U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025

U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 would require the President and federal agencies to take a hard look at the U.S. relationship with South Africa and to identify South African officials and ANC leaders who could be subject to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework for corruption or human rights abuses. The bill sets in motion a formal process: a presidential certification within 30 days that South Africa is not undermining U.S. national security or policy, a comprehensive review of bilateral ties with findings due within 120 days, and a separate 120-day, classified sanctions-report detailing individuals who meet Magnitsky criteria (or a justification if sanctions are not pursued). The bill frames these actions as part of a larger effort to deter South Africa’s alignment with adversaries of the United States (notably China and Russia) and to address what it characterizes as anti-Israel/anti-Western positions and governance concerns. In short, the bill creates a structured mechanism to assess, document, and potentially sanction South African officials and ANC leaders, while reaffirming U.S. concerns about the direction of South Africa’s foreign policy and governance in relation to major powers and regional security interests.