The United States has announced visa restrictions against certain South African nationals accused of being involved in policies that Washington says discriminate against the country’s white minority and other groups.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Tuesday, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria over South Africa’s racial-equity and land-reform policies. The restrictions target foreign nationals whom the US says are responsible for, or complicit in, race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures or incitement of violence against minority groups.
Rubio said the South African government had failed to adequately address concerns previously raised by Washington. He did not immediately identify individuals who would be affected by the restrictions.
The South African government rejected the US characterisation of its policies, with Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola expressing concern over the announcement.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the US position misrepresented the country’s domestic policies and was influenced by groups that did not represent Afrikaners or other minorities generally.
Pretoria has repeatedly denied allegations that white South Africans are being systematically persecuted, including claims of a “white genocide”. The government maintains that its policies are aimed at addressing racial inequalities created during apartheid.
Land reform remains particularly sensitive in South Africa, where the black majority was dispossessed of land and denied basic rights under apartheid.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed legislation allowing the state, in limited circumstances, to expropriate property in the public interest with compensation potentially set at zero. The government has maintained that the law does not authorise arbitrary land seizures and that authorities are generally required to first seek an agreement with property owners.
The Trump administration has previously criticised South Africa over the issue and supported claims that Afrikaners face persecution, allegations Pretoria has consistently rejected.
In a separate statement, Rubio accused South Africa’s government of pursuing what he described as “racial grievance” against the Afrikaner minority and said Washington would not allow the alleged conduct to go unchecked.
The US Embassy in Pretoria said Washington believed diplomatic dialogue had not produced sufficient progress and warned that the visa restrictions could be followed by additional measures.
The latest move comes amid a broader deterioration in relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to office. Washington has previously cut aid to South Africa and taken other diplomatic measures, while Pretoria has continued to defend its domestic policies and sovereignty.
The dispute has also affected trade relations, with the US imposing a 30% tariff on South African goods exported to the American market in August, according to reports.
The new visa restrictions are being imposed under US immigration law provisions that allow the Secretary of State to restrict the entry of foreign nationals whose presence is considered detrimental to US foreign-policy interests.
