US hints at intensifying hostilities against SA

THE Donald Trump-led administration has hinted at escalating its hostilities against South Africa, accusing Pretoria of harassing its government employees working with Afrikaners.

The State Department said on Thursday that passport information of US officials was leaked and warned in a statement that "failure by the South African government to hold those responsible accountable will result in severe consequences."

South Africa on Wednesday arrested and expelled seven Kenyans brought in by the US government to assist in processing Afrikaners seeking to move to the US.

South Africa said that the Kenyans were on tourist visas that did not allow them to work -– the type of violation seized on by Trump as he carries out mass deportations from the United States. 

The United States engaged Kenyans from a Christian NGO based in Kenya to come to South Africa to fast-track the processing of applications for resettlement under the programme.

The State Department alleged that Americans had also been briefly held, which it said that Washington "condemns in the strongest terms." It added that officials' passport information had been made public.

So-called doxxing, or revealing personal information, "is an unacceptable form of harassment" and puts people in harm's way, the State Department said.

The department did not immediately provide further details on the purported incident.

South Africa earlier said that no US officials were arrested in the raid, which was not carried out at a diplomatic site.

Trump has repeatedly attacked South Africa's post-apartheid government over what he calls persecution of Afrikaners, an allegation that had gained ground online with the far-right.

The South African government denies the charges. However that has not stopped Trump who has been increasingly open in his desire to rid the United States of immigrants other than white Europeans.

He has all but ended the once-generous US refugee resettlement program, which now only accepts Afrikaners among all the world's people.

US State Department lawyers had believed that the Kenyans had the right to work temporarily, according to a person familiar with the episode.

"We have worked to operate the refugee program within the confines of the law, and South Africa has pledged on multiple occasions not to interfere in our operations -- unfortunately, we have now seen interference," a Trump administration official said.

The Trump administration in October announced plans to take in 7,500 refugees in fiscal 2026, with most places going to white Afrikaners. A first group of around 50 Afrikaners was flown to the United States for resettlement in May. Others have reportedly followed in smaller numbers.

The South African home affairs department said no US officials were arrested in Tuesday's raid, which was not conducted at a diplomatic site.

No prospective "refugees" were harassed, it said, adding that the government had contacted US and Kenyan officials over the issue.

US resettlement processing in South Africa is carried out by the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Africa operated by the US-based Church World Service.

The South African home affairs department said "foreign officials" were apparently coordinating with the undocumented workers which "raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocols".

Ties between the two countries have plummeted since Trump took office, with his administration lashing out at South Africa over a range of policies, expelling its ambassador in March and imposing 30-percent trade tariffs.

The State Department in a separate statement on Thursday confirmed it did not invite South Africa to an initial meeting on planning next year's Group of 20 summit, the first time a member of the bloc is being excluded.

Cape Times