New US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Inappropriate'' Comments

The South African government has called in the new US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' observations regarding an historical chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the highest court has previously determined that it does not.

A official objection – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''.

He issued a statement on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and apologised for the comments.

Forum Address Ignites Dispute

On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa needed to fix.

One involved the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken 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''.

Officials Responds Publicly

At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned 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.

Wider Bilateral Tensions

Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides disagreeing on commerce, foreign policy and South Africa's international alliances.

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 redistribution plans.

The South African government, meanwhile, has criticised the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a white genocide 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.