The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals it accuses of being responsible for, or complicit in, race-based discrimination, incitement of imminent violence and uncompensated land seizures in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy on Tuesday, citing President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14204, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa.”
Under the new policy, foreign nationals involved 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 could face restrictions on entry into the United States.
Rubio said the measure was being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to deem a foreign national inadmissible where their entry could have potentially serious adverse foreign-policy consequences for the United States. Certain family members may also be covered by the restrictions.
The US Secretary of State said Washington remained concerned about what it described as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination against Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa.
He specifically cited race-based legislation, proposed land expropriation without compensation, and chants and slogans which the US administration says could contribute to racial violence.
“The South African government has not adequately addressed” the concerns previously raised by Washington, Rubio said, urging Pretoria to take action.
He added that the United States considered such actions a threat to peace, economic stability and the rule of law, and said they were incompatible with US foreign-policy objectives.
The latest announcement further escalates tensions between Washington and Pretoria. The South African government has rejected allegations that white South Africans are being systematically persecuted or discriminated against, while defending its land-reform policies as part of efforts to address the legacy of apartheid.
No specific individuals were named in Rubio’s announcement.
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