AfriForum asked the United States to punish Julius Malema and Fikile Mbalula

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said they urged the United States to punish individuals such as Julius Malema and Fikile Mbalula rather than ordinary citizens.

He shared these and other details about their engagement with the United States during a discussion on the Newsday Podcast.

In this interview, he was asked about the new visa restriction policy announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 15 September 2026.

These restrictions target individuals who implement laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures and race-based discrimination.

The new policy also targets people involved in the incitement of imminent violence against any minority ethnic or racial group in South Africa.

Kriel said he was relieved that the United States was going after South African politicians rather than the country as a whole.

He added that it was one of the things which they have encouraged during their engagements with the United States.

“AfriForum asked US officials that if they were going to impose penalties, they should not punish the country but punish the politicians,” he said.

“We encouraged some of this by sending a dossier to the United States asking them to take action against Julius Malema, because of his behaviour.”

“That allowed them to refuse him a visa to visit the US. Fortunately, the UK has also banned Julius Malema from visiting.”

“We did the exact same thing regarding Fikile Mbalula. So I’m quite happy, as this is precisely what we requested.”

This is only the beginning, and it can get much worse

Kriel warned that the new visa restriction policy was only the beginning and that it could become much worse.

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

“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,” he said.

“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 comes next could be far harsher. They could be barred from using American credit cards and restricted from doing business with any US company,” Kriel said.

He added that it can also include penalties applied to third-party companies, warning them against doing business with these sanctioned individuals.

“Beyond wanting to visit the US for events like the Soccer World Cup, these consequences carry real weight, and further measures are on the horizon,” he said.

Kriel said that their main objective remains preventing these measures from spilling over into broader penalties against South Africa.

“That is why we remain committed to promoting the five solutions we’ve outlined to resolve the dispute with the US,” he said.

Solidarity and AfriForum announce five answers to US requests

On Tuesday, 29 September 2026, Solidarity and AfriForum released a statement regarding the five requests from the United States.

• Race-based laws – The government must agree to phase out race-based laws. In the interim, race-neutral equity equivalents, which will replace ownership requirements, must be accepted for multinational and local companies.

• Rural safety – The government must declare farm murders and crime in rural areas as priority crimes. An official community safety partnership must be established in which the SAPS, the private security industry and community organisations.

• Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer – President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior government leaders must unconditionally denounce the chanting of “Kill the Boer”, as well as any other hate-related slogans directed at minorities.

• Expropriation without compensation – The US government and the South African government acknowledge the pending court case in this regard, but remain of the opinion that a settlement is preferable to litigation.

• Refugee Programme – The refugee programme already exists. The US government and the South African government must agree that individuals wishing to avail themselves of the programme be allowed to follow the process without prejudice.

“These are not demands, but practical answers. The US government has given broad approval in principle to our five answers,” the organisations said.