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South Africa has summoned the new US ambassador to explain comments that were deemed undiplomatic following his criticism of a local anti-apartheid chant.
Leo Brent Bozell III, who began his role last month, made remarks that drew ire after he expressed disagreement with a legal ruling on the controversial chant “Kill The Boer,” which some claim constitutes hate speech. Despite the country’s Constitutional Court having previously ruled that the chant does not constitute hate speech, Bozell’s comments were seen as undermining South Africa’s legal system.
The South African government issued a formal protest, known as a demarche, strongly condemning Bozell’s statement. In the protest, officials expressed that they took his remarks “with a very dim view.”
In response to the backlash, Bozell issued a clarification on Wednesday, with a representative from the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that the ambassador had expressed regret and apologised for his comments.
The controversy began on Tuesday during a business meeting in Hermanus, where Bozell presented five issues he believed South Africa needed to address, including the chant. He remarked that he did not care about the court’s ruling, which many interpreted as a disrespect for the country’s judiciary.
His comments were met with disapproval, prompting him to backtrack the next day. Bozell later said he was “willing to work with South Africa constructively” and reaffirmed that the US government respects South Africa’s judicial independence.
At a press conference on Wednesday, South Africa’s government confirmed that it had called the ambassador to Pretoria to clarify his remarks. Minister Ronald Lamola pointed out that the relationship between South Africa and the US was reciprocal, highlighting that South African businesses had substantial investments in the United States.
Zane Dangor, Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, added that Bozell expressed regret for his comments, stating they detracted from his intention to build a constructive relationship.
Tensions between the US and South Africa have been escalating since President Donald Trump took office, marked by disagreements over trade, diplomacy, and South Africa’s approach to land reform. They reached a new high last year when the US imposed heavy tariffs on South Africa, the highest among African countries.
Trump’s criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government for failing to protect the white minority and South Africa’s controversial land reform policy has exacerbated these strains. Furthermore, the South African government has expressed dismay over the US prioritising refugee applications from white Afrikaners, which they argue is based on unfounded claims of a “white genocide.”
This diplomatic dispute is the latest chapter in the complex relationship between the two nations, with both sides navigating sensitive issues that continue to strain their interactions.
