Call for sanctions against South Africa

In another hit for South Africa, Republican US Congressman Ronny Jackson has introduced the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025.

This Act would mandate a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa.

Broadly, this bill aims to thoroughly review the relationship between the United States and South Africa due to US concerns about South Africa’s foreign policy alignments and domestic issues.

It also mandates a report identifying individuals potentially eligible for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.

In a statement published by Jackson on 3 April 2025, he said that the bill will give President Donald Trump “the tools necessary to impose sanctions on corrupt South African government officials who choose to support America’s adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.”

“South Africa has brazenly abandoned its relationship with the United States to align with China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist organisations, a betrayal that demands serious consequences,” said Jackson.

“This legislation ensures we conduct a comprehensive review of this supposed ‘ally’ while holding any corrupt officials accountable. The era of governments undermining American interests without repercussions ends now,” he added.

Jackson and fellow Republican representative John James are pushing for this legislation, which they say would “help advance” President Donald Trump’s foreign policy agenda.

James said that he is “proud to co-lead the updated U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025.”

This bill expands upon and reinforces the bipartisan legislation introduced in the last Congress, H.R. 7256, which successfully passed the House regarding reviewing US-South Africa relations.

The representative said that they support President Trump’s Executive Order from February 7th, which was titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa.”

The “South African government and the ANC have continued to consistently undermine U.S. national security interests and in recent years have intentionally aligned with Beijing, Moscow and Tehran and pursued an anti-Israel agenda,” said James.

“The United States must examine all of our bilateral relationships around the world and investigate all options to hold those countries and leaders who align with our adversaries responsible,” he added.

Breaking down the proposed bill

Looking at the actual bill, it pushes “to require a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa and identify South African government officials and ANC leaders eligible for the imposition of sanctions, and for other purposes.

The bill highlights concerns over South Africa’s alignment with malign actors, including Hamas, China, and Russia.

The proponents of the bill contend that factions within the ANC contradict South Africa’s nonalignment policy, citing “antisemitic and anti-Israel statements” and actions by government officials following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

This is referring to South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

It also notes growing ties with the Russian Federation, including hosting joint naval exercises and engaging with sanctioned entities, as well as cooperation with China’s Communist Party.

Additionally, the bill criticises “government mismanagement”, citing power crises, state corruption, and failures in public services.

The Sense of Congress section states that South Africa’s foreign policy undermines U.S. interests.

The bill requires Presidential Certification within 30 days to determine if South Africa has engaged in activities harmful to U.S. security, with a report justifying the decision.

It mandates a Bilateral Relationship Review, with findings submitted to Congress within 120 days.

Finally, it calls for a Sanctions Report, identifying South African officials involved in corruption or human rights abuses and assessing them for potential sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.

Relationship against the ropes

The US has historically been a key ally of Pretoria, with bilateral trade hitting R377.33 billion in 2024. In 2024, South African exports to the US hit R270.57 billion, up 4.9% from 2023.

However, South Africa’s relationship with the US has deteriorated fast since President Donald Trump took office in January.

The expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, for his remarks against Trump was just one example of the rapidly deteriorating relationship.

Most recently, the US slapped South Africa with 30% tariffs, which the South African Presidency said that “unilaterally imposed and punitive tariffs are a concern and serve as a barrier to trade and shared prosperity.”

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce recently said in a press briefing that the administration’s problems with South Africa are plentiful.

Bruce cited “the unjust land expropriation law,” “discrimination of ethnic minorities,” its growing relationship with US adversaries like Russia and Iran, and its case against close US ally Israel at the ICJ.

As such, the US administration has cut off billions in aid to South Africa, offering refugee status to “disfavoured minorities.” It is conducting “a serious review” of its South Africa policy.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already skipped a foreign leaders’ meeting at the G20 hosted by South Africa.

“My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism,” Rubio wrote.

Additionally, South Africa’s involvement in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows duty-free access to the U.S. market for sub-Saharan exports, is in jeopardy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently responded to the various developments, saying that he had “taken note of an Executive Order and recent statements by the current US administration about South Africa and aspects of our domestic and foreign policy.”

“We have expressed concern about the mischaracterisation of the situation in our country and certain of our laws and our foreign policy positions.”

“We will continue to engage with the US and other stakeholders to correct this mischaracterisation and to restore the ties between our two countries,” he added.