Jairus Rabbit/GCIS
“Judges can be wrong. American judges are often wrong. That doesn’t mean I have no respect for the legal system.”
This is what Brent Bozell, the USA’s ambassador to South Africa, says about his recent comment that the “Kill the Boer” chant, despite several statements to the contrary, is indeed hate speech.
“I don’t care what your court says. This is hate speech,” Bozell said in his first public speech as ambassador last month. He was summoned shortly afterwards to explain his “undiplomatic comments” to the South African government.
“Some of you guys are responsible for that…” Bozell told reporters on Wednesday at the Sefako Makgatho presidential guest house in Pretoria where pres. Cyril Ramaphosa received the credentials of 20 appointed ambassadors, including that of Bozell.
The ambassador referred to some media who, according to him, wrongly quoted him last month about “some of the most extraordinary things I never said and some of the most extraordinary beliefs I never held”.
“I get it. Politics is hard sometimes,” Bozell said Wednesday.
“Look at the core of everything I said about your country. Then you will better understand where I stand.”
Also read here: ‘Our patience is running out’ – Brent Bozell
“Do you think your tenure here will really improve the relationship between South Africa and the USA?” a reporter asked Bozell.
“If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have accepted the assignment,” the ambassador replied.
“If I thought these issues could not be resolved, I would have retired. I told President Trump I wanted to retire and he said, ‘No, you have to do it.’
“He (Trump) also believes we can turn our situation around.”
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa and Ambassador Brent Bozell. (Photo: Jairus Rabbit/GCIS)