H.R.2633, U.S. South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act

Bottom Line Up Front

H.R. 2633, the U.S.–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, would require a comprehensive review of the U.S. relationship with South Africa and authorize the identification of South African officials and ANC leaders for possible U.S. sanctions. The bill aims to hold Pretoria accountable for its growing alignment with adversarial powers — including Russia, China, and Iran-aligned actors — and for undermining U.S. foreign policy interests, including through legal campaigns against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Click here to read the full legislative text and view the list of cosponsors.

Why It Matters

• Over recent years, South Africa has increasingly adopted diplomatic and legal postures at odds with U.S. interests, including filing ICJ proceedings against Israel, maintaining ambiguous stances toward Hamas, and more openly engaging with Russia and China. This bill restores U.S. leverage by putting Pretoria on notice that alignment with U.S. partners and interests carries real consequences.
• The bill does not call for wholesale decoupling. Instead, it mandates a targeted review and authorizes sanctions only against individuals or actors found complicit in malign actions or corruption, enabling calibrated pressure while preserving the broader bilateral relationship.
• The legislation requires a report naming officials linked to corruption, human rights violations, or policy choices that undermine U.S. security interests. This transparency is critical to enabling meaningful accountability for conduct that has gone unchecked.
• Depending on findings, the bill could force reconsideration of key areas of cooperation — including military sales, high-tech exports, investment treaties, and trade benefits under AGOA — if Pretoria fails to demonstrate meaningful alignment with U.S. interests.