🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Inappropriate'' Remarks Bozell's comments about a contentious racial issue have been criticised as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has summoned the new US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has ruled previously that it does not. A official objection – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He issued a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the comments. Business Meeting Address 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 involved the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his position, 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 Reacts Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest 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 senior official 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 nations clashing over trade, diplomacy 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 minority white population and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
Bozell's comments about a contentious racial issue have been criticised as ''undiplomatic'' by the government. The Pretoria government has summoned the new US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role in recent weeks, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has ruled previously that it does not. A official objection – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''. He issued a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the comments. Business Meeting Address 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 involved the argument over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – words that were taken as showing a disrespect for the country's judiciary. He later retreated his position, 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 Reacts Publicly At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest 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 senior official 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 nations clashing over trade, diplomacy 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 minority white population and criticising its land redistribution plans. The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof. Frictions intensified last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.