Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Rubio Announces U.S. Visa Curbs for Some South African Nationals
The United States is restricting visas for some people connected to South Africa.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions concern people linked to certain laws or policies.
These policies are described by the United States as enabling uncompensated land seizures, racial discrimination, or violence against minority groups.
Rubio said South Africa had not addressed earlier American concerns.
The Trump administration has also criticized South Africa’s land reforms.
It has criticized South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa says white people are not being persecuted there.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says claims of white persecution are false and harmful.
Rubio did not name anyone who would face the restrictions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced U.S. visa restrictions targeting some foreign nationals from South Africa.
The policy targets people accused of enabling uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, or imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups.
Rubio said the South African government had not adequately addressed previously stated U.S. concerns.
Washington has also criticized South Africa’s land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa denies discrimination or persecution against white people and says such claims threaten its post-apartheid unity and sovereignty.
- Who
- The United States, represented in the announcement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the South African government.
- What
- The United States announced visa restrictions for some foreign nationals linked to specified South African laws or policies.
- When
- Tuesday, September 15; the report does not specify the year.
- Where
- The announcement was made in Washington and concerns South Africa.
- Why
- Rubio said the restrictions target people responsible for or complicit in policies involving uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, or incitement of imminent violence, and said South Africa had not addressed earlier U.S. concerns.
U.S. administration
South African government
Land and racial policies
U.S. administration
The U.S. administration says some South African laws or policies enable uncompensated land seizures and race-based discrimination, and that those responsible or complicit may warrant visa restrictions.
South African government
South Africa says there is no evidence of discrimination or persecution against white people and rejects claims that its policies amount to racial persecution.
Claims of white persecution
U.S. administration
The Trump administration portrays South Africa as dangerous and oppressive toward its white population and has taken measures including aid cuts, diplomatic action, and visa restrictions.
South African government
President Cyril Ramaphosa says claims of white persecution are false and threaten South Africa’s post-apartheid unity, sovereignty, and diplomatic relations.
Broader bilateral disagreements
U.S. administration
Washington has criticized South Africa’s land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South African government
South Africa rejects the U.S. portrayal of racial persecution and maintains that claims of white racial victimization are harmful.
- Announcing official
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Target
- Some foreign nationals from South Africa
- Policy concerns cited
- Uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and incitement of imminent violence
- U.S. assessment
- South Africa has not adequately addressed previously stated concerns
- South African position
- South Africa denies discrimination or persecution against white people
- Related disputes
- South Africa’s land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice
- Named targets
- Rubio’s statement did not identify anyone by name
