PRETORIA - The United States Embassy in South Africa has confirmed that US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III has been demarched by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Bozell was called in following a public statement in which he pressed Pretoria to address five demands from the Trump administration.
Among the issues raised by Washington are the protection of private property rights, the reversal of the Expropriation Act, and changes to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies.
The US administration is also demanding that the South African government condemn the “Kill the Boer” chant and take steps to improve rural safety and security for farmers.
The diplomatic confrontation follows growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria over a range of policy and bilateral issues.
The US government has indicated that it is not seeking what it describes as diplomatic manoeuvring, procedural delays, or “dialogue for dialogue’s sake.”
Instead, Washington says the matter now rests with the South African government to respond to the demands.
Read more: US Ambassador to SA demarched over 'undiplomatic remarks'