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

The South African government has summoned the new US ambassador after he made what they termed as ''undiplomatic'' observations regarding 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 amounts to hate speech, although 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 viewed Bozell's comments ''with a very dim view''.

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

Forum Speech Ignites Controversy

On Tuesday, Bozell addressed a corporate forum in the coastal town of Hermanus, outlining five issues he said South Africa required addressing.

One involved the argument over the chant. Bozell remarked he did not care what the courts said – comments that were interpreted as demonstrating a lack of regard for the country's judiciary.

He later retreated 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 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 inappropriate remarks.

Minister Ronald Lamola added that the partnership between South Africa and the US was not one-sided. ''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 senior official of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Wider Bilateral Tensions

Relations between the US and South Africa have soured after US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year, with the two sides disagreeing on commerce, foreign policy and South Africa's strategic partnerships.

Trump has been vocally disapproving 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, meanwhile, has condemned the US decision to give preference to refugee applications from white Afrikaners, saying allegations of a targeted persecution have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence.

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