By Emmanuel Nduka
The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting South African nationals accused of being responsible for or complicit in policies Washington says promote racial discrimination, uncompensated land seizures and violence against minority groups.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new policy on Tuesday, escalating an already strained relationship between Washington and Pretoria over issues including land reform, affirmative action and the treatment of South Africa’s Afrikaner minority.
“As stated in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14204, ‘Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa’, the United States remains gravely concerned about racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination occurring against the Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa, including race-based discriminatory legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation, and incitement of racial violence through dehumanising chants and slogans,” Rubio said.
He said the South African government had failed to adequately address concerns previously raised by Washington, prompting the new restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to Rubio, the measures will target foreign nationals responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or the incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
“Certain family members may also be covered by these restrictions,” Rubio added.
The U.S. government did not immediately identify the individuals who would be affected by the restrictions.
The announcement comes amid worsening diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria over several contentious issues, including South Africa’s land reform policies, its foreign policy positions and its treatment of the Afrikaner community.
Rubio said Washington would not allow what it described as discriminatory policies to go unchecked, arguing that such actions undermine peace, economic stability and the rule of law.
“We once again strongly urge the South African government to quickly address these egregious actions,” he said.
The latest move represents another escalation in the diplomatic dispute between Washington and Pretoria since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025.
The Trump administration has previously taken several measures against South Africa, including restricting South African officials’ participation in the 2026 G20 proceedings in the United States, cutting aid and establishing a refugee pathway for Afrikaners and other white South Africans.
Washington has repeatedly accused South Africa of discriminating against its white minority, particularly Afrikaners, over land reform and other policies.
South Africa, however, has consistently rejected allegations that Afrikaners are being subjected to systematic persecution or “white genocide”. Pretoria maintains that its land and affirmative-action policies are aimed at addressing economic and racial inequalities created by apartheid and colonial rule.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has defended the country’s sovereignty and said Pretoria expects Washington to respect its right to formulate policies addressing its own historical circumstances.
The latest U.S. action comes as both countries face mounting diplomatic tensions, with Washington warning that the visa restrictions could be followed by further measures if Pretoria does not address its concerns.
The U.S. ambassador to South Africa has described the visa policy as the first step in what could become a broader series of escalatory actions.
