New US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Undiplomatic'' Remarks
The South African government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' observations regarding an anti-apartheid chant.
Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a court decision 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 ''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 said sorry for the remarks.
Forum Address Ignites Controversy
On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting five issues he said South Africa needed to fix.
One centered on the debate over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – words that were interpreted as demonstrating a disrespect for the country's legal system.
He subsequently walked back 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 Reacts Publicly
At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest inappropriate remarks.
Minister Ronald Lamola added that the partnership between South Africa and the US was mutual. ''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 Bilateral Tensions
Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two sides disagreeing on commerce, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships.
Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's white minority and denouncing its land redistribution plans.
The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence.
Frictions intensified last year when the US imposed the most severe import duties of any African country on South Africa.