Legislation to impose sanctions on members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa is being advanced by the US Congress due to allegations of corruption and the government’s increasing ties to U.S. enemies like China, Russia, and Iran. According to the proposed U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, President Donald Trump would be able to target senior ANC officials who are thought to be jeopardising American national security interests with punitive measures.
What are the sanctions?
The bill gives the president of the United States the authority to apply sanctions in accordance with current legislation, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Sanctions against ANC leaders and government officials suspected of corruption, violations of human rights, or support for U.S. adversaries may take the form of asset freezes, travel restrictions, and limitations on U.S. financial transactions. The law requires a classified report to be submitted within 120 days in order to identify specific officials who may be sanctioned for their alleged malicious activities.
Separate laws, like the Republic of South Africa’s Addressing Hostile and Antisemitic Conduct Act of 2025, suggest banning direct U.S. aid (apart from humanitarian and public health aid) and sanctioning officials who are accused of advocating antisemitic policies or unfairly attacking Israel in international courts.
Why are the sanctions being imposed?
The ANC and South Africa are accused by U.S. lawmakers, primarily Congressman Ronny Jackson, who introduced the primary bill, of “brazenly abandoning” U.S. ties in favour of allies such as China, Russia, and Iran. Particularly mentioned are South Africa’s
- Support for Hamas and other terrorist-linked groups
- Anti-Israel diplomatic posture, including legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice
- Economic cooperation with Iran, including oil-related projects
- Closer ties with Russia amid its war crimes allegations in Ukraine
- Alleged corruption and mismanagement by ANC officials
- Hosting controversial figures associated with terrorist organizations at ANC headquarters.
How will the sanctions affect the ANC members and South Africa?
Sanctions against targeted ANC officials may include travel bans, asset freezes, and other personal economic limitations, such as restricted access to U.S. financial systems. International political isolation brought on by the sanctions may limit the diplomatic and commercial interactions of sanctioned leaders.
Such sanctions run the risk of seriously straining ties between the United States and South Africa on a larger scale. The proposed measures have the potential to disrupt aid flows and investor confidence, especially considering that South Africa receives a significant amount of foreign assistance and U.S. direct investment, estimated at $6 billion between 2012 and 2021. Sanctions could have a “dampening effect” on the nation’s business climate, according to analysts. Furthermore, as ties with the United States worsen, Beijing and Moscow might look to strengthen their political and economic ties with South Africa, which could increase South Africa’s geopolitical dependence on these nations.
Although the bills’ Republican sponsors stress the need for sanctions to safeguard American interests, some Democrats and South African analysts warn that these actions could jeopardise positive engagement and result in long-term diplomatic harm.
Current status and outlook
The important bill is awaiting a full House vote before going to the Senate, having already passed the U.S. House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees as of July 2025. Since Congress is in recess until September 2025, it is unclear when the full House vote will take place. This legislation would represent a dramatic change in U.S. policy towards South Africa if it were to become law, escalating tensions over governance and geopolitical alignments.
In conclusion, in response to alleged South African support for hostile states and groups, the U.S. Congress is taking steps to impose specific sanctions on ANC members. In addition to punishing corruption and undermining American interests, the sanctions run the risk of escalating bilateral tensions and drawing South Africa closer to Russia and China. The actions are part of a larger shift in U.S. policy that prioritises thwarting foreign enemies who support American strategic objectives.
