South Africa Summons US Envoy Over 'Undiplomatic Remarks,' Diplomatic Rift Deepens

• South Africa summoned US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III after his "undiplomatic remarks" challenged the nation's ties with Iran and its affirmative action laws.
• Bozell, appointed by Donald Trump, compared South Africa's affirmative action laws to apartheid-era race laws and criticized a land expropriation law.
• The incident deepens a long-standing diplomatic rift, with Trump's administration alleging South Africa is "anti-white" and targets white farmers, claims denied by South Africa.
• Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola emphasized adherence to diplomatic etiquette, while director-general Zane Dangor stated Bozell apologized for his remarks.
• Ties between the former allies are at their lowest since apartheid ended in 1994, with the US also taking actions like expelling South Africa's ambassador and barring it from G20 meetings.