South Africa calls in new US ambassador over 'undiplomatic remarks'

South Africa's government called in the new U.S. ambassador to the country to explain himself over "undiplomatic remarks," foreign affairs minister Ronald Lamola said on Wednesday.

* Conservative activist and writer Leo Brent Bozell III arrived in Pretoria as U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy lastmonth. * Diplomatic relations between the two countries havesoured during Trump's second term in office. * Trump has criticised South Africa's Black EconomicEmpowerment policies to address the legacy of centuries ofracial inequality and its genocide case at the World Courtagainst Israel, a close U.S. ally. Israel strongly rejects SouthAfrica's genocide case over its military campaign in Gaza. * At a conference on Tuesday, Bozell waded intocontroversy by arguing that South African liberation chant "Killthe Boer" amounts to hate speech, despite local courts rulingthat it does not. * Bozell said: "I'm sorry, I don't care what your courtssay. It's hate speech." * Lamola told a press conference that Bozell's commentswere viewed as undermining the country's judiciary and history. * Another senior foreign affairs official Zane Dangor saidBozell had "apologised and expressed regret ... in terms of whathappened yesterday". * Lamola said Bozell's "role as a guest is to support usto build one nation, ... he must not take us back to a polarizedsociety along racial lines." * South Africa seeks to project a non-aligned foreignpolicy stance. Trump has accused it of taking "aggressivepositions" towards Washington and its allies. (Reporting by Anathi Madubela and Sfundo Parakozov in Johannesburg; Editing by Aidan Lewis, Alexander Winning and David Gregorio)