Lamola to engage US lawmakers over Trump’s new visa restrictions
Lamola to engage US lawmakers over Trump’s new visa restrictions. Skip to content Menu Home | Lamola says new US visa restrictions concerning International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola speaking at a government engagement Image Credits : GCIS SABC News 16 September 2026, 15:31 [SAST] International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says they are concerned about the unilateral visa restrictions announced by his US counterpart Marco Rubio.
What happened
Rubio has announced new visa restrictions targeting those who are responsible for what they call, racially motivated crime and government sponsored discrimination against the Afrikaners and other minority groups. The latest visa restrictions are against South Africans responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable land expropriation without compensation and race-based discrimination amongst others. Skip to content Menu Home | Tau, US set to meet following visa restrictions Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau Image Credits : X: @DIRCO_ZA SABC News 18 September 2026, 07:21 [SAST] Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says he has an appointment next week with his US counterparts to discuss trade relations.
This despite US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement about new visa restrictions, targeting people accused of racial discrimination or incitement against minority groups. US-SA RELATIONS | The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals linked to certain South African laws and policies, a move expected to further strain relations between Washington and Pretoria. pic. twitter. com/eCuzI0SXbR — SABC News (@SABCNews) September 16, 2026 No individuals have yet been publicly named, but the diplomatic dispute between the two countries is widening.
Skip to content Menu Home | US announces new visa restrictions for certain South Africans [FILE] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Lamola has strongly rejected Washington's allegations.
The wider picture
Lamola says this aligns with the misrepresentation of South Africa’s domestic policy by groups that falsely present themselves as representatives of minorities and of Afrikaners in general. Lamola has reaffirmed that bridging the divisions of the past and establishing a society founded on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights is a constitutional imperative. Lamola adds that legislation adopted during the democratic era aims to improve the living conditions of people who were excluded from opportunities for centuries.
“For us, it’s until there’s a development that says these are the decisions that we’ve made that we continue to engage with the US as an important trading partner. “We’ve been engaged in discussions with them in our department this week. Image Credits : Reuters Sherwin Bryce-Pease 16 September 2026, 07:25 [SAST] The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals whom it says are involved in certain laws and policies in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the restrictions can apply to individuals that Washington determines to be responsible for, or complicit in, measures enabling what he says are uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or incitement of violence against racial or ethnic minorities. The policy gives Washington a mechanism to deny visas to specific individuals it determines were involved in enacting or implementing the South African laws or policies covered by the announcement.
What has been reported
Certain immediate family members may also face restrictions, but no individuals have been publicly named as targets so far. He says Pretoria is committed to addressing the injustices of the past as a sovereign nation. This approach is consistent with practices in other countries that have had similar historical experiences, under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to protect the dignity of all people. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it feels that many of the policies drafted and passed by the African National Congress, to which the US makes reference, to have not served the country well.
DA MP serving on the International Relations Committee, Ryan Smith, says not all laws have promoted equality. “We do not need any other country to hold a mirror to our face. We can see the effects of failed domestic policy for ourselves. The ANC does not need to be told by the USA that its policies are failing.
What happens next
It only needs to look at its plummeting electoral support as more and more South Africans reject its policies and governance that have repeatedly failed us all. We have a strong democracy and strong institutions. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Speaking at the 13th Africa Aerospace and Defence Trade Exhibition and Air Show at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria on Thursday, Tau said government remains committed to engaging with the US.
We’re meeting our commitments in terms of the discussions that we have with them,” says Tau. He says they are meeting with the US next week to talk about trade. So I should also say that it came as a surprise because we’re really talking to them.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across sabcnews.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.