The United States has announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting certain foreign nationals linked to what Washington describes as race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures and incitement of imminent violence in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy on September 15, 2026.
The measure was issued under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to restrict the entry of foreign nationals whose presence could have potentially serious adverse foreign-policy consequences for the United States.
According to the US State Department, the restrictions target foreign nationals who are responsible for or complicit in the enactment or implementation of policies that Washington says enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups.
The State Department said certain family members could also be covered by the restrictions.
The policy does not amount to a blanket visa ban on South African citizens.
No specific individuals were named when the policy was announced.
The move is the latest development in deteriorating diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria.
The Trump administration has previously criticised South Africa’s land-reform policies and raised concerns about alleged discrimination against Afrikaners and other minority groups.
The South African government has rejected accusations of systematic persecution and has defended its policies as part of efforts to address the country’s longstanding racial and economic inequalities.
The latest visa restrictions therefore add another layer to an increasingly contentious US-South Africa relationship, with disagreements extending beyond immigration to land reform, race policy and broader foreign-policy issues.