U.S. cancels visa of former South African Minister Naledi pandor amid rising diplomatic tensions
Story by Okafor Vivian
The United States has revoked the visa of former South African Minister of International Relations, Naledi Pandor, deepening a period of strained diplomatic ties between Washington and Pretoria.
Pandor, now serving as chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, confirmed on Thursday that she was notified via email from the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town that her multiple-entry visa, granted in 2024, had been cancelled without explanation.
Speaking to journalists, she said she was unaware of the reason behind the move but acknowledged she had heard of lobbying efforts aimed at restricting her entry into the country. Among those calling for action against her is former South African Jewish Board of Deputies member Lawrence Nowosenetz, who criticizes Pandor’s past engagements with Iran, Qatar, and other pro-Palestinian actors.
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Pandor has long drawn international attention for her outspoken support for Palestine, most notably her role in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Her 2023 call with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, described by her as a humanitarian discussion, has also been a point of contention for U.S. officials.
She has recently intensified her criticism of Washington, arguing in public remarks that the United States “can no longer be regarded as the world’s leading democracy” and has become a destabilizing “global threat.”
Since leaving office, Pandor has visited the U.S. twice in 2025, including meetings with the advocacy group Justice for All, which campaigns on Gaza and often draws parallels between the crisis and South Africa’s apartheid era. Her growing activism appears to have prompted heightened political scrutiny.
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Pandor said she has not yet decided whether she will apply for a new visa, noting that doing so would require an interview she is unsure she wants to undergo.
The sudden cancellation of a visa belonging to a high-profile figure from a partner nation marks an uncommon diplomatic step, one that signals deepening disagreements over global politics, human rights, and international alignments.
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