US Envoy Critiques South Africa's President on 'Kill the Boer' Chant, Warns of Drift Towards Adversaries

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa L. Brent Bozell III has sharply criticized South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for refusing to condemn the chant "Kill the Boer! Kill the farmer!" Bozell stated in an exclusive interview that the country's leadership has been unresponsive to several key U.S. concerns raised by the Trump administration.

This is the third diplomatic rebuke, or démarche, Bozell has received from South Africa since arriving nine months ago. The ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry on each occasion. Bozell, appointed by the Trump administration, has been tasked with conveying President Trump's concerns regarding issues such as alleged race-based discrimination, farmer murders and torture, and uncompensated land seizures.

According to Bozell, three of the five specific demands made by the Trump administration have been disregarded by South Africa. Foremost among these is the demand for President Ramaphosa to stop the "Kill the Boer" slogan, which refers to white South Africans of Dutch or Huguenot descent. Ramaphosa has previously stated that the slogan has been cleared for use by the country's supreme court, a justification Bozell dismisses.

"You've got a president of South Africa who refuses to condemn an incitement to kill," Bozell told Fox News Digital. He added that the government has also signaled an unwillingness to address issues affecting the Afrikaner rural community and continues to enforce race-based programs for mining investments. "Those were three strikes and you're out as far as we were concerned," Bozell stated.

Bozell argued that while South Africa's high court may have ruled on the slogan, the U.S. president can disagree with court decisions, a tenet of democracy. He questioned the difficulty of condemning a chant that incites violence, especially when it is chanted by thousands with pantomimed actions. He emphasized that American companies seeking to invest in South Africa are hindered by such policies.

Analysts suggest South Africa is increasingly aligning with nations like Iran, Russia, and China. The ruling African National Congress has also hosted the group Hamas. Bozell indicated that President Trump is concerned about South Africa's shift away from non-alignment and closer ties with U.S. adversaries, noting a desire among some in the South African government to return to Soviet-era ideologies and engage with Cuba.

The U.S. seeks dynamic business partnerships, particularly in mining critical and rare earth minerals. Bozell proposed a model where U.S. companies would mine in South Africa, creating local jobs and benefiting the South African economy, rather than extracting ore for processing abroad, as he claims China does.

Investment deals, including those for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service and critical minerals mining, are reportedly stalled due to South Africa's requirement for 30% black ownership in foreign ventures. Bozell stated that billions of dollars in potential U.S. investment are being held back by these race-based ownership rules, citing Musk's offer to fund 500 schools with Starlink if the ownership stipulation were waived.

On Friday, an official from South Africa's Department of International Relations confirmed Bozell's third démarche, calling it a record and stating that issues of bilateral relations are under discussion, with both sides committed to resolution. A State Department spokesperson indicated that the U.S. is awaiting a clear outline from South Africa regarding the desired relationship and a response to President Trump's executive order.

Despite the diplomatic friction, Bozell expressed guarded optimism for the future of the U.S.-South Africa relationship, emphasizing a desire to resolve outstanding issues for mutual benefit.