The US has announced visa restrictions targeting people it accuses of discriminating against South Africa’s white minority, in the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries.
The Trump administration has criticised South Africa over several issues, including policies aimed at addressing racial inequality that it says discriminate against Afrikaners, descendants mainly of Dutch and French settlers.
South Africa has repeatedly denied the claim.
“The South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement announcing the restrictions on Tuesday.
He said the visa restrictions would target those who promote “race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa.”
Rubio did not immediately name any individuals targeted by the restrictions.
Relations between the two countries have been on a downward spiral since President Donald Trump returned to office early last year, with the US leader cutting aid, expelling the South African ambassador and offering “refuge” to white South Africans fleeing “persecution.”
But Trump ambushed the Oval Office meeting with claims that white South African farmers were being killed and “persecuted” – producing unsubstantiated evidence that has been widely discredited.
Further efforts by South Africa to mend the relationship have failed, with Africa’s largest economy being hit in August with 30% tariffs on goods being exported to the US – the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.
The latest visa restrictions are being imposed under a provision of US immigration law that allows the secretary of state to bar foreign nationals whose entry is considered potentially damaging to US foreign policy interests.
Source – BBC
