South Africa has summoned United States Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III following another public dispute between Pretoria and Washington.

SABC News reported on 29 September that a senior Department of International Relations and Cooperation official confirmed Bozell had been formally demarched and called in to explain what DIRCO described as “undiplomatic conduct”.

A démarche is a formal diplomatic communication used by one government to raise concerns or protest another government’s actions.

Bozell called in for third time

According to SABC News, it is the third time Bozell has been demarched in nine months. The latest dispute follows comments he made about South Africa’s response to concerns raised by the US government.

Bozell recently published an op-ed through the US Embassy setting out Washington’s account of a series of requests presented to Pretoria.

BusinessTech reported that these included concerns relating to land policy, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, rural crime and the treatment of Afrikaner refugees.

South Africa has disputed aspects of Washington’s account and argued that its domestic laws and policies must be determined through its own constitutional processes.

Pretoria defends its sovereignty

DIRCO said earlier this month that South Africa expects its sovereignty and democratic processes to be respected.

Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said government remained committed to addressing disagreements through South Africa’s constitutional institutions and the rule of law.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also said South Africa’s foreign policy is based on sovereign equality, mutual respect and non-interference.

He told Parliament that government still values its longstanding relationship with the United States and wants disagreements resolved through constructive dialogue.

Relations remain under pressure

The diplomatic dispute comes after the US announced visa restrictions targeting certain South Africans over policies Washington says involve racial discrimination or incitement against minority groups.

No affected individuals had been publicly identified when the measures were announced.

Despite the latest tensions, both governments have continued to signal that engagement will continue.

Earlier this year, Ramaphosa said he wanted political and diplomatic relations with the US rebuilt and that discussions with Bozell had made progress on areas of disagreement.