Bozell moves to clarify remarks on SA judiciary

Speaking at the BizNews conference in Hermanus on Tuesday, Bozell said the United States views the chant as hate speech, despite local court rulings.

The Constitutional Court dismissed AfriForum's appeal after the Supreme Court of Appeal had ruled that the chant did not constitute hate speech.

"We may not get clarity on the ‘Kill the Boer’ chant that we believe is hate speech. I’m sorry, I don’t care what your court says, it’s hate speech,” he told the conference. 

“We believe that there is clarity on issues such as expropriation, but the South African government has to step up and address these concerns." 

During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House in May last year, US President Donald Trump showed clips of EFF leader Julius Malema chanting "Kill the Boer, kill the farmer" as part of unfounded claims of an orchestrated campaign of violence against white farmers.

Trump also asked why Malema has not been arrested. 

Ramaphosa told journalists the government accepted court rulings that the controversial slogan should be considered in the context of the liberation struggle against the brutal system of white-minority rule called apartheid.

"It's not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to be killed," Ramaphosa said.

In response to Bozell’s remarks, the EFF called for his expulsion from the ambassadorial role and for him to be declared persona non grata immediately.

The party believes Bozell has expressed contempt for the country, the president, the legislature and South Africa’s judiciary.

Thanks to @BizNewsCOM for hosting me yesterday. I want to clarify that while my personal view—like that of many South Africans—is that “Kill the Boer” constitutes hate speech, the U.S. government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.

— U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa (@USAmbRSA) March 11, 2026

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