US ambassador Bozell backtracks after stirring tensions with ‘Kill the Boer’ remarks

Less than a month into his tenure, the US ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, is already at the centre of a diplomatic row.

This was after the South African government launched a diplomatic protest, known as a démarche, following the ambassador’s comments over local policies.   

Bozell reportedly made 'undiplomatic' comments about the legal ruling regarding the 'Kill the Boer' chant. 

RELATED: South Africa summons US ambassador over 'undiplomatic remarks'

While the Constitutional Court ruled previously that the chant did not amount to hate speech, Bozell said: “I don’t care what your courts say. It’s hate speech”. 

Political journalist and author John Matisonn explained that, while it was unusual for a new ambassador to trigger a démarche so early in their tenure, Bozell’s remarks were insulting to the judiciary.

“I think that's when they called him in. And as a result of being called in, he issued a tweet saying he regrets the remarks and he respects our courts.”

The ambassador has since backtracked, taking to social media to clarify his view and that the US now respects the court’s findings. 

“I want to clarify that while my personal view – like that of many South Africans – is that ‘Kill the Boer’ constitutes hate speech, the US government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.”

Matisonn noted that Bozell’s tenure is an interesting moment in US-South African diplomatic history.

“His agenda is to do a reset, and it’s not easy because the differences are considerable.”

To listen to Matisonn in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: