The new US visa restrictions targeting South Africa explained - IOL

The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals it says are responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving 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, September 15, citing what Washington described as ongoing concerns about the treatment of Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.

In a statement, the US said it remained “gravely concerned” about what it described as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination in South Africa.

The concerns listed by the US include race-based legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation and what it described as the incitement of racial violence through “dehumanizing chants and slogans”.

Rubio said the South African government had not adequately addressed concerns previously raised by the US administration.

“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,” Rubio said.

The new policy is being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.

The provision allows the US Secretary of State to declare a foreign national inadmissible when their entry into the United States could have potentially serious adverse consequences for US foreign policy.

the incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.

The announcement did not name any individuals who are currently subject to the restrictions. Reuters reported that the policy applies to certain foreign nationals rather than South Africans as a whole.

Certain family members of people covered by the restrictions may also be affected, according to the US statement.

The announcement does not introduce a blanket visa ban on South African citizens.

Instead, it creates a mechanism under US immigration law through which specific foreign nationals can face visa restrictions if the US determines that they fall within the categories outlined by the policy.

The practical effect of the announcement will therefore depend on how the Trump administration applies the policy and which individuals it identifies.

Land reform has been a major point of disagreement between Washington and Pretoria.

South Africa's land reform policies are intended to address historical inequalities in land ownership arising from colonialism and apartheid.

 The US administration, however, has repeatedly raised concerns about the possibility of land being expropriated without compensation.

The latest announcement also refers to race-based discrimination and alleged incitement of violence against minority groups, particularly Afrikaners.

South Africa has previously rejected claims that white South Africans are facing systematic persecution or discrimination. Pretoria has defended its policies as efforts to address the country's historical racial inequalities and has criticised claims of white persecution.

The visa restrictions come as relations between South Africa and the US have become increasingly strained.

The Trump administration has criticised South Africa's approach to racial inequality and land reform, while Pretoria has defended its domestic policies and sovereignty.

The two countries have also disagreed over South Africa's international diplomacy, including its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Rubio concluded the announcement by urging the South African government to address Washington's concerns.

“We once again strongly urge the South African government to quickly address these egregious actions,” he said.