US President Donald Trump.
The United States has announced visa restrictions against foreign nationals accused of being involved in policies that discriminate against White minorities and other ethnic and racial groups in South Africa, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would target people responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures and incitement of violence against minority groups, the Associated Press reported.
“The United States will not allow such behavior to go unchecked,” Rubio said, adding that the actions were incompatible with US foreign policy principles and could undermine peace, economic stability and the rule of law. South Africa’s government has said it has the sovereign right to introduce laws aimed at addressing centuries of racial injustice. Rubio did not name any individuals who would be affected by the restrictions. The move comes as the Trump administration has repeatedly accused South Africa of discriminating against White people, particularly Afrikaners, who are mainly descended from Dutch and French settlers. The visa restrictions are the latest in a series of measures taken by the Trump administration against South Africa.
Washington has previously barred South African officials from G20 meetings in the US and phased out aid for the country’s HIV treatment programme.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Pretoria was concerned by the latest announcement and defended the country’s domestic policies as efforts to address the legacy of apartheid and colonial rule. South Africa has strongly rejected the US allegations, describing them as baseless and based on misinformation.