack of regard for the country's judiciary.
He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''ready to engage with South Africa in a positive manner'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''.
Officials Responds Openly
At a press conference on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had called 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. ''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 director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Broader Bilateral Tensions
Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency 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 minority white population and denouncing its land reform plans.
The South African government, meanwhile, has condemned the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof.
Tensions deepened last year when the US imposed the most severe import duties of any African country on South Africa.
