The United States (US) has condemned in the strongest terms what it calls the South African (SA) government’s recent detention of US Officials in relation to an operation conducted by SA Home Affairs and law enforcement officials in Johannesburg, in which seven Kenyans were arrested.

They had allegedly violated the country’s immigration laws.

The Office of the State Department Spokesperson referred to the action by South African immigration officials as an attempt to intimidate US government personnel who were in SA on official business.

The statement says the US will not tolerate such behaviour towards government officials or towards any of its citizens legally and peacefully operating abroad.

It alleges the public release of personal identifying information of an official which SABC News is seeking clarity on.

The threatening statement further says that failure by the South African government to hold accountable those officials responsible would result in severe consequences and called on the government to take immediate action to bring this situation under control.

–SABC–