US visa restrictions on South African officials deepen tensions over race, land reform and Afrikaner rights, as Pretoria rejects Washington’s allegations and defends sovereignty, reports Africa Daily News Desk The United States has imposed visa restrictions on South African officials accused of supporting race-based discrimination, escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria over land reform, racial policy and the treatment of the country’s white minority. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the restrictions on Tuesday, saying Washington would target people it believes are responsible for, or complicit in, policies involving racial discrimination, incitement of violence and land expropriation without compensation.