By JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (AfrikTimes) — United States lawmakers have advanced a bill proposing a review of the U.S. relationship with South Africa, citing concerns over Pretoria’s foreign policy stance and the potential imposition of sanctions on South African officials.
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 34–16 on Tuesday to send the U.S.–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act to the full House of Representatives, where it may be subject to a vote, according to video footage of the proceedings. The bill must pass both the House and the Senate before it can be signed into law. Many bills at this stage do not proceed to a full vote.
However, the committee’s approval marks a significant step forward and highlights growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria. South Africa is currently attempting to avoid a looming 30% U.S. tariff and counter misinformation, including former President Donald Trump’s claims of a white “genocide” in the country.
Representative Ronny Jackson, who was demoted by the Navy in 2022 following a scathing watchdog report, introduced the bill.
The bill, introduced in April by Representative Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas, was welcomed by the lawmaker on X (formerly Twitter), where he wrote: “South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists.”
The proposed legislation calls for “a full review of the bilateral relationship” and seeks to “identify South African government officials and ANC leaders eligible for the imposition of sanctions.”
It adds that sanctions would target individuals determined by Trump to have been involved in corruption or human rights violations, although no specific names are mentioned.
Relations between South Africa and the United States have sharply deteriorated during Trump’s second term. He has repeatedly accused the South African government of anti-white discrimination and launched a refugee program for Afrikaners, who are descendants of European settlers.
