The United States and South Africa are locked in a new diplomatic dispute after Washington accused Pretoria of harassing U.S. government personnel involved in assisting white Afrikaners.
The allegations mark the latest escalation in a strained relationship that has deteriorated under the administration of President Donald Trump.
U.S. officials say the incident followed South Africa’s expulsion of seven Kenyan nationals who were assisting with processing Afrikaner relocations to the United States.
South African authorities have said the individuals entered on tourist visas and were therefore not eligible to work.
U.S. officials dispute Pretoria’s handling of the situation and say American staff were improperly targeted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said U.S. nationals were briefly detained during the operation, a claim South Africa has denied.
Rubio also alleged that passport information of U.S. officials had been leaked, describing it as an unacceptable form of harassment.
“Failure by the South African Government to hold those responsible accountable will result in severe consequences,” he said.
The State Department said the officials were providing humanitarian support to Afrikaners and condemned the actions in the strongest terms.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that two refugee officers were detained and later released.
Washington has framed the incident as part of a broader pattern of hostility toward its personnel.
South Africa’s government has said no U.S. officials were arrested and stressed that the operation did not take place at a diplomatic site.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation questioned whether U.S. workers had the proper documentation.
South Africa’s foreign ministry rejected suggestions of state involvement in leaking private information.
Officials said they would seek further clarification through official channels and emphasized the need for mutual respect.
The dispute unfolds against months of U.S. pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government over claims of persecution of white Afrikaner farmers.
South Africa has consistently denied those claims, with senior officials and Afrikaner leaders calling them misinformation.
Despite the denials, the Trump administration has continued relocating Afrikaners through the U.S. refugee program.
The administration has also taken punitive diplomatic steps, including expelling South Africa’s ambassador and excluding the country from G20 engagements.