New US Ambassador to South Africa Called In Over ''Inappropriate'' Comments

The Pretoria government has summoned the recently arrived US ambassador following he made what they termed as ''unacceptable'' observations concerning an historical chant.

Leo Brent Bozell III, who began the role in recent weeks, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant ''Kill The Boer''. 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 lodged by the government, which stated it took Bozell's comments ''very unfavorably''.

He provided a clarification on Wednesday, and a representative of the department of international relations subsequently stated the ambassador had expressed regret and said sorry for the remarks.

Forum Speech Ignites Controversy

On Tuesday, Bozell spoke at a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, presenting 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 – words that were taken as showing a disrespect 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 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 inappropriate 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

Relations between the US and South Africa have soured since US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two nations clashing over commerce, diplomacy and South Africa's international alliances.

Trump has been openly critical of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government, accusing it of not safeguarding the country's white minority and criticising its land redistribution plans.

The South African government, meanwhile, 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.