US Announces Visa Restrictions Over South Africa Land and Race Policies

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 17, 2026

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals it says are responsible for or complicit in South African laws and policies involving uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and the incitement of imminent violence against minority groups.

The policy was announced by the US Department of State under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to bar entry to foreign nationals whose admission could have potentially serious adverse foreign-policy consequences for the United States.

The State Department said the restrictions follow continued US concerns over what it describes as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination against Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.

Washington also cited South African legislation and policies concerning land expropriation without compensation, as well as what it described as race-based discriminatory measures and public incitement of racial violence.

The US said the South African government had not adequately addressed concerns previously raised under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14204, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”.

The new policy will apply to foreign nationals whom the United States determines are responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of policies enabling uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.

Certain family members of individuals subject to the restrictions may also be covered, according to the State Department.

The US government said such policies undermine peace, economic stability and the rule of law and called on South Africa to address its concerns.

The announcement adds a new immigration measure to Washington’s broader pressure on Pretoria over issues that have become increasingly contentious in bilateral relations.

The visa restrictions do not constitute a blanket travel ban on South African nationals. They target foreign nationals who fall within the criteria set out by the US under the new policy.

Source: FSX Business News