U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act

The U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act would require the President to conduct a comprehensive, interagency review of the United States–South Africa relationship. The bill cites extensive concerns about the ruling African National Congress (ANC), including alleged alignment with adversaries such as Hamas, the PRC, and Russia, governance and human rights issues, and strategic implications for U.S. interests. Within 120 days of enactment, the President would submit a report detailing the review’s findings and a certification (with an unclassified report and a possible classified annex) stating whether South Africa has engaged in activities undermining U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. If such undermining is found, the bill empowers potential policy responses, including termination of South Africa’s eligibility for certain U.S. trade preferences under AGOA and related programs. The bill also requires a separate 120-day classified report identifying South African officials and ANC leaders who could face sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, along with timelines or rationales for any decisions not to sanction. The measure emphasizes deterrence of cooperation with adversaries and frames the review as a tool to guide U.S. policy toward South Africa.