Written by Joseph Okafor | Published July 24, 2025 | Washington D.C., USA / Pretoria, South Africa

The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a controversial bill that could reshape its diplomatic and economic relations with South Africa. The legislation, titled the U.S.–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, was approved in a 34–16 vote, clearing the path for targeted sanctions against officials aligned with the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The bill cites South Africa’s increasingly close ties with China and Russia, as well as its involvement in the International Court of Justice case against Israel concerning alleged acts of genocide in Gaza, as major points of concern for U.S. lawmakers.

The legislation authorizes a comprehensive review of U.S. foreign aid, trade policies, and defense cooperation with Pretoria. It also enables the U.S. to impose visa restrictions and financial sanctions on individuals deemed to be undermining democratic governance or acting contrary to American interests.

One of the most vocal supporters of the bill, Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson, argued that it was necessary to hold the South African government accountable for what he termed “unfriendly and destabilizing foreign alignments.”

South African civil rights group AfriForum has voiced strong support for the bill. Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s Head of Public Policy, defended the measure, stating it would target corrupt politicians rather than punish ordinary South Africans.

“When you provoke another country and they retaliate through diplomacy or sanctions, the blame lies with those who provoked. The public should direct their anger at the ANC, not the U.S.,” van Zyl stated.

Pretoria has not yet officially responded to the bill, but insiders at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have expressed “deep concern” over the potential fallout, especially given the countries’ long-standing trade and development ties.

Observers believe the bill’s passage could mark a major turning point in South Africa-U.S. relations, which have already been strained by diverging geopolitical alignments and Pretoria’s position on global conflicts.