Leo Brent Bozell III, the United States ambassador to South Africa, has warned that further measures against South Africa could follow as tensions between Washington and Pretoria increase. The warning follows Marco Rubio, the United States Secretary of State, announcing a new visa restriction policy on 15 September.
According to Rubio, the policy targets foreign nationals who, in the view of the United States government, are responsible for, or complicit in, the implementation or enforcement of laws or policies related to land expropriation without compensation, race-based discrimination and incitement of threatening violence against minority groups in South Africa. The policy has been implemented under Article 212(a)(3)(C) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives the Secretary of State the authority to deny certain foreign nationals access to the United States. Certain family members may also be affected by the restrictions. Rubio says the South African government has not given sufficient attention to his previous concerns, according to Washington.
Bozell earlier this year also expressed criticism over, among other things, South Africa's land reform, black economic empowerment and foreign policy. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africa remains committed to strengthening relations with the United States and that differences should be addressed through dialogue.
Source: U.S. Department of State
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
