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Diplomatic spat erupts over US ambassador's comments
South Africa's government has formally reprimanded the newly appointed US ambassador, Leo Brent Bozell III, after he questioned a court ruling on the controversial chant Kill The Boer, calling his remarks "undiplomatic".
Ambassador's statements spark backlash
Bozell, who assumed his role in February, addressed a business gathering in Hermanus on Tuesday, outlining five key issues he believed South Africa needed to address. Among them was the long-debated chant, which some argue constitutes hate speech, though the country's Constitutional Court has previously ruled otherwise.
The ambassador stated he "did not care what the courts said", a comment widely interpreted as dismissing South Africa's judicial independence. The remark drew sharp criticism from officials, who summoned him to Pretoria for an explanation.
Formal protest and apology
The South African government issued a demarche-a formal diplomatic protest-describing Bozell's comments as deeply concerning. Ronald Lamola, a government spokesperson, emphasized that bilateral relations were not one-sided, noting South African companies' substantial investments in the US.
Following the backlash, Bozell issued a clarification on Wednesday, expressing regret and affirming the US government's respect for South Africa's judiciary. Zane Dangor, director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, confirmed the ambassador had apologized, stating Bozell "expressed his regrets that these comments detracted from any impression that he wanted to work with us constructively."
Broader tensions in US-South Africa relations
Relations between the two nations have frayed since US President Donald Trump took office in 2025, with disputes over trade, diplomacy, and South Africa's foreign partnerships. Trump has publicly criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, accusing it of failing to protect the white minority and opposing its land reform policies.
South Africa, in turn, has condemned the US for prioritizing refugee applications from white Afrikaners, dismissing claims of a "white genocide" as baseless. Tensions escalated last year when the US imposed the highest tariffs on South Africa of any African nation.
What's next
Officials have not indicated whether further diplomatic measures will follow, but the incident underscores the fragile state of US-South Africa relations. Both sides have signaled a willingness to move forward, though underlying disagreements remain unresolved.
