The United States has introduced visa restrictions on certain South African nationals over what it described as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination.
The US State Department said the restrictions would apply to individuals involved in enacting or implementing laws and policies that permit uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups.
According to the department, such actions undermine peace, economic stability and the rule of law, and conflict with the principles guiding US foreign policy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement on Tuesday, called on the African National Congress-led government to take urgent steps to address what Washington described as “egregious actions”.
The policy follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025 concerning issues affecting Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.
Pretoria has rejected Washington’s position, maintaining that its domestic policies and independent foreign relations fall within its sovereign authority.
The latest dispute adds to broader tensions between the two countries, including disagreements over South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its relations with BRICS members.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also held meetings with leaders from Russia, China, Iran and other countries during the 18th BRICS Summit in India last week.
South Africa is also expected to be absent from the upcoming G20 Summit in Miami, Florida, following its exclusion by the US government, unless there is a last-minute change.
US imposes visa restrictions on South Africans over alleged discrimination
