WASHINGTON — The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting certain South African nationals, adding to mounting diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would apply to foreign nationals considered responsible for, or complicit in, implementing policies that Washington says enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Rubio said the South African government had not adequately addressed concerns previously raised by Washington. His statement did not identify any individuals who would be affected by the restrictions.
The move comes amid strained relations between President Donald Trump’s administration and South Africa over land reform, racial inequality policies and Pretoria’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa has rejected allegations that white citizens face state-backed persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for misinformation about alleged white persecution to be challenged and has defended the country’s sovereignty and post-apartheid efforts to address historic racial inequality.
The Trump administration has previously cut aid to South Africa and offered refugee status to some white Afrikaners, while Washington has repeatedly criticised Pretoria’s domestic and foreign policies.
Source: Reuters
