By Emmanuel Bobby
The newly appointed U.S. ambassador to South Africa has been summoned by the country’s government to explain remarks criticizing its foreign and domestic policies, according to South Africa’s foreign minister.
Leo Brent Bozell III was called in by officials after speaking at a meeting of business leaders in Pretoria, where he questioned the South African government’s diplomatic ties with Iran and criticized affirmative action laws designed to expand opportunities for Black citizens.
The dispute marks the latest escalation in tensions between South Africa and the United States since Donald Trump returned to office. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply, reaching what analysts describe as their lowest point since the end of apartheid in 1994.
South Africa Calls Remarks “Undiplomatic”
South African officials said the ambassador’s statements violated diplomatic norms.
Ronald Lamola told reporters that the government had summoned Bozell to account for his remarks.
“While South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy and the strengthening of bilateral ties, such engagements must remain consistent with established diplomatic etiquette and international protocols,” Lamola said. “In this regard, we have called in the ambassador of the United States to explain his undiplomatic remarks.”
According to Zane Dangor, Bozell later met with South African officials and apologized for the comments, expressing regret over the controversy.
There was no immediate response from the U.S. government.
Criticism of Affirmative Action and Land Policies
Bozell, a conservative activist appointed by Trump, arrived in Pretoria last month. In his first extensive public remarks since taking the role, he urged South Africa to reconsider several policies.
He criticized the country’s affirmative action laws, which were introduced after apartheid to address historic racial inequalities. These policies are intended to expand economic and employment opportunities for Black South Africans who were disadvantaged during decades of racial segregation.
Bozell argued that some of those laws should be revised and controversially compared them to racial policies that oppressed Black citizens under apartheid.
He also criticized a land reform law that allows the government to expropriate land without compensation in certain circumstances. The law is part of South Africa’s broader effort to address historic disparities in land ownership that date back to colonial rule and apartheid.
Disputes Over Anti-White Violence Claims
Another point of friction between the two governments has been Trump’s repeated claim that white farmers in South Africa are being targeted in a campaign of violence and killings.
The South African government has rejected those accusations as unfounded, and even some conservative white Afrikaner organizations have disputed the claim.
The issue became a flashpoint last year when Trump confronted Cyril Ramaphosa during a tense meeting at the White House, highlighting the growing diplomatic strain between the two countries.
Controversy Over Political Chant
Bozell also drew criticism after commenting on a controversial chant used by a far-left South African political party that includes the phrase “kill the Boer,” with “Boer” referring to white farmers.
A South African court previously ruled that the chant—originating during the anti-apartheid struggle—did not constitute hate speech.
During his speech Tuesday, Bozell criticized the ruling, saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t care what your courts say, it’s hate speech.”
However, he later softened his position in a post on social media, clarifying that his earlier remark reflected his personal opinion and that the United States respects the independence of South Africa’s judiciary.
Growing Diplomatic Rift
The dispute reflects a broader breakdown in relations between Washington and Pretoria.
The Trump administration has taken several unusual steps against South Africa in recent months, including expelling the country’s ambassador from Washington and excluding South Africa from Group of 20 meetings hosted by the United States this year.
Despite the tensions, Bozell said he did not intend to provoke conflict.
He noted that the United States had presented the South African government with five requests about a year ago aimed at improving bilateral relations. These included distancing itself from Iran, modifying certain affirmative action policies affecting U.S. businesses, banning land expropriation without compensation, prioritizing rural crime prevention, and condemning the “kill the Boer” chant.
Bozell said Washington remains frustrated because it has not yet received an official response from South Africa regarding those proposals.
Original article
Comments