South Africa criticizes U.S. human rights assessment as fundamentally inaccurate.

The 21-page report, issued by Washington this week, alleged that South Africa’s human rights record has “dramatically deteriorated,” referencing matters like land seizures from white South Africans, “mistreatments of ethnic minorities,” and purported extrajudicial killings in regions including KwaZulu-Natal. DIRCO stated these assertions are deceptive and highlighted that any criminal suspects are brought before the legal system, pointing out that the report hinged on “discredited narratives.”

The department also criticized the U.S. for commenting on other nations’ human rights while avoiding international scrutiny from bodies such as the U.N. Human Rights Council. It pointed to America’s own enduring human rights dilemmas, including issues concerning race inequality and systemic violence.

International relations analyst Zimkhita Nene mirrored this perspective, emphasizing the noticeable incongruity:

“This reflects a stark double standard. South Africa’s constitution not only aligns with international norms but also advances further by integrating socioeconomic rights to rectify historical injustices. In America, there exist movements like Black Lives Matter and Say Their Names, spotlighting entrenched violence specifically affecting communities of color.”

Diplomatic interactions between Pretoria and Washington continue to be tense, especially since South Africa initiated a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice regarding suspected breaches of the Genocide Convention in Gaza. Relations were further strained during Donald Trump’s presidency when the U.S. reduced aid to South Africa and recalled its ambassador following objections to U.S. policies.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola recently cautioned that persistent U.S. involvement in South Africa’s internal matters has taken bilateral ties to a “historic low.”