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South Africa’s Nota Baloyi Loses US Visa Over Charlie Kirk Comments

JOHANNESBURG — 14 October 2025

South African media personality Nhlamulo “Nota” Baloyi has had his US visa revoked after American authorities flagged controversial comments he made following conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

The US State Department cancelled the visa under section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on 29 September. Officials stated new information indicated he may be ineligible for US travel (State Department notice).

Baloyi’s revocation followed a social media post mocking American reactions to Kirk’s death. The State Department cited his statement claiming Americans were “hurt that the racist rally ended in attempted martyrdom” where Kirk “was used to astroturf a movement of white nationalist trailer trash”.

The decision emerged the same day former President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

In total, six foreigners had visas revoked for allegedly celebrating Kirk’s killing. The State Department declared: “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans” (official Twitter statement).

Other affected individuals come from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Paraguay. Officials vowed to defend US borders and remove “aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality” while celebrating citizens’ deaths (State Department).

Kirk, shot during a Utah university speech on 10 September, previously attracted controversy in South Africa by incorrectly claiming the country had a “racist and dangerous policy of murdering white farmers”.

The US government has intensified scrutiny of foreigners’ social media, with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau ordering action against those “praising, rationalising, or making light of the event”. This follows over 6,000 student visa cancellations this year targeting international students involved in protests (unverified).

Editor’s note: Baloyi’s right of reply was not available at publication time. Charlie Kirk’s disputed statements about South Africa are presented as contentious historical remarks.