# US bars South Africans over disputed discrimination claims

> Trump administration imposes visa restrictions, falsely claiming 'white genocide' against Afrikaners in South Africa.
- Title: US bars South Africans over disputed discrimination claims
- Summary: Trump administration imposes visa restrictions, falsely claiming 'white genocide' against Afrikaners in South Africa. The US is imposing visa restrictions on…
- Keywords: south africa, united states, donald trump, marco rubio, afrikaners, visa restrictions, immigration policy, racial discrimination, affirmative action, cyril ramaphosa, apartheid, land reform
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/us-visa-restrictions-south-africans-trump-claims-anti-white-discrimination
- Published: 2026-09-16T12:35:45+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: south africa, united states, donald trump, marco rubio, afrikaners, visa restrictions, immigration policy, racial discrimination, affirmative action, cyril ramaphosa, apartheid, land reform
## US bars some South Africans
The US announced visa restrictions on some South Africans as Trump's administration claims the government discriminates against white Afrikaners.
## Trump's escalating campaign
Since early last year, the US has cut aid to South Africa, barred it from the G20 summit in Miami, and set up a refugee program for Afrikaners.
## Rubio targets discrimination policies
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said restrictions target those who enable race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation.

> The South African people are being failed by a government that is destroying its economy through an obsessive pursuit of racial grievance
## South Africa pushes back
South Africa's foreign ministry said its policies are being misrepresented by fringe groups who wrongly claim to represent Afrikaners in general.

> It is our sovereign right to put in place laws that address the nation's concern over centuries of racial injustice
## Apartheid's lasting wealth gap
White South Africans typically have 20 times the wealth of Black people, according to a 2023 economic journal article.
## Limited land expropriation
South Africa introduced a law allowing land seizure without payment in specific cases like abandonment or speculation. There is no large-scale expropriation.
## The 'Kill the Boer' controversy
Many white South Africans cite opposition leader Julius Malema's use of the chant. South African courts ruled it's not meant literally and isn't hate speech.
## Key takeaway

The US is imposing visa restrictions on South Africans based on Trump's false claims of anti-white discrimination, despite evidence showing white South Africans remain far wealthier than Black citizens.