By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The United States ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III has backtracked on his comments about the Judiciary and that “Kill the Boer” is hate speech.
Speaking at the 2026 BizNews Conference in Hermanus, Bozell demanded government action on rural safety and condemnation of rhetoric that glorifies hatred, singling out the “Kill The Boer” chant specifically.
“I don’t care what your courts say, it’s hate speech,” he said.
In a statement this afternoon, Bozell III clarified that while his personal view is that the “Kill the Boer” chant constitutes hate speech, the US government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) criticized Bozell III and stated that he joined an “irresponsible right-wing” chorus in South Africa which has undermined judgments by the Equality Court, the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Constitutional Court which have found and affirmed that the liberation chant “Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer” constitutes free speech.
The EFF called on Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to condemn what it says are attacks on the South African judiciary by Bozell.
The EFF wants Maya to speak in defence of the country’s judiciary against coercion and threats by a foreign government through its most senior diplomat.
Bozell III warned that Washington was running out of patience with Pretoria.
He cited major commitments from Visa, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon as evidence of U.S. commercial goodwill toward South Africa.
“The United States values partners in South Africa,” Bozell told delegates. He added that South Africa remains the largest U.S. trade and investment partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
More than 500 American companies operate in the country, employing over 250,000 South Africans and contributing meaningfully to economic growth, the ambassador said.
African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula dismissed any concerns about investor confidence, pointing out that major US companies attended the G20 Summit when no senior US diplomats would.
He added a subtle reminder of South Africa’s political independence.
“We must make it clear to all whom we welcome in our beautiful country, including the new US ambassador, that South Africa’s international relations policy will not be dictated to by anyone else but South Africans and their government.
“We reiterate that South Africa believes in a multipolar world which respects international law and international institutions that support a system of multilateralism,” stated Mbalula.
Relations between Pretoria and Washington have deteriorated sharply, with US president Donald Trump cutting U.S. aid, imposing steep tariffs, and publicly accusing South Africa of persecuting its white minority.
South Africa has not had an ambassador in Washington since the Trump administration expelled Ebrahim Rasool in early 2025 after he publicly criticised the U.S. President.