The Jackson bill originated in the House of Representatives, and the latest Kennedy bill originated in the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Senate bill:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Requires a comprehensive review of the bilateral US-South Africa relationship and a certification from the president on whether South Africa undermines US national security interests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Requires a classified list of South African government officials and members of South Africa\u2019s ruling party, the African National Congress, eligible for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ends South Africa\u2019s eligibility to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
As with the House bill, the laws call for a full review of bilateral relations between the US and South Africa, and make provision for sanctions against individuals in the ANC and in the wider government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the Senate bill differs by explicitly calling for South Africa to be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, the AGOA action may be moot, given that the Trump tariffs supersede AGOA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other differences include the House version being more specific about factions in the ANC, while the Senate version is more sweeping, addressing the ANC as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmerica\u2019s foreign policy should always put American interests first. The South African government has chosen to cosy up to Russia and China while making shameful, antisemitic attacks against our ally Israel,” Kennedy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This bill holds South Africa accountable and ensures our relationship is serving US national security\u2014not undermining it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The senator said that the “chronically mismanaged” government of South Africa has repeatedly acted against the interests of the United States and its allies, and inflamed tensions with the United States by appointing “radical officials” to represent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He referred specifically to former ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, who described President Donald Trump as a \u201csupremacist\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The South African regime has also repeatedly aligned itself with US adversaries in Europe and Asia, hosting joint naval exercises with Russia and China and allowing a US-sanctioned Russian cargo ship to dock on its shores,” his office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full text of the bill can be read here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will the bills actually get passed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Joel-Pollak--1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Joel Pollak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n According to South African-born US political commentator Joel Pollak, many bills get tabled in Congress and never make it out of the House. But there may be serious cause for concern this time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n