South Africa has summoned the newly appointed ambassador of the United States to explain remarks described by officials as “undiplomatic”, highlighting growing tensions between Pretoria and Washington.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said the government had called in the U.S. envoy following comments he made at a conference that were seen as interfering in South Africa’s domestic affairs and undermining its judiciary.
The ambassador, conservative writer and activist Leo Brent Bozell III, arrived in Pretoria last month as the envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has had strained relations with South Africa during his second term in office.
Bozell sparked controversy on Tuesday when he criticised the South African liberation chant “Kill the Boer”, saying it amounted to hate speech.
“I’m sorry, I don’t care what your courts say. It’s hate speech,” Bozell said during the conference, referring to rulings by South African courts that have previously found the chant does not constitute hate speech under the country’s laws.
Lamola told a press conference the remarks were viewed by the government as inappropriate and potentially damaging to the country’s democratic institutions.
“We felt that the comments undermined the authority of our courts and failed to appreciate the historical context of South Africa’s liberation struggle,” Lamola said.
He stressed that diplomats accredited to the country were expected to respect local institutions and support national unity.
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“The role of a guest is to support us to build one nation,” Lamola said. “He must not take us back to a polarised society along racial lines.”
The controversy comes at a time of already strained diplomatic ties between Pretoria and Washington.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised South Africa’s domestic and foreign policies, particularly its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme aimed at addressing the legacy of apartheid-era inequality.
The policy requires companies operating in the country to increase economic participation by Black South Africans through ownership, employment and procurement targets.
Trump has also criticised Pretoria’s decision to bring a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing the Middle Eastern state of genocide over its military campaign in Gaza.
Israel, a close ally of the United States, strongly rejects the accusation and has dismissed the case as politically motivated.
Pretoria says the legal action is consistent with its long-standing commitment to international law and human rights.
Senior foreign affairs official Zane Dangor said the ambassador had met with government representatives following the controversy and had expressed regret over his remarks.
“He apologised and expressed regret in terms of what happened yesterday,” Dangor told reporters.
Despite the apology, the incident underscores the growing diplomatic friction between the two countries.
South Africa has sought to maintain a non-aligned foreign policy, positioning itself as an independent voice on global issues while maintaining relations with a wide range of partners, including the United States, China and Russia.
However, Washington has accused Pretoria of taking what Trump described as “aggressive positions” towards the United States and its allies.
Analysts say the latest dispute illustrates the challenges facing bilateral relations as geopolitical tensions and differing policy priorities reshape global alliances.
For Pretoria, balancing its historical ties with the West while pursuing an independent foreign policy remains a delicate diplomatic task.
The summoning of the ambassador, a formal diplomatic step signalling official displeasure, suggests South Africa is keen to defend its institutions and political sensitivities amid heightened scrutiny from Washington.
