The new US visa restrictions targeting South Africa explained
The new US visa restrictions targeting South Africa explained. News South AfricaThe new US visa restrictions targeting South Africa explainedPholoso Manyama|Published 14 minutes agoAsk AI 3minRubio announces targeted US visa restrictions over South Africa policies Image: suppliedThe United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals it says are responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving race-based discrimination, incitement of imminent violence and uncompensated land seizures in South Africa.
What happened
The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting certain foreign nationals linked to policies involving race based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures and the incitement of imminent violence against minority groups in South Africa Growing tensions between Pretoria and WashingtonThe visa restrictions come as relations between South Africa and the US have become increasingly strained. Not a blanket visa banThe announcement does not introduce a blanket visa ban on South African citizens. IOL NEWSAsk AIRelated Topics:united statesvisaWednesday, September 16, 2026NewsCrime and CourtsSouth AfricaAfricaWorldBRICSEducationEnergyEnvironmentFeel GoodGovernment at WorkOpinionPoliticsOpinionOpinionNewsPoliticsEntertainmentLifestyleTechSportBusinessJobsEconomyPropertyWindow on ChinaHybrid WorkingEntertainmentCelebrity NewsStreamingMoviesMusicBooksWhats OnJoburgDurbanCape TownPretoriaOpinionLifestyleHealthBeautyFashionFoodRelationshipsParentingCompetitionsOpinionTravelLocalInternationalTechSoftware and InternetEsportsOpinionSportSoccerPSLRugbyCricketMMABettingOpinionHorse RacingMotoringReviewsLaunchesIndustry NewsMotorsport
Such an approach would be far more likely to survive a constitutional challenge than an outright ban on children. ” Farrell explained that South Africa’s legal framework regulates online content and data, not access to the platforms themselves. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy on Tuesday, September 15, citing what Washington described as ongoing concerns about the treatment of Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa. In a statement, the US said it remained “gravely concerned” about what it described as racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination in South Africa.
The wider picture
Rubio said the South African government had not adequately addressed concerns previously raised by the US administration. “As stated in President Trump's Executive Order (EO) 14204, ‘Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa,’ 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,” Rubio said. According to Rubio's announcement, the policy will target foreign nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable:uncompensated land seizures;race-based discrimination; andthe incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Reuters reported that the policy applies to certain foreign nationals rather than South Africans as a whole. Instead, it creates a mechanism under US immigration law through which specific foreign nationals can face visa restrictions if the US determines that they fall within the categories outlined by the policy. South Africa and the land questionLand reform has been a major point of disagreement between Washington and Pretoria. South Africa's land reform policies are intended to address historical inequalities in land ownership arising from colonialism and apartheid.
South Africa has previously rejected claims that white South Africans are facing systematic persecution or discrimination.
What has been reported
The Trump administration has criticised South Africa's approach to racial inequality and land reform, while Pretoria has defended its domestic policies and sovereignty. The two countries have also disagreed over South Africa's international diplomacy, including its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Rubio concluded the announcement by urging the South African government to address Washington's concerns. “We once again strongly urge the South African government to quickly address these egregious actions,” he said.
Al Ahli stars Ivan Toney and Édouard Mendy set to arrive in South Africa to face Mamelodi Sundowns in a high-stakes FIFA Intercontinental Cup clash. South Africa’s economy showed signs of a possible recovery in August, with the PayInc index rising for a second month, although higher fuel prices and uncertainty remain key risks. News South AfricaSouth Africa has no plan to ban under-16s from social mediaThobeka Ngema|Published 1 hour agoAsk AI 4minThe debate over children’s online safety includes concerns about harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming and data privacy.
Image: AI GeneratedSouth Africa has no legislation aimed at banning under-16s from using social media platforms to protect them from exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, and exploitation.
What happens next
DCDT Minister Solly Malatsi said: “We want the internet to be safe for all people, particularly children, and this is a key priority the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies will continue to pursue relentlessly in conjunction with several entities in our portfolio, including the Films and Publications Board (FPB) and the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA). ”“Our stance is that there is currently no irrefutable indication that a general social media access ban for persons under 16 years old actually prevents them from being digitally active on such platforms. ” Malatsi shared that evidence is emerging that social media bans are being bypassed through misrepresentation and other means, raising questions about their effectiveness.
HJW Attorneys associate attorney Kayla Farrell stressed that South Africa lacks a law banning under-16s from social media, and no formal proposal to do so appears to be in the pipeline. None of the current statutes can be repurposed to fit,” Farrell said. [email protected] Ask AIRelated Topics:social mediasocial media banchild developmentconstitutiondcdtonline abuselegislationchild rightsWednesday, September 16, 2026NewsCrime and CourtsSouth AfricaAfricaWorldBRICSEducationEnergyEnvironmentFeel GoodGovernment at WorkOpinionPoliticsOpinionOpinionNewsPoliticsEntertainmentLifestyleTechSportBusinessJobsEconomyPropertyWindow on ChinaHybrid WorkingEntertainmentCelebrity NewsStreamingMoviesMusicBooksWhats OnJoburgDurbanCape TownPretoriaOpinionLifestyleHealthBeautyFashionFoodRelationshipsParentingCompetitionsOpinionTravelLocalInternationalTechSoftware and InternetEsportsOpinionSportSoccerPSLRugbyCricketMMABettingOpinionHorse RacingMotoringReviewsLaunchesIndustry NewsMotorsport Image: SUPPLIEDPolitical parties are using reels, food promises and comic videos to reach South Africa’s social-media electorate ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections.
Sometimes it works; sometimes you get criticism. ” While humour may intersect with politics, conveying an important message to an electorate lost in the seriousness of power outages, water droughts, and other service delivery issues, one would have to wait and see whether the popularity of these social media posts translates into votes come November. post. co. zaAsk AIWednesday, September 16, 2026NewsCrime and CourtsSouth AfricaAfricaWorldBRICSEducationEnergyEnvironmentFeel GoodGovernment at WorkOpinionPoliticsOpinionOpinionNewsPoliticsEntertainmentLifestyleTechSportBusinessJobsEconomyPropertyWindow on ChinaHybrid WorkingEntertainmentCelebrity NewsStreamingMoviesMusicBooksWhats OnJoburgDurbanCape TownPretoriaOpinionLifestyleHealthBeautyFashionFoodRelationshipsParentingCompetitionsOpinionTravelLocalInternationalTechSoftware and InternetEsportsOpinionSportSoccerPSLRugbyCricketMMABettingOpinionHorse RacingMotoringReviewsLaunchesIndustry NewsMotorsport
Soweto Fashion Week will represent South Africa at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow from 28 to 30 September 2026, where industry leaders will discuss manufacturing, logistics, investment and global market access. South Africa is home to 48,200 resident high-net-worth individuals, 131 centi-millionaires and 10 billionaires, according to New World Wealth’s 2026 Africa Wealth Report
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