Sponsors (6)
The bill provides Congress, the public, and U.S. policymakers with faster, more detailed findings about South Africa's ties to adversaries—enabling targeted diplomatic, oversight, and security responses—but at the risk of harming bilateral cooperation, diverting government resources, constraining diplomatic flexibility, and imposing potential economic and political costs.
Federal policymakers, Congress, and the public will receive timely classified and unclassified assessments documenting South Africa's ties to adversaries and any related risks, improving oversight and informing potential diplomatic, sanction, and policy responses.
U.S. diplomats and national-security planners gain clearer congressional guidance to discourage security or intelligence cooperation between adversaries (PRC/Russia) and third countries, supporting coordinated pressure and measures (including export controls) to limit assistance that could bolster U.S. adversaries.
Congress will receive person-specific classified evidence and a required explanation of timelines for sanctions (or justification for not imposing them), increasing transparency and accountability over potential sanctions decisions.
U.S.–South Africa diplomatic relations and cooperation on trade, public health, and security are likely to be strained, reducing bilateral collaboration and complicating joint efforts on shared global issues.
U.S. businesses, researchers, and exporters operating in or with South Africa could face reduced engagement, reputational backlash, or lost opportunities if public statements and policy responses inflame opinion or limit commercial ties.
Short deadlines and requirements for public and interagency reports will divert federal staff time and resources from other priorities, increasing workload and potentially raising the cost of diplomacy and oversight.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Requires rapid presidential findings, interagency reviews, and a classified list of South African/ANC figures who may meet Global Magnitsky sanction criteria, with reports to Congress.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Ronny Jackson · Last progress April 3, 2025
Requires the President to assess and report on whether recent actions by South Africa and its ruling party undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy, and to conduct a broad review of U.S.–South Africa relations. It also directs a classified list of South African officials and ANC leaders who may meet Global Magnitsky sanction criteria, with explanations and timelines or justifications for any decision not to sanction. Mandates a short, public certification within 30 days about whether South Africa’s activities harm U.S. interests, and fuller unclassified and classified reports within 120 days; sets consultation requirements with State, Defense, Treasury, USTR, and other agencies; and defines key terms used in the measures.