South Africa Summons US Ambassador Over ‘Undiplomatic Remarks’

PRETORIA, South Africa — March 12, 2026

Updated: March 12, 2026, 18:20 GMT

South Africa’s government has summoned the United States ambassador to Pretoria, Leo Brent Bozell III, following comments officials described as “undiplomatic,” according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and reporting by Reuters and the Associated Press.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that the government formally called in Ambassador Bozell after remarks he made during a meeting with business leaders in South Africa earlier this week. Lamola said the comments were inconsistent with diplomatic protocol and required clarification.

“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 at a press conference. “In this regard, we have called in the ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Bozell, to explain his undiplomatic remarks.”

The controversy followed comments by Bozell regarding a South African political chant historically associated with the anti-apartheid struggle. At the event, the ambassador described the chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as hate speech and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t care what your courts say. It’s hate speech,” according to media reports.

South Africa’s government said the remarks raised concerns because the country’s Constitutional Court has previously ruled on the legal status of the chant within the framework of free expression and political speech.

Following the diplomatic meeting, senior foreign ministry official Zane Dangor, director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said the ambassador expressed regret. Dangor told reporters that Bozell “apologized and expressed regret” during the discussion with South African officials.

After the incident, Bozell stated on social media, clarifying that while he personally viewed the chant as hate speech, the United States respects the independence of South Africa’s judiciary and its legal rulings.

Bozell, a conservative media figure and founder of the Media Research Center, was nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 to serve as ambassador to South Africa. His appointment came at a time of strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria over foreign policy differences and trade matters.

The diplomatic exchange occurs within a broader context of tensions between the two governments. Recent disagreements have involved South Africa’s foreign policy positions, land reform policies, and Pretoria’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

South Africa remains the United States’ largest trading partner in Africa, and the two countries cooperate on regional security, trade, and development programs across the continent. Developments affecting diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Washington carry wider significance for Africa because South Africa plays a leading role in regional institutions such as the African Union and the G20.