The government of South Africa has summoned the new United States ambassador after officials said he made “undiplomatic remarks” about the country’s racial policies and court decisions.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that Brent Bozell had been asked to explain comments he made during a public address.
Bozell criticised a controversial chant from the Apartheid era and questioned policies designed to empower Black South Africans.
Debate over chant and court rulings
During his speech, the ambassador described the chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as hate speech.
However, South African courts have previously ruled that the chant should be interpreted in the historical context of the anti-apartheid struggle and does not constitute hate speech under the law.
Bozell later clarified on social media that while he personally believes the chant is hate speech, the US government respects the independence of South Africa’s judiciary.
Dispute over economic policies
The ambassador also criticised Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies aimed at addressing inequalities created by apartheid-era laws.
Minister Lamola rejected the criticism, saying the policies are necessary to correct historic injustices and are part of South Africa’s constitutional commitment to economic equality.
“It is not reverse racism,” Lamola said, stressing that the government remains committed to addressing long-standing social and economic disparities.
Strained diplomatic relations
Relations between the two countries have recently faced tension, partly due to South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.
The issue has also drawn attention from Donald Trump, who previously made controversial claims about the treatment of white Afrikaners in South Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected those claims, saying the country remains committed to building unity after the end of apartheid in 1994.
