South Africa rejects U.S. visa restrictions, defends domestic policies

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Wednesday rejected the United States' new visa restrictions, saying that the move mischaracterizes its domestic policies and undermines efforts to resolve bilateral differences through diplomatic engagement.

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said in a statement that the U.S. announcement "once again aligns with the mischaracterization of South Africa's domestic policies by fringe groups who wrongly portray themselves as representatives of 'minorities' and Afrikaners in general."

While acknowledging that Washington may hold different views on South African policies, Lamola said Pretoria expects its sovereignty, democracy and Constitution to be respected.

"We remain committed to addressing these challenges through our constitutional institutions, democratic processes and the rule of law, with the objective of building a more equal and inclusive society for all South Africans," Lamola said.

He said the ongoing bilateral discussions on these matters demonstrate the importance that both countries attach to finding a lasting solution.

"We maintain that challenges in our bilateral relations with the United States can only be resolved by constructive engagement through state actors on both sides of the diplomatic channel, not unilateral acts," he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced a new policy to impose visa restrictions on South African officials alleged to be involved in "race-based discrimination."

"The United States remains gravely concerned about racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination occurring against the Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa, including race-based discriminatory legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation, and incitement of racial violence through dehumanizing chants and slogans," Rubio said in a statement.

Afrikaners are a white ethnic group in South Africa, mainly descended from Dutch, French and German settlers who arrived at the Cape from the 17th century onward.

The U.S. administration has accused the South African government of mistreating White South Africans, while the South African government rejected claims that it was confiscating land and "treating certain classes of people very badly."

In February 2025, shortly after beginning his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. government to facilitate the resettlement of Afrikaners from South Africa as refugees, citing alleged racial discrimination and persecution. Enditem