New Bill Forces White House to Certify if South Africa is Hurting U.S. Security, Demands Corrupt Officials List

This legislation, officially titled the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, forces a hard reset on the relationship between the U.S. and South Africa. Essentially, Congress is demanding the executive branch stop talking about neutrality and start making a formal judgment on whether South Africa’s current foreign policy alignments—specifically with Hamas, Russia, and China—are actively damaging U.S. interests. The bill is not subtle; it mandates a Presidential certification within 30 days of becoming law to state publicly whether South Africa’s actions hurt U.S. national security or foreign policy goals. Following that, the President has 120 days to deliver a full review of the entire bilateral relationship to Congress, covering everything from trade to military cooperation.

Why Congress Is Asking for the Receipts

The findings section of this bill reads like a detailed diplomatic complaint, laying out a specific case against the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Congress is focused on three main areas. First, they cite South Africa’s close ties to Hamas, pointing to officials meeting with Hamas leaders and the country’s high-profile case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Second, they highlight South Africa’s relationship with Russia, noting instances like allowing the U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship Lady R to dock and allegations of arms transfers. Third, there’s concern over alignment with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including the presence of Confucius Institutes and cooperation that allegedly undermines South Africa’s own democracy (Sec. 2).

The Sanctions Hammer: Targeting Officials and the ANC

The most pointed part of this bill is Section 6, which deals with accountability. It requires the President, working with the State and Treasury Secretaries, to produce a detailed, classified report within 120 days. This report must list senior South African government officials and ANC leaders who are credibly suspected of corruption or human rights abuses—the kind of behavior that would qualify them for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. For every person on that list, the report must either state the expected timeline for imposing sanctions or provide a detailed legal justification for why the President is choosing not to sanction them. This shifts the burden: the President must now justify inaction rather than just taking action.

What This Means for Trade and Diplomacy

If the President certifies that South Africa is hurting U.S. national security (Sec. 4), expect immediate repercussions. This determination could jeopardize South Africa’s access to preferential trade programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is vital for South African exports and jobs. For businesses and workers in both countries, this bill introduces massive instability. A negative certification could lead to tariffs, restrictions, or a complete overhaul of existing trade agreements, which impacts everything from the price of South African wine to the cost of components for U.S. manufacturers. The required comprehensive review (Sec. 5) signals that the U.S. is prepared to fundamentally restructure—or even downgrade—the relationship if the ANC doesn't change course on its geopolitical alignments.