Diplomacy & Geopolitics
South Africa visa curbs announced by US over race claims
The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting some South Africans over what Washington described as race-based discrimination, deepening a dispute with Pretoria over South Africa's post-apartheid racial justice policies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would apply to people who promote “race-based discrimination,” incite violence or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa. The announcement did not immediately name anyone targeted.
Rubio accused South Africa's government of damaging its economy through what he called “racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority.” President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised South Africa's land and employment laws, which are intended to address inequalities that remain decades after the end of white-minority rule.
Ties between the two countries have worsened since Trump took office last year. The United States has cut aid, expelled the South African ambassador, imposed high tariffs, boycotted a G20 summit in Johannesburg and offered “refuge” to white South Africans fleeing what Trump called “persecution.”
Thousands of white Afrikaners have been allowed to settle in the United States under a special Trump administration programme. South Africa said last month it would offer a “generous” new trade deal to the United States as it seeks to avoid tariffs that threaten job losses on top of high unemployment.
Update
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would target people who promote race-based discrimination, incite violence or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa.
Rubio accused South Africa's government of hurting its economy through what he called racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority.
The announcement did not immediately name any individuals targeted by the restrictions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 September 2026 at 22:02:42 UTC.
Update
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised South Africa's post-apartheid land and employment policies.
The item says US-South Africa ties have worsened since Trump took office, with aid cuts, the expulsion of South Africa's ambassador and an offer of refuge to white South Africans fleeing what Trump called persecution.
Trump has imposed high tariffs and boycotted a G20 summit in Johannesburg.
South Africa said last month it would offer a new trade deal to the United States to try to avoid tariffs that it says threaten major job losses.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 September 2026 at 21:38:48 UTC.
Update
The US State Department said the restrictions target South Africans who enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups.
The announcement followed repeated clashes between President Donald Trump and South African leaders over post-apartheid racial justice policies.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 September 2026 at 21:12:09 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The individuals or categories of individuals who will be denied visas were not immediately named.
Source
AFP news report published on .