US imposes visa limits on South Africans over discrimination

The United States announced visa restrictions on people it accuses of discriminating against South Africa’s white minority, targeting those who promote “race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week. Rubio did not name any individuals.

What did Marco Rubio announce?

Marco Rubio said the South African government “has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns”. In a social media post, he accused South Africa’s government of pursuing “racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority” and said those responsible for what he described as injustices “have no place in the United States”.

The policy rests on a provision of US immigration law that allows the secretary of state to bar foreign nationals whose entry is considered potentially damaging to US foreign policy interests. The US embassy in Pretoria said Washington believed dialogue with South Africa had run its course and warned that “this visa restriction policy is only the first step in a series of escalatory measures”.

The visa measures are the latest in a series of confrontational moves by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has also branded AI safety fears a “hoax”.

How has South Africa responded?

South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said he noted the announcement with “concern”. A statement from the international relations and co-operation ministry said the move “once again aligns with the mischaracterisation of South Africa’s domestic policies by fringe groups who wrongly portray themselves as representatives of ‘minorities’ and Afrikaners in general”.

The South African government said: “It is our sovereign right to put in place laws that address the nation’s concern over centuries of racial injustice.” Pretoria has repeatedly rejected allegations that it is persecuting white people or confiscating their land.

What does South Africa’s land expropriation law say?

The law signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa allows the state to expropriate property in the public interest and provides for circumstances in which compensation may be set at zero; the government says such seizures are permitted in rare instances. In most cases, authorities must first try to reach an agreement with property owners, and disputes can be taken to court.

Most private farmland in South Africa is owned by white South Africans, who make up just over 7% of the population. The government says land reform is needed to address inequalities that persist more than three decades after the end of apartheid, under which the black majority was dispossessed of land and denied many basic rights.

Why are US-South Africa relations strained?

Relations have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump returned to office. Washington has cut aid to South Africa, expelled the South African ambassador and offered “refuge” to white South Africans fleeing “persecution”, and in August South African exports to the United States were hit with 30% tariffs, the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

Trump ambushed a White House meeting with Ramaphosa with claims that white South African farmers were being killed and “persecuted”, producing evidence that has been widely discredited. South Africa’s latest crime statistics do not indicate that white people are at greater risk of violent crime than other racial groups.

Separately, Donald Trump Jr and his wife have said a Putin ally paid for two nights of their wedding.

Frequently asked questions

Who is affected by the US visa restrictions on South Africa?

The policy targets people accused of promoting race-based discrimination, inciting violence or enabling land confiscation without compensation in South Africa. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not name any individuals covered by the restrictions.

Why has the US imposed visa restrictions on South Africa?

Washington says South Africa has not adequately addressed its concerns about what it calls government-sponsored discrimination against Afrikaners and other minorities, a claim Pretoria denies.

What is South Africa’s land expropriation law?

The law signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa allows the state to expropriate property in the public interest and provides for compensation to be set at zero in rare instances, while requiring authorities in most cases to try to reach agreement with owners first.

Have US-South Africa relations deteriorated?

Yes. The US has cut aid, expelled South Africa’s ambassador, offered refuge to white South Africans and imposed 30% tariffs on South African goods in August, the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)