South Africa has summoned the new United States ambassador to Pretoria, Leo Brent Bozell III, after comments he made about the anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer” sparked diplomatic tensions.
The ambassador, who assumed the role last month, faced criticism after publicly disagreeing with a legal ruling that the chant does not constitute hate speech. South Africa’s Constitutional Court had previously determined that the slogan falls within the bounds of political expression.
Speaking at a business meeting in Hermanus on Tuesday March 10, Bozell listed five issues he believed the country needed to address and said he did not care what the courts had ruled on the chant. The remarks were widely interpreted as showing disregard for South Africa’s judicial system.
The government responded by issuing a formal protest, known as a demarche, saying it viewed the comments “with a very dim view”. At a press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that the ambassador had been summoned to explain the remarks.
Bozell later issued a clarification on Wednesday, stating he was willing to work constructively with South Africa and that the United States respects the independence of the country’s judiciary. According to Zane Dangor, the ambassador also expressed regret and apologised for the impression created by his earlier comments.
The diplomatic episode unfolds amid already strained relations between the two countries since Donald Trump returned to office last year. Washington and Pretoria have clashed over trade policies, diplomatic positions and South Africa’s strategic partnerships.
The US administration has also criticised the government of Cyril Ramaphosa over land reform plans and alleged failures to protect the country’s white minority. South African officials have rejected those claims, arguing that assertions of a “white genocide” lack credible evidence.
Tensions intensified last year when the United States imposed its highest tariffs on any African country on South Africa, further complicating relations between the two longstanding partners.