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

The Pretoria government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' observations concerning an anti-apartheid chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by questioning a court decision about the chant ''Kill The Farmer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, even though the Constitutional Court has ruled previously that it does not.

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

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

Business Meeting Speech Sparks Controversy

On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the seaside resort of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing.

One centered on the argument over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were taken as demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's legal system.

He later retreated his position, saying he was ''willing to work with South Africa constructively'' and that ''Washington honors the autonomy of South Africa's courts''.

Government Responds Publicly

At a media briefing on Wednesday, the South African government declared they had called the US ambassador to Pretoria to explain his latest undiplomatic remarks.

Minister Ronald Lamola noted 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 Diplomatic Strains

Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two nations clashing over commerce, foreign policy and South Africa's international alliances.

Trump has been openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of failing to protect the country's minority white population and denouncing its land reform plans.

The South African government, meanwhile, has condemned the US decision to prioritise refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying claims of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and are not supported by credible proof.

Tensions deepened last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs of any African country on South Africa.