Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Summoned Over ''Inappropriate'' Comments

The South African government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they described as ''undiplomatic'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role last month, sparked controversy by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Some argue the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not.

A official objection – known as a demarche – was lodged by the government, which stated it took 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 Dispute

On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the seaside resort of Hermanus, outlining 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 – words that were taken as showing a lack of regard 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''.

Officials Responds Openly

At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his latest inappropriate remarks.

Minister Ronald Lamola added that the relationship 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.

Broader Diplomatic Tensions

Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two sides clashing over trade, diplomacy and South Africa's strategic partnerships.

Trump has been openly critical 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 give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a white genocide have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof.

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