US announces visa restrictions targeting certain South African nationals
The United States announced a new visa policy that will limit entry for some South African citizens accused of involvement in land seizures, race‑based discrimination, or incitement of violence. Both Singapore’s Straits Times and India's NDTV report the same policy, with NDTV emphasizing the alleged discrimination aspect.
First reported 2 hours ago · latest update 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Sept 15 - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday the U.S. was announcing a new visa restriction policy targeting some foreign nationals from South Africa as President Donald Trump's administration continues to cool ties with the country.
The Trump administration has criticized South Africa over a range of issues including actions aimed at addressing racial inequality that Trump claims hurt the African nation's white population.
Washington has also criticized land reform policies and South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, over the U.S. ally's assault on Gaza.
The visa curb policy targets "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," Rubio said in a statement.
"The South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns," Rubio said.
The South African embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pretoria says there is no evidence of discrimination or persecution against white people and that ideas of white racial superiority are a threat to South Africa's post-apartheid unity, its sovereignty and its diplomatic relations. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for global efforts to debunk false stories about white persecution.
Trump has previously cut aid to South Africa, offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners, expelled the country's ambassador and made false claims of white genocide in the African nation.
Trump's portrayal of South Africa as dangerous and oppressive for white people also aligns with some of his domestic policies that have targeted diversity initiatives aimed at addressing historic inequities for marginalized groups. Trump casts them as discriminatory against white people and men.
Rubio's statement on Tuesday did not identify any person by name.
Three decades after the end of apartheid in South Africa, some fringe groups lament the loss of white power that democracy brought. While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most victims are Black. REUTERS
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US announces visa curbs for some foreign nationals in South Africa
Sept 15 - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday the U.S. government was announcing a new visa restriction policy targeting some foreign nationals in South Africa.
2 hours agoUS Announces Visa Curbs Over South Africa "Race-Based Discrimination"
The new restrictions target South Africans who "enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups," the US State Department said.
2 hours ago