Cape Town – South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, says Pretoria intends to keep diplomatic channels open with Washington despite a sharp deterioration in relations and new US visa restrictions targeting certain South Africans.
Meyer’s comments come as tensions between the two countries have intensified following Washington’s decision to impose visa restrictions on individuals it says are involved in race-based discrimination, incitement of violence and land expropriation without compensation.
The restrictions were announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who urged the South African government to address what Washington described as “egregious actions”.
As @POTUS has made clear, the South African people are being failed by a government that is destroying its economy through an obsessive pursuit of racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority. The South African government has consistently failed to adequately address rural…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 15, 2026
South Africa has rejected the US characterisation of its domestic policies, with its international relations ministry saying the measures once again reflect a “mischaracterisation of South Africa’s domestic policies” and stressing Pretoria’s sovereign right to legislate on issues linked to the country’s history of racial inequality.
Meyer has nevertheless maintained that engagement remains necessary, echoing the approach he outlined earlier this year when he took up the ambassadorial post with a mandate to repair the relationship.
“I think it’s important that we keep open to talk and to establish a proper dialogue to ensure there is reliable dialogue between the two countries,” he said during an interview with SABC news.
“The current relationship was affected hugely by the executive order that was issued on the 7th of February, 2025. And since then, it remains a hurdle. The set of conditions that came out of the executive order, we would of course from a South African side, like to work towards having that order lifted because that would remove some of the political hindrances.
“Once that is removed, then obviously it’s going to be easier to get the trade flow and the investments coming.”
WATCH | South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, says Pretoria-Washington relations were affected by an executive order issued on 7 February 2025. He says efforts are under way to have the order lifted to unlock greater trade and investment opportunities. pic.twitter.com/rGSiZMpN0J
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 10, 2026
In an interview with Daily Maverick in July, Meyer said he had developed a “fairly good relationship” with US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell and that the two had found areas where they could see “eye to eye”. He also said South Africa still had “a lot of friends in America, on both sides of the house, Republicans as well as Democrats”.
However, Washington’s latest position suggests the diplomatic space has narrowed considerably.
Bozell said on Wednesday that the visa restrictions were “only the first step in a series of escalatory measures” and warned that “the consequences” for South Africa would be “severe”.
“The time for endless ‘dialogue’ has run its course. No more. America has just so much patience,” Bozell said.
The US has raised concerns over South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment policies, land reform, rural crime and its foreign-policy ties, including relations with countries such as Iran and Russia. Pretoria has rejected the suggestion that its policies amount to racial discrimination and has defended its non-aligned foreign policy.
The latest escalation places Meyer’s diplomatic mission under renewed pressure as Pretoria attempts to preserve economic and political ties with Washington while resisting demands it considers interference in its domestic and foreign policy.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
