“No More Dialogue”: US Ambassador Bozell Warns South Africa Over New US Visa Restrictions
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions against South African nationals under the Immigration and Nationality Act
- The State Department cited uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and incitement of violence against minority groups as grounds for the ban
- US Ambassador L. Brent Bozell III responded publicly, warning that escalatory measures would follow if South Africa failed to act
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
SOUTH AFRICA — US Ambassador to South Africa L. Brent Bozell III has warned that Washington could take further action against South Africa following the announcement of new visa restrictions targeting certain South African nationals.
Bozell shared his response on X after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new restrictions.
Bozell warns South Africa
The ambassador warned South Africa that the latest move was only the beginning of what could become a broader series of measures.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
“As has been made absolutely clear, the time for endless ‘dialogue’ has run its course. No more. America has just so much patience,” Bozell wrote.
The ambassador said the US wanted to maintain strong and lasting relations with the South African government, but claimed Pretoria needed to demonstrate that it wanted the same.
“So far it has shown it cares for neither,” Bozell added.
He then issued a warning about what could follow the visa restrictions.
“As a result, the consequences, as I’ve attempted time and again to express, are necessarily going to be severe,” he said.
Bozell stressed that the latest policy should not be viewed as an isolated measure but a "show of America’s firm resolve in this matter.”
Rubio announces new visa restrictions
Bozell’s comments followed Rubio’s announcement that the US was introducing new visa restrictions against certain South African nationals.
Rubio said the decision followed concerns that the South African government had not adequately addressed issues previously raised by Washington.
According to Rubio, the restrictions are being introduced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
The provision is being used to target foreign nationals whom the US says are responsible for, or complicit in, policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination or the incitement of imminent violence against minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.
Rubio said the South African government had failed to adequately address the concerns previously raised by the US.
The latest announcement adds further strain to relations between Pretoria and Washington, with Bozell now signalling that additional measures could follow.
At the time of the announcement, the South African government had not yet issued a formal response to Bozell’s warning.
Marco Rubio condemns the 'Kill the Boer' chant
Previously, Briefly News reported that the United States' Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, received criticism from South Africans after he weighed in on the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema singing the Kill the Boer chant on Friday, 21 March 2025. His assertions that it incites violence incensed South Africans. He claimed the media did not provide coverage of Malema singing the chant and said there was insufficient outrage over the song. He also accused the EFF of inciting violence against Afrikaners.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
