Former South African minister Naledi Pandor has had her U.S. visa abruptly revoked, a move that is now triggering fresh diplomatic strain between Washington and Pretoria.
The latest move by the Trump administration is now fueling questions about whether outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy are being quietly penalized.
Pandor — who previously served as Minister of International Relations and now chairs the Nelson Mandela Foundation — confirmed she received an unexpected email from the U.S. Consulate informing her that her valid multiple-entry visa had been cancelled. No reason was provided.
“I received an email indicating my visa has been revoked. I have no further details,” she told The Citizen, noting the notification arrived just as she returned from a recent trip to the United States.
For a figure who has regularly traveled to the U.S. in her official and post-ministerial roles, the sudden revocation has raised eyebrows inside South Africa’s diplomatic circles — and beyond.
A Decision with Political Undercurrents
While the U.S. has offered no public justification, foreign policy analysts say the timing and context make one factor hard to ignore: Pandor’s consistent and forceful criticism of U.S. global conduct, especially on the Israel–Palestine conflict.
Pandor played a key role when South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice — a legal and moral stance Washington strongly opposed.
In a recent lecture at the University of Johannesburg, Pandor warned of a “tectonic shift” underway in the U.S., questioning the direction of its foreign policy. She also took aim at Donald Trump’s worldview, suggesting his “Make America Great Again” doctrine operates by punishing other nations through military and economic pressure while selling “ultimate prosperity” to working-class Americans.
Her remarks were not subtle. And they may now be carrying diplomatic consequences.
Part of a Broader Pattern
Pandor’s experience mirrors a growing trend in which vocal critics of U.S. policy — including prominent intellectuals and former officials — appear to be encountering sudden visa obstacles.
Among the most notable cases is Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who recently revealed that his own U.S. visa had been canceled.
Soyinka, who famously destroyed his green card after Trump’s 2016 victory, has compared Trump to former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin — a comparison that he believes may have intensified scrutiny from U.S. officials.
The U.S. government cited only “additional information” in Soyinka’s case, without elaboration.
Taken together, these developments suggest a more aggressive visa-screening approach that appears to disproportionately target foreign figures who challenge U.S. geopolitical decisions, particularly those who criticise Washington’s stance on Palestine, authoritarianism, and global power dynamics.
Diplomatic Fallout Already Taking Shape
The revocation comes at an awkward moment for both countries. Washington had recently signalled a willingness to re-engage more positively with Pretoria after months of friction, including disputes over South Africa’s stance on Gaza, BRICS expansion, and Pretoria’s hosting of the G20 summit.
Pandor’s visa issue now threatens to deepen mistrust, especially among South Africans who view the move as punitive and politically motivated.
For many, the message appears uncomfortably clear: Dissent against Washington’s worldview carries risks — including the quiet revocation of access.
As of now, both the U.S. Embassy and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have remained silent beyond confirming the notification. But behind the scenes, the diplomatic conversation is only beginning.
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