Recently Appointed US Ambassador to South Africa Called In Over ''Inappropriate'' Remarks

The South African government has called in the recently arrived US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' comments concerning an historical chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who assumed the role last month, sparked controversy by questioning a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. Certain groups claim the chant constitutes hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has previously determined that it does not.

A formal protest – known as a diplomatic note – was lodged by the government, which stated it viewed Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''.

He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a official of the foreign ministry later said the ambassador had conveyed remorse and said sorry for the comments.

Business Meeting Speech Sparks Dispute

On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a business meeting in the seaside resort of Hermanus, presenting 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 demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's judiciary.

He later retreated his position, 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 press conference on Wednesday, the South African government announced they had summoned the US ambassador to Pretoria to account for his latest undiplomatic 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 senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Broader Bilateral Tensions

Ties between the US and South Africa have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump took office last year, with the two sides disagreeing on commerce, diplomacy 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 criticising its land reform plans.

The South African government, in turn, has condemned 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.