US House Committee advances bill to review ties and sanction South African officials

Key topics: US bill seeks sanctions on South African officials.Pretoria criticised for ties with Russia, China, Iran.Trump-era tensions fuel deepening diplomatic rift with Washington.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..By Kerry Lanaghan.The United States is moving to reassess its relationship with South Africa following a vote in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee to advance legislation calling for a full bilateral review and possible sanctions against South African officials. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, passed 34-16 on 23 July, was introduced by Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas and now heads to the full House of Representatives.According to Reuters, the bill reflects growing US discontent with South Africa’s foreign policy, particularly its close ties with Russia and China, its support for Palestine, and its perceived hostility to Western interests. The legislation mandates that the Trump administration identify South African government officials and ANC leaders who could be sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act. This US law enables targeted sanctions against individuals implicated in corruption or human rights abuses. No specific individuals are named in the bill.Tensions between Washington and Pretoria have been building during Donald Trump’s second term, marked by the imposition of a refugee resettlement programme for Afrikaners - descendants of European settlers - and repeated accusations of anti-white racism in South Africa. Trump has also threatened a 30% tariff on South African exports, further damaging a deteriorating diplomatic relationship.Jackson celebrated the bill’s progress on social media, writing: “South Africa made its choice when it abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists.” The bill accuses South Africa of aligning with US adversaries and explicitly criticises its relations with Russia, China, and Iran, as well as its alleged backing of Hamas - an accusation South Africa has denied. The text also references Pretoria’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, filed in 2023, as a point of concern.As Daily Maverick notes, the bill lists specific grievances, including South Africa’s military drills with Russia and China, its hosting of Chinese Confucius Institutes, and its diplomatic downgrading of Taiwan. Jackson further argued in committee that South Africa’s foreign policy amounts to an assault on US allies, accusing it of mimicking Iranian rhetoric in dismissing Hamas atrocities committed on October 7.While many bills at this stage do not become law, their passage through committee marks a significant step and a formalised expression of Washington’s frustration with South Africa’s geopolitical stance. The bill’s progression also highlights internal divisions within the US Congress. According to Daily Maverick, six Democrats broke ranks to support the bill - many with strong pro-Israel or pro-Taiwan constituencies - while most Democrats opposed it, warning it could damage a meaningful partnership.South Africa’s foreign ministry and the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa declined to comment on the bill. However, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola responded on social media, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to a long-term partnership with the US and expressing appreciation for members of Congress who opposed the measure.Though the legislation still requires passage by the House and Senate and the president’s signature, it signals a sharp turn in bilateral relations. The debate has also pulled South Africa into the broader ideological battles of US foreign policy - particularly around the Middle East and global power alignments - when Pretoria’s non-aligned stance is increasingly viewed with suspicion in Washington.

US House Committee advances bill to review ties and sanction South African officials

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