US restricts visas for South African officials over disputed anti-white discrimination claims

Washington: The United States has imposed visa restrictions on South African officials, saying it is acting against what it describes as discrimination against Afrikaners and other minorities. South Africa's government has rejected the allegation as unfounded and has defended its right to legislate on land reform.

The curbs were announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said in a social media post that South Africa's government was pursuing a "racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority" and that those responsible for what he described as injustices "have no place in the United States". He said Pretoria had failed to address American concerns about what Washington calls "government-sponsored discrimination", adding: "The United States will not allow such behaviour to go unchecked."

The restrictions are being applied under a provision of US immigration law that allows the secretary of state to bar foreign nationals whose entry is considered potentially damaging to American foreign policy interests. It is not yet clear which officials are affected, or how many.

The US embassy in Pretoria said Washington believed dialogue with South Africa had run its course and accused the country of failing to demonstrate a commitment to strong bilateral relations. It warned that the visa policy was "only the first step in a series of escalatory measures".

South Africa's government responded: "It is our sovereign right to put in place laws that address the nation's concern over centuries of racial injustice."

The dispute centres largely on South Africa's land reform programme. Allegations that white South Africans face persecution, or a "white genocide", have been widely discredited and lack reliable evidence. South Africa's latest crime statistics do not indicate that white people are at greater risk of violent crime than other racial groups.

At issue is the Expropriation Act, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which allows the state to seize land without compensation in rare instances. The law permits expropriation in the public interest and sets out circumstances in which compensation may be set at zero. In most cases, however, authorities must first try to reach agreement with property owners, and disputes can be taken to court. The government insists the law does not permit arbitrary seizures.

Land ownership remains a highly sensitive question more than three decades after the end of apartheid, under which the black majority was dispossessed of land and denied many basic rights. Most private farmland is owned by white South Africans, who make up just over 7% of the population. The government says land reform is necessary to address those historic inequalities.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since President Donald Trump returned to office. Washington has cut aid, expelled South Africa's ambassador and offered "refuge" to white South Africans who say they are fleeing "persecution".

Mr Ramaphosa travelled to the White House in May with a large delegation that included white members of his coalition government and well-known white South African golfers, in an effort to ease tensions. The meeting was overtaken by Mr Trump's claims that white farmers were being killed and "persecuted" — assertions supported by evidence that has been widely discredited.

Further efforts to mend ties have failed. In August, South Africa — Africa's largest economy — was hit with 30% tariffs on goods exported to the United States, the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

The embassy's warning of further measures suggests the dispute is likely to deepen. South Africa has not announced reciprocal steps, and continues to maintain that its laws are lawful, non-discriminatory and aimed at correcting a documented historical wrong.