South Africa says US misrepresented its policies after visa curbs
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South Africa’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the US announcement aligned with “the mischaracterisation of South Africa’s domestic policies by fringe groups”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- South Africa’s foreign ministry criticised the US for misrepresenting its domestic policies after visa restrictions were announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The ministry urged that bilateral issues be resolved through diplomatic engagement, not unilateral actions.
- The US Ambassador indicated these visa curbs are "only the first step in a series of escalatory measures" amid ongoing tensions over South Africa's policies.
AI generated
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s foreign ministry said on Sept 16 that it had noted with concern US visa restrictions on some people from South Africa announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio a day earlier.
The foreign ministry added in a statement that the US announcement aligned with “the mischaracterisation of South Africa’s domestic policies by fringe groups”.
“We maintain that challenges in our bilateral relations with the USA can only be resolved by constructive engagement through state actors on both sides of the diplomatic channel not unilateral acts,” the statement said.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised South Africa since the start of his second term for what he claims is the racial persecution of its white minority, citing affirmative action laws aimed at addressing the inequality that has persisted since apartheid.
It was not clear who would be impacted by the new visa restrictions.
The US Ambassador to South Africa said in a post on X earlier on Sept 16 that they were “only the first step in a series of escalatory measures”. REUTERS