US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III has been demarched by Pretoria for the third time in nine months, as tensions between South Africa and the United States continue to grow.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) summoned Bozell following a series of media interviews in which he criticised the South African government and accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to adequately respond to five demands from Washington.
The Trump administration has raised concerns over issues including South Africa’s land policies, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and the government’s response to the “Kill the Boer” chant.
Ramaphosa has maintained that Pretoria remains committed to dialogue with Washington and has responded to Trump in a six-page letter outlining South Africa’s position on the issues raised.
Relations between the two countries have also been strained by disagreements over foreign policy. South Africa has maintained its position on issues including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, as well as its diplomatic relations with countries such as China, Russia and Iran.
The latest démarche comes as both governments continue efforts to address their differences, with Pretoria stressing the importance of protecting South Africa’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy.
