The United States has announced new visa restrictions on South Africans accused of promoting what Washington described as race-based discrimination against the country’s white Afrikaner minority.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would target individuals who promote racial discrimination, incite violence or support land confiscation without compensation.

The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised South Africa over its land and employment policies, which seek to address racial inequalities that persist decades after apartheid.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims of discrimination against white South Africans and said there is no evidence of “white genocide” in the country.

The latest move adds to growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria, following US tariffs on South African goods, a boycott of the G20 summit in Johannesburg and a US programme allowing white Afrikaners to resettle in America.

The two countries have also clashed over South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.