Lobby group AfriForum clarified on Wednesday that it has never advocated for sanctions that target South Africa as a whole, however it welcomed the introduction of targeted sanctions against South African politicians by the US.

On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee approved a Bill by Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson on the relationship between the US and South Africa.

"To require a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa and identify South African government officials and ANC [African National Congress] leaders eligible for the imposition of sanctions, and for other purposes," the Bill reads.

The Bill will now go to the full House of Representatives for a vote before the Senate will consider it.

“The South African Government has a history of siding with malign actors, including Hamas, a United States designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and a proxy of the Iranian regime, and continues to pursue closer ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation,” the Bill states.

On Tuesday, Jackson posted on social media that South Africa had “made its choice”, arguing that it had “abandoned America” and its allies and “sided with communists and terrorists”.

AfriForum head of public relations Ernst van Zyl said the Bill was a welcome development for South African interests.

“This development comes amid a deepening diplomatic crisis between the US and South African governments. Last week it was reported that the US government has denied Mcebisi Jonas, South Africa’s special envoy to the US, a diplomatic visa and rejected his credentials,” he said.

He claimed that years of “reckless and extremist” diplomatic actions and rhetoric by the ANC were “now bearing bitter fruit”.

Meanwhile, Solidarity called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and other parties in the Government of National Unity to urgently reaffirm the country’s non-aligned status and commit South Africa to a strong relationship with the US, based on mutual respect and cooperation.

“…however, it is necessary for the South African government to go beyond just a recommitment to non-alignment and for the country to specifically agree to cooperation with the US in certain areas. This includes cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Africa, military and intelligence cooperation and cooperation on the ground,” said Solidarity head of public relations Jaco Kleynhans.

He said it was necessary for Ramaphosa to urgently appoint a new ambassador to Washington.

“It is our belief that it is impossible to resolve the current political crisis between the two countries without a strong South African ambassador to the US. Jackson’s Bill calls for a comprehensive process whereby the relationship between our two countries must be reviewed. Without an ambassador, such a process will lead to disastrous consequences for South Africa,” Kleynhans stated.

Solidarity also called on Ramaphosa to take a stronger stance on property rights and minority rights in South Africa.

“The new expropriation law and the provision for expropriation with zero compensation, as well as South Africa’s increasing number of racial laws and the extent of violent crime on farms, are unacceptable to President Donald Trump and many members of his senior team and members of Congress,” he said.

He suggested declaring farm attacks a priority crime, guarantees that agricultural land would not be expropriated for zero compensation, and a commitment by the government to phase out racial laws.

Solidarity said it was planning to visit the US again to meet with Jackson and other members of Congress in the run-up to the final vote in Congress on the Bill.

Solidarity is also currently in discussions with the US Department of State and the White House about the “crisis” in the relationship between South Africa and the US.