US visa restrictions: WHO exactly does it affect?
· The South African
The US has tolled out its visa restrictions on South African individuals it claims are responsible, complicit in race-based discrimination, incitement of ethnic violence and land expropriation without compensation.
Who exactly does it affect?
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US VISA RESTRICTIONS – WHO DOES IT AFFECT
On Tuesday, 15 September 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that new visa restrictions would be enforced against South Africans connected to “race-based discrimination” government policies.
The visa restriction will affect those whom the US states are “responsible for, or complicit in” the following:
- Enacting or implementing policies involving race-based discrimination
- Enacting or implementing policies enabling uncompensated land seizures and expropriation
- Inciting imminent violence against minority racial or ethnic groups
Rubio added that certain family members of the targeted individuals could also be subject to the visa restrictions.
The restriction falls under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to declare someone inadmissible to entry into the US.
WHO IS ON THE LIST?
According to Daily Maverick, no list of targeted sources affected by the visa restriction will be published. The US has not publicly explained how it will operationalise its new system, nor has it addressed concerns that it will affect existing visas.
Individuals are therefore likely to discover they have been sanctioned when they apply for a US visa or attempt to travel to the country.
The new measure does not say that ordinary South Africans who have expressed support for land reform, racial policies or particular political views will automatically be banned. It does focus on foreign nationals who are “responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies”.
The US Department of State has stated that it may screen and vet the social media activity of individuals applying for visas. This means publicly available posts, comments, and other online activity may be considered. However, having a particular political opinion or supporting a particular policy does not, by itself, automatically mean an applicant will be refused a visa.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, CABINET AND POLITICIANS?
As the US plans not to make it publicly known, or perhaps to decide on a case-by-case basis, it’s unclear whether the visa restrictions could affect South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet, or political party leaders at this point.
However, as the policy concerns people responsible for or complicit in the enactment or implementation of government policies, government and political officials could fall within the scope of the visa ban.