The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals it says are responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures and incitement of imminent violence in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the restrictions on September 15, 2026, saying the measures were being imposed because Washington believes the South African government has not adequately addressed its concerns.
The policy is being implemented 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 admission could have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Certain family members may also be covered.
The restrictions are not a blanket visa ban on South African citizens. The US has not named specific individuals or disclosed how many people could ultimately be affected.
Rubio cited US concerns over South Africa’s land reform policies, legislation relating to race and allegations of rhetoric that could incite violence against minority racial or ethnic groups.
The announcement follows months of deteriorating relations between Washington and Pretoria. The Trump administration has previously criticised South Africa’s land policies and affirmative action measures and has taken other steps affecting bilateral relations.
South Africa has rejected the US characterisation of its domestic policies, saying its laws are intended to address the effects of apartheid and longstanding racial inequality. Its Foreign Ministry said on September 16 that Pretoria viewed the latest US action as another misrepresentation of its domestic policies and maintained that bilateral disputes should be addressed through diplomatic engagement rather than unilateral measures.
The US has not yet published a list of people subject to the restrictions. The US Ambassador to South Africa has indicated that the visa policy could be followed by further measures.