US Bill calls for sanctions on South African political leaders

United States Representative for Florida Greg Steube has introduced a Bill to Congress that would suspend direct assistance to South Africa while imposing targeted sanctions on political leaders. 

Steube’s office said in a press statement that it would target political leaders responsible for their government’s antagonism towards the United States and its allies. 

In particular, the lawfare against Israel at the International Court of Justice and aligning with Iranian economic and military interests were singled out by Steube as antagonistic towards the United States. 

The Bill, titled Addressing Hostile and Antisemitic Conduct by the Republic of South Africa Act of 2025, was introduced to the US House of Representatives on 17 June. 

It has subsequently been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary for further deliberations. 

“It is clear as day that the Government of South Africa is unfairly targeting the State of Israel and inciting hostility towards the United States and our allies,” said Representative Steube in the press statement.

“South Africa’s purported grievances against Israel are nothing more than antisemitism wrapped in a bad-faith interpretation of international law,” he said.  

“America has no business engaging with a corrupt government that weaponises its political system against the Jewish people while jeopardising our national security interests by indulging terrorist organisations and their sponsors.” 

“That is why I have proposed cutting off all direct assistance to South Africa and sanctioning their leaders until they stop abusing international institutions and catering to Iran and its terrorist proxies.”

In particular, the Bill calls for the suspension of direct assistance to the South African government and targeted sanctions against officials from the country. 

This means that no funds would be transferred to the South African government by the United States unless the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the local government –

1. Has ceased all formal support for international legal actions that unfairly target the State of Israel or Jewish individuals based solely on religious or ethnic identity
2. Has implemented meaningful reforms to address corruption within state institutions
3. Has engaged constructively with United States diplomats regarding the normalisation of international legal standards and the protection of religious minorities

The Bill provides for exceptions in funds transferred for the purpose of humanitarian aid and public health programmes administered by non-governmental organisations. 

It calls for targeted sanctions from the US President under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. 

These sanctions would be against any current or former official of South Africa’s government who –

1. Promotes or implements antisemitic policies or rhetoric in an official capacity
2. Uses public office to unjustly target the State of Israel or Jewish individuals through international courts or diplomatic platforms
3. Engages in gross corruption, including the misuse of foreign aid or public funds

Steube explained that the Bill, if enacted, will only be terminated if the above conditions are met. 

In addition, the South African government must take concrete steps to improve diplomatic and security cooperation with the United States and its allies. 

Why the call for sanctions

Steube included a comprehensive background to his introduction of the Bill to Congress, laying out the reasons for potential action to be taken against the South African government and political officials. 

Steube said the South African government has aligned itself with enemies of the United States, including Iran and the terrorist organisation Hamas. 

Ten days after the 7 October attacks, South Africa’s Foreign Minister expressed support for Hamas in a phone call with representatives of the terrorist organisation, he claimed. 

Two months following the 7 October attacks, Hamas sent a senior delegation to South Africa for the Fifth Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine. 

Shortly thereafter, the ruling ANC welcomed representatives of Hamas for formal meetings in Johannesburg.

In 2023, Iran and South Africa signed a cooperation agreement expanding economic ties between their two nations, including the development of five oil refineries in South Africa by the Iranian Oil Ministry. 

While the South African government has used lawfare to accuse the State of Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice, Steube said it has repeatedly turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Hamas and Iran against Israel and the United States.

The Bill lays out some additional reasons for its introduction to Congress, saying that the South African government has engaged in repeated diplomatic and legal actions targeting Israel and Jewish communities. 

South Africa, according to the Bill, has also misused international legal institutions ot advance politically-motivated and antisemitic narratives inconsistent with human rights norms. 

It claims South Africa has also increasingly aligned itself with authoritarian regimes and global actors hostile to US national interests and democratic values. 

As a result, the Bill stated that United States taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidise governments that engage or legitimise such conduct.