The United States has revoked the visa of Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s former Minister of International Relations, in a move widely perceived as retaliation for Pretoria’s decision to bring Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on charges of genocide. Pandor, who led South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 to 2024, confirmed the revocation on Thursday, just days before Johannesburg hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The US decision to send a low-level delegation to the summit, rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has already strained relations. Pandor, a key figure in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, received an email from the US Consulate stating her visa was canceled immediately. She expressed confusion over the decision but suggested it was linked to her advocacy for Palestine. ‘I understand that it has happened to other South Africans, too,’ she told Middle East Eye. The visa revocation follows years of diplomatic, financial, and political pressure from both the Biden and Trump administrations. In January 2024, the Biden administration dismissed South Africa’s ICJ case as ‘meritless,’ while the Trump administration suspended aid and expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the US. Pandor, a vocal critic of US and Israeli policies, has faced accusations of being a ‘lackey of Iran’ and has been the target of character assassination in conservative media. Despite the backlash, she remains steadfast in her support for Palestinian self-determination. ‘These are issues of principle, not convenience,’ she asserted. The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing US think tank, has called for cutting aid to South Africa, arguing that Pretoria’s foreign policy undermines US interests. Meanwhile, 160 lawyers accused South Africa of taking the ICJ case in exchange for bribes, a claim dismissed by Pandor and her supporters. The US State Department has yet to comment on the visa revocation.
US revokes visa of former South African minister who initiated genocide case against Israel
