The U.S. government has announced a visa restriction policy targeting individuals and government officials over “government-sponsored” discrimination, violence and crimes against the Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.

U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio announced the new visa restriction policy in a statement on Tuesday.

“As stated in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14204, ‘Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa’, the United States remains gravely concerned about racially motivated crime and government-sponsored discrimination occurring against the Afrikaners and other minority populations in South Africa, including race-based discriminatory legislation, threats of land expropriation without compensation, and incitement of racial violence through dehumanising chants and slogans,” Mr Rubio said.

He added, “Certain family members may also be covered by these restrictions.”

Mr Rubio explained that the South African government “has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns and so today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act targeting 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.

Mr Rubio said the U.S. would not allow such behaviour to go unchecked, noting that these actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy.

“We once again strongly urge the South African government to quickly address these egregious actions,” he stated.