South Africa's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern over visa restrictions imposed by the United States

South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued a statement on the 16th, expressing concern about the United States' recent announcement of new visa restrictions on relevant South African personnel, saying that the United States has misinterpreted South Africa's domestic policies.

Ronald Lamola, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, said in a statement that the relevant US measures once again cater to the erroneous description of South Africa's domestic policies by certain groups. These groups falsely portray themselves as representatives of South Africa's "minorities" and Afrikaners. He said that as a sovereign country, South Africa had the right to enact laws to address problems caused by centuries of racial injustice.

Lamola rejected claims that crime in South Africa was racially targeted, saying it affected all South Africans and was not targeted at specific groups based on race, color or social origin.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy on the 15th, restricting the issuance of visas to South African officials accused of "racial discrimination." He said the South African government had failed to adequately address "racially motivated crimes and state-sponsored discrimination" against Afrikaners and other ethnic minority groups.

Afrikaners are a minority white ethnic group in South Africa, mainly descendants of European immigrants. In February 2025, the U.S. government implemented multiple crackdowns on South Africa on the grounds that the white South Africans suffered "racial discrimination" and promoted a reception plan for white South African "refugees." The South African government denies the accusations and expresses strong opposition.