South Africa has criticized the United States' plans to impose sanctions on individuals in the country for alleged discrimination against white Afrikaners, describing the actions as a result of "mischaracterisations" promoted by "fringe groups." South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola stated on Wednesday that the country remains committed to addressing these challenges through constitutional institutions, democratic processes, and the rule of law, aiming to build a more equal and inclusive society for all South Africans.
Lamola's comments followed an announcement made on Tuesday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that the US would implement a new policy targeting South Africans involved in what he termed "race-based" discrimination against white Afrikaners. Rubio stated that the US would restrict visas for individuals deemed responsible for or complicit in laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, or incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Afrikaners, a minority group in South Africa, are descendants of mostly Dutch colonial settlers who established the apartheid system, which resulted in the seizure of land and resources from the majority Black population, relegated to live in designated areas known as "Bantustans." The apartheid system lasted until 1994, when the first democratic elections allowed Black Africans to gain political power.
A 2017 report from the South African government indicated that whites, making up about 7 percent of the population, owned a disproportionately large share of land, including 72 percent of individually owned farmland. In response, South Africa has initiated programs to buy and redistribute land, and in 2025, passed a law permitting land expropriation, including in some cases without compensation to owners.
Afrikaner groups have lobbied US President Trump regarding this law and alleged government-backed discrimination and violence against them, claims that the South African government has labeled as misinformation. Additionally, South Africa has faced criticism from Trump for filing a case in the International Court of Justice against Israel for alleged genocide in Gaza. The Trump administration has allowed white Afrikaners to seek asylum in the US and previously froze most foreign assistance to South Africa.