US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III clarified that while his personal view is that the “Kill the Boer” chant constitutes hate speech, the US government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.

Bozell III was criticised by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after he argued that the chant incites violence against white farmers.

The party said Bozell spoke about the US's requests for legislative changes and a shift in foreign policy in South Africa, when he made the comment that he does not care what the country’s courts determination was in relation to "Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer".

The EFF called on Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to condemn what it says are attacks on the South African judiciary by Bozell.

The EFF wants Maya to speak in defence of the country’s judiciary against coercion and threats by a foreign government through its most senior diplomat.

The EFF stated that Bozell joined an “irresponsible right-wing” chorus in South Africa which has undermined judgments by the Equality Court, the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Constitutional Court which have found and affirmed that the liberation chant "Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer" constitutes free speech.

“It was these courts that affirmed that the chant should not be interpreted literally, and forms part of the tradition and history of struggle against oppression in our country,” the EFF said.

It argued that it is therefore dangerous that right-wing groups in South Africa continue to undermine the country’s judiciary by questioning and lobbying foreign governments on a judicial matter, which the highest court has decided on.

“It is even more dangerous when the talking-points of this fringe and Boeremag associations are adopted by a senior diplomat and Ambassador to our country from the US,” it added.

The party claimed that Bozell's comments are a direct insult to South Africa's judicial system and constitute a “concerning precedent” of a foreign nation disregarding the integrity and standing of the country’s courts.

“It is only following the EFF highlighting that Bozell has undermined our judiciary, that he saw it fit to issue a communication stating that he made his disrespectful comments against our judiciary in his personal capacity,” the party said.