🔗 Share this article Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Called In Over ''Inappropriate'' Remarks The ambassador's comments about a divisive racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' comments regarding an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Some argue the chant amounts to hate speech, although the highest 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 ''very unfavorably''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the comments. Forum Address Sparks Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the seaside resort of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were interpreted as showing a lack of regard 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 ''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 account for his latest inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the relationship 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 director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two nations disagreeing on commerce, diplomacy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving 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, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.
The ambassador's comments about a divisive racial issue have been labeled as ''undiplomatic'' by the authorities. The Pretoria government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' comments regarding an historical chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Some argue the chant amounts to hate speech, although the highest 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 ''very unfavorably''. He provided a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the comments. Forum Address Sparks Dispute On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the seaside resort of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa required addressing. One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were interpreted as showing a lack of regard 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 ''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 account for his latest inappropriate remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the relationship 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 director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Wider Diplomatic Tensions Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two nations disagreeing on commerce, diplomacy and South Africa's strategic partnerships. Trump has been vocally disapproving 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, in turn, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof. Tensions intensified last year when the US levied the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.