US Announces Visa Restrictions On Some South Africans

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States is introducing a new visa restriction policy targeting some foreign nationals in South Africa.

The policy targets foreign nationals whom the US says are responsible for, or complicit in, enacting or implementing 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.

Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated since the beginning of US President Donald Trump’s second term.

The US ambassador to South Africa said in a post on X on Wednesday that the visa restrictions were “only the first step in a series of escalatory measures”.

Rubio also alleged that the South African government had not adequately addressed concerns previously raised by Washington.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has rejected the central premise of Washington’s concerns.

In August last year, South Africa criticised a US government report that accused Pretoria of moving towards land seizures from white farmers, describing the allegation as “deeply flawed” and “inaccurate”.

South African officials have said the government remains committed to constitutional protections and that its land reform programme is being implemented within the law to promote equality.

Pretoria has sought to respond to the US criticism while maintaining its trade relationship with Washington.

The United States is South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, while South Africa has also expanded economic links with other major economies, including China and the European Union.

The US statement did not identify the individuals who would be affected by the new visa restrictions.

SOURCE: TRTAfrika