Why H.R. 2633 Matters: 

South Africa’s recent foreign and domestic actions have raised serious concerns about its alignment with U.S. interests. The country hosted joint naval exercises with Russia and China on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, allowed a sanctioned Russian vessel to dock at a naval base under suspicious circumstances, and refused to condemn Russian aggression. At the same time, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has faced allegations of corruption and financial collapse — yet soon after initiating a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the ANC dubiously received an influx of funds. Reports suggest that Iran and Qatar, both known for opposing U.S.  interests, have played an active role in bankrolling South Africa’s divisive anti-Israel campaign. Combined with Pretoria’s growing ties to BRICS, such geopolitical moves undermine American interests and necessitate that the U.S. reassess the integrity of its relationship with South Africa. 

H.R. 2633 — Responding to South Africa’s Hostile Actions — Will: 

• Reinforce U.S. national security interests by addressing South Africa’s military, political, and economic cooperation with the PRC, the Russian Federation, and Hamas.
• Facilitate potential sanctions by requiring the President to provide Congress with a classified list of individuals within South Africa’s government and ANC leadership whose conduct meets criteria under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
• Require the President, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, to certify within 30 days whether South Africa has engaged in activities undermining U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, accompanied by an unclassified report on their findings.
• Raise public and international awareness of South Africa’s disruptive actions and send a message to other countries that the U.S. opposes partnerships that empower hostile actors and stands for democratic values, global security, and the rules-based international order.

What Congress Should Do:

The YGRG recommends that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs supports H.R. 2633.