South Africa has summoned US Ambassador Brent Bozell to explain what its foreign ministry described as “undiplomatic conduct”, marking the third diplomatic reprimand since he took up his post nine months ago.
The senior foreign ministry official confirmed the development to AFP on Wednesday, saying Bozell was summoned on Tuesday after publishing a strongly worded opinion piece accusing the South African government of “hostility”.
The ambassador had also given a series of critical interviews with South African media.
“He was called in to explain his undiplomatic conduct,” the official said, describing the latest summons as Bozell’s third diplomatic reprimand since February.
“This is a record,” the official added.
US-South Africa tensions deepen
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated over several issues, including South Africa’s genocide case against US ally Israel and disagreements over land ownership and policies designed to address racial inequality.
The United States announced visa restrictions in September targeting South Africans accused of promoting “race-based discrimination, inciting violence, or enabling land confiscation without compensation”.
South Africa has rejected US pressure over its domestic policies, maintaining that it has the sovereign right to manage its internal affairs.
Relations further deteriorated after President Donald Trump took office, with Washington cutting aid, expelling South Africa’s ambassador and publicly challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa over claims of a “white genocide” against white Afrikaners.
The United States has also established a programme to admit white Afrikaners who claim they face persecution and rural crime in South Africa.
Bozell accuses Pretoria of ‘hostility’
In his opinion piece published on the US embassy website on Tuesday, Bozell said Washington had “run out of patience” with Pretoria and criticised what he described as a lack of adequate response to US demands.
Among the issues raised was the controversial anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer”, which critics describe as a call for violence against white Afrikaners.
South African courts have ruled that the chant does not constitute hate speech and should be considered within the historical context of the struggle against apartheid.
Bozell said Washington had also called for rural crime to be made a priority and for alternatives to black equity laws to be extended to sectors including telecommunications and mining.
South Africa has repeatedly rejected what it considers attempts by the United States to interfere in its domestic affairs.
The foreign ministry official said the differences remained “a subject of ongoing discussions”, adding that both governments were committed to resolving outstanding issues.
Bozell, however, said: “The South African government does not want a constructive relationship with the United States.”
“We eagerly hope the South African government will rethink this hostility,” he added.
