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

The Pretoria government has summoned the new US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by disagreeing with a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the highest court has previously determined that it does not.

A formal protest – known as a demarche – was issued by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''.

He issued a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations subsequently stated the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the comments.

Forum Speech Sparks 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 involved the debate over the chant. Bozell stated he did not care what the courts said – comments that were interpreted as demonstrating a disrespect for the country's judiciary.

He later retreated his stance, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''the US government respects the independence of South Africa's judiciary''.

Officials Reacts 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 undiplomatic remarks.

Minister Ronald Lamola noted that the partnership between South Africa and the US was not one-sided. ''South African companies maintain a significant investment in the United States'', Lamola said.

''The ambassador conveyed his regret that his statements undermined the constructive partnership he seeks'', stated Zane Dangor, the director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Wider Bilateral Strains

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, diplomacy and South Africa's international alliances.

Trump has been vocally disapproving of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, charging it with failing to protect the country's white minority and criticising its land reform plans.

The South African government, in turn, has criticised the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a targeted persecution have been largely debunked and are not supported by credible proof.

Tensions deepened last year when the US imposed the most severe import duties of any African country on South Africa.