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 violence and uncompensated land seizures in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy in a statement on Tuesday, saying it was being imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The policy targets foreign nationals involved in the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that, according to the US, enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or the incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Rubio said the decision followed concerns previously raised by President Donald Trump’s administration over what it described as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination against Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.
“As stated in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14204, “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,” the United States remains gravely concerned about racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination occurring against the Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa, including race-based discriminatory legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation, and incitement of racial violence through dehumanising chants and slogans,” Rubio said.
He accused the South African government of failing to adequately address the concerns raised by the US administration.
Rubio said the targeted actions undermined peace, economic stability and the rule of law, adding that they were incompatible with US foreign policy.
“The South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns and so today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act targeting foreign nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
“The United States will not allow such behaviour to go unchecked. These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy,” Rubio added.
The Secretary of State also urged the South African government to address what Washington described as the “egregious actions” behind the new policy.
The US said the visa restrictions were authorised under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to declare a foreign national inadmissible where their entry into the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
Certain family members of people covered by the restrictions may also be affected, according to the statement.
The announcement adds to tensions between Washington and Pretoria over issues including South Africa’s land reform policies and allegations of discrimination against Afrikaners.
Trump previously issued Executive Order 14204, which directed US policy towards South Africa and cited concerns over land expropriation and other issues raised by his administration.