The White House has accused South African authorities of harassing and doxxing US government personnel involved in a refugee programme for white Afrikaner farmers, further straining ties between the two countries.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday, claiming South African officials briefly detained American staff and leaked their passport details online.
He described the actions as “an unacceptable form of harassment” that could put lives at risk.
“We condemn these actions in the strongest terms,” Rubio said. “Failure by the South African government to hold those responsible accountable will result in severe consequences.”
The dispute arose after South African immigration officials expelled seven Kenyan nationals earlier this week. The Kenyans had been assisting with US refugee applications while entering the country on tourist visas, which Pretoria says violated labour laws.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation denied any US diplomats were arrested, stressing the raid did not occur at a diplomatic site. A spokesperson said employing individuals without proper documentation “raises serious concerns about intent”.
Roots in long-running tensions
The incident marks the latest escalation in troubled US-South Africa relations under President Donald Trump.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted claims of systemic persecution against white Afrikaner farmers, allegations widely debunked and often promoted in far-right circles.
He first raised the issue publicly in 2018, posting on social media about “large-scale killing” of white farmers and land seizures. Fact-checks at the time found no evidence of genocide.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected the claims as false narratives linked to white supremacist ideology that threaten South Africa’s sovereignty and reconciliation efforts.
In May, Ramaphosa and Afrikaner community leaders challenged Trump directly during a tense White House meeting, insisting farm murders stem from general crime rather than targeted racial violence.
Despite the denials, the Trump administration has continued to fast-track Afrikaner relocations through the US refugee programme, granting asylum to dozens this year.
The move stands in sharp contrast to drastic cuts in overall refugee admissions, which have fallen to a record low of 7,500 for fiscal 2026 – a policy human rights groups have criticised as racially selective.
Wider diplomatic fallout
Relations have deteriorated further on the global stage.
The US boycotted last month’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, the first ever hosted on African soil, citing concerns over minority treatment.
Washington has also barred South Africa from attending next year’s G20 in Miami and earlier expelled Pretoria’s ambassador amid separate trade rows.
Analysts warn the standoff risks damaging economic links, including South Africa’s preferential access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which Trump has threatened to review.
Ramaphosa has called for dialogue and proposed new trade agreements to reduce friction.
With both sides holding firm, the row underscores deep divisions over race, migration and international influence.
