The United States has introduced visa restrictions against foreign nationals it accuses of supporting discriminatory policies toward South Africa’s white minority, deepening an already strained relationship between Washington and Pretoria.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Tuesday, saying the restrictions would apply to individuals allegedly involved in promoting racial discrimination, encouraging violence or supporting the seizure of land without compensation.
Rubio did not identify any person affected by the new policy.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised South Africa over its efforts to tackle racial and economic disparities, particularly policies concerning land ownership and the rights of Afrikaners.
Pretoria has rejected accusations of targeting white citizens, arguing that its reforms are intended to correct inequalities created during apartheid.
South African authorities have also dismissed claims of a so-called white genocide, saying there is no credible evidence to support such allegations.
The dispute has intensified since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
His administration has reduced assistance to South Africa, expelled the country’s ambassador and offered refugee protection to Afrikaners whom it said faced persecution.
President Trump’s position gained further attention after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa approved legislation allowing property to be expropriated in the public interest, including limited circumstances where compensation could be set at zero.
However, the law requires authorities in most cases to negotiate with property owners before taking land. Disagreements can also be challenged through the courts.
Land redistribution remains a contentious issue in South Africa, where the legacy of apartheid continues to shape ownership patterns.
Under the former system, the Black majority was forcibly deprived of land and denied numerous rights.
The South African government maintains that land reform is necessary to tackle these historical imbalances and says the legislation does not authorise indiscriminate property seizures.
White South Africans account for slightly more than seven percent of the country’s population but own much of the privately held agricultural land.
In a separate statement on social media, Rubio accused Pretoria of pursuing what he called racial hostility toward the Afrikaner community.
He said individuals responsible for such actions should not be permitted to enter the United States.
Rubio further alleged that South Africa had failed to respond adequately to Washington’s concerns over what the US describes as state-backed discrimination against Afrikaners and other minority groups.
The US Embassy in Pretoria said diplomatic engagement had failed to resolve the dispute and warned that additional measures could follow.
It described the visa restrictions as the first stage of a broader response intended to demonstrate Washington’s determination.
President Ramaphosa previously attempted to improve relations by travelling to the White House in May with a delegation that included members of South Africa’s governing coalition and prominent white golfers.
The meeting, however, became tense after President Trump raised allegations that white farmers were being murdered and persecuted.
The claims have been challenged and widely criticised for lacking reliable supporting evidence.
Relations deteriorated further in August when Washington imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, the highest rate applied to a sub-Saharan African country.
The latest restrictions were introduced under a US immigration provision that permits the Secretary of State to prevent foreign nationals from entering the country when their presence is considered contrary to American foreign-policy interests.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong