U.S. slaps South Africa with new sanctions due to alleged discrimination against White people

Updated on: September 16, 2026 / 7:48 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The Trump administration has announced that it will impose travel bans on officials it claims are responsible for discrimination against White people and other minority groups in South Africa.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday he would revoke U.S. visas or reject visa applications from foreign nationals found to be responsible for, or complicit in, enacting or enforcing laws and policies that allow uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and the incitement of violence against minority ethnic and racial groups in South Africa.

"The United States will not allow such behavior to go unchecked," Rubio said in a statement. "These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America's foreign policy."

The South African government has strongly rejected U.S. allegations of discrimination against whites, calling the claims made by the administration since President Trump returned to office last year baseless and a result of misinformation.

South Africa's foreign ministry said Wednesday that it had "noted with concern" the new U.S. visa restrictions, adding that the U.S. announcement aligned with "the mischaracterization of South Africa's domestic policies by…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/