The United States has run out of patience with South Africa

The United States Ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, said that the time for endless dialogue with South Africa has run its course.

He shared this information in response to a statement from United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio about action against South Africa.

Rubio said that the South African people are being failed by a government that is destroying its economy.

This, he said, is partly due to an obsessive pursuit of racial grievance against the Afrikaner minority.

“The South African government has consistently failed to adequately address rural crime, violent, and dehumanising rhetoric,” he said.

“There are also race-based discriminatory policies against Afrikaners and other minority populations.”

In response, Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals who enact or enable policies that promote race-based discrimination.

The new policy is also targeting those who incite violence or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa.

Bozell responded to this statement, saying that it was time for action by the South African government.

“As has been made absolutely clear, the time for endless dialogue has run its course. No more. America has just so much patience,” he said.

“We want strong and lasting relations with the South African government. It needs to show it wants the same. So far, it has shown it cares for neither.”

“As a result, the consequences, as I’ve attempted time and again to express, are necessarily going to be severe.”

He added that the visa restriction policy is only the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve in this matter.

What the United States wants from South Africa

The latest action by the United States is not surprising, given the ANC’s animosity towards the world’s largest economy.

The United States has outlined five preconditions for the normalisation of bilateral relations with South Africa.

• The classification of farm attacks as a priority crime. Each farm attack should be investigated by the Hawks.

• A clear and unequivocal public condemnation by the ANC of “Kill the Boer, kill the Farmer”, whether used in song or any other context.

• No land expropriation without fair market compensation. Expropriation should only proceed after all legal processes have been fully exhausted.

• Exemption of USA entities from all Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements. Any race-based legislation that may constitute a non-tariff trade barrier should not apply to USA entities.

• Ending its association with Iran and enemies of the United States and becoming a non-aligned state, as it purports to be.

Despite the clear demands from the United States, the ANC and the government have doubled down on many of the controversial policies.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said he would respond to these demands but did not provide a timeline.