United States sanctions could be much worse for South Africa
While the US has imposed targeted visa restrictions on South Africa, Efficient Group economist Dawie Roodt said the country could bring harsher punishments.
In an interview with the Truth Report, Roodt said, “Without a doubt, the Americans could do much, much more.”
He explained that the US is not limited to imposing individual visa restrictions on the country but could also impose financial penalties.
“It’s not only visa restrictions that they can implement, it can be all sorts of financial restrictions, and they can pressure other countries to join in sanctioning these individuals,” he said.
The US recently imposed visa restrictions on individual South Africans who it believed were involved in policies such as BBBEE or land expropriation.
The restrictions apply to “foreign nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa.”
“These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy, said US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Roodt said there was a silver lining to the visa restrictions, as they were only against specific individuals and did not punish the entire country.
“Fortunately for us, it’s targeted sanctions, which means that certain individuals will be affected, and not the whole country,” he said.
He said foreign involvement in South Africa’s government was not a good thing, believing that if there is a problem, the ruling party should be voted out.
“If you don’t like your government… then vote them out,” he said. “That is gradually what is happening, and I don’t think one country should meddle in the affairs of another country.”
South Africa’s leading party, the ANC, has seen its support dwindle in recent years, resulting in a coalition government in the last national election.
Many expect this decline in support to continue in the upcoming local elections, where polls predict coalition governments for several major metros.
Tension between countries
In his statement, Rubio said the visa restrictions would apply to individuals but did not specify who would be affected.
The US has previously revoked visas for South Africans, such as former International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor, in November 2025.
This came after Pandor was vocally against political decisions in the US and condemned the country for supporting Israel.
At the time, Pandor said that she did not know why her visa was revoked, but alleged that a lobby group had urged US officials to deny her entry into the country.
While current visa restrictions do not affect most South Africans, there are concerns about future actions by the US.
Concerns were sparked after the US’s ambassador to South Africa, Brent Bozell, said that further action was on the cards.
In a tweet shortly after the visa restrictions announcement, Bozell said, “This visa restriction policy is only the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve in this matter.”
“The time for endless ‘dialogue’ has run its course. No more. America has just so much patience. We want strong, and lasting relations with the South African government.”
Bozell’s comments came after he had outlined five “asks” to South Africa regarding BEE and land expropriation policies, as well as the country’s response to farm attacks in March 2026.
Rubio also said that South Africa had been slow to respond to America’s demands, leading to the visa restrictions.
“The South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns,” he said.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, responded to the US’s concerns in an interview with SABC.
Lamola said that South Africa is capable of making its own policy decisions and that America expects the country to “surrender our sovereignty.”
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