JOHANNESBURG - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has demarched United State of America ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III on Wednesday.
The move comes after remarks from Bozelle during a BizNews Conference in Hermanus in the Western Cape on 10 March.
At the conference, the Ambassador criticised Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), calling on South Africa to return to 1995 before the policy came to effect. He also remarked on the Expropriation Act, South Africa's relationship with Iran saying it undermined investor confidence. He also showed disregard for the country's judiciary.
READ: US Ambassador to SA demarched over 'undiplomatic remarks'
DIRCO listed these remarks as 'undiplomatic', necessitating the move to demarche.
Bozell has since backtracked his remarks and apologised. In an X post he sought to clarify that the US government respects the independence and findings of South Africa's judiciary.
What is a demarche?
A demarche is a formal diplomatic representation of one government's official position, views or wishes. Demarches generally seek to persuade, inform or gather information from a foreign government.
It is a diplomatic way for a country to firmly state its position and or call international representatives to order.
Bozelle is not the first American ambassador to South Africa to be demarched. On 12 May 2023 ambassador Reuben E. Brigety was demarched by then DIRCO Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.
READ: EFF slams US Ambassador's remarks, calls for his removal
The demarch followed allegations made by Brigety on 11 May that a South African naval base in Simon's Town was being used to load weapons to a Russia cargo ship, Lady R, in December 2022.
According to the Minister, Brigety admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly during the meeting. He, however, did not publicly retract his statement in the immediate aftermath.
Minister Ronald Lamola has reiterated at a SADC meeting that BEE is not 'reverse racism' as it has been purported by those who oppose it.
'It is a fundamental instrument designed to address the structural imbalances of South Africa's unique history,' he said.
He said that the South African government can never abandon it.
READ: US ambassador Bozell calls for stronger SA–US cooperation
'As we cannot tell President Trump how to deal with localisation in the US, he also can't tell us how to deal with issues of sovereignty,' said Lamola.