US imposes visa restrictions on South Africans over land seizures and racial policies

The United States government has imposed new visa restrictions on foreign nationals it accuses of enabling uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and incitement of violence against minority groups in South Africa.

The Trump administration announced the restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, citing concerns over what it described as racially motivated crime, government-sponsored discrimination and policies affecting Afrikaners and other minority groups.

According to the US government, the restrictions will target foreign nationals it determines were responsible for or complicit in the enactment or implementation of laws or policies linked to uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups.

The administration said the South African government had failed to adequately address concerns previously raised by Washington.

The US also cited South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment policies, the 2024 Expropriation Act and the government’s response to racially charged rhetoric, including the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant.

The restrictions come amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and South Africa over land reform, economic policies and allegations of discrimination against white South Africans.

The US government warned that certain family members of individuals affected by the new policy could also be subject to the restrictions.

The latest measures are part of the Trump administration’s broader pressure campaign against Pretoria, following earlier actions involving aid, refugee policy and diplomatic relations.

The administration has also previously moved to end US support for PEPFAR programmes in South Africa, citing concerns over policies and treatment of minority groups.

South Africa has continued to defend its land and economic transformation policies, arguing that they must be viewed against the backdrop of the country’s history of apartheid and persistent inequality in land ownership and economic opportunity.