South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed his country’s commitment to active participation in G20 activities, despite recent tensions with the United States, which will host next year’s summit.
In a televised address on Sunday, November 30, Ramaphosa responded to comments made by US President Donald Trump earlier in the week, who suggested that South Africa would be excluded from next year’s G20 meetings due to strained bilateral relations. Trump had cited allegations of “white genocide” and land confiscation from white farmers in South Africa to justify Washington’s boycott of the recent G20 summit, which took place under South Africa’s leadership.
Ramaphosa pushed back against these claims, stating: “A few days ago, President Donald Trump made a statement to the effect that South Africa would not be invited to participate in the G20 in the United States. He repeated untrue statements about genocide against Afrikaners and the confiscation of land from white people in our country.”
The South African president emphasized that South Africa is a founding member of the G20, asserting the country’s right to continue its participation as a full and active member. “We will continue to participate as a full, active, and constructive member of the G20,” Ramaphosa affirmed.
He also criticized the US’s absence from this year’s summit, calling it “regrettable” and attributing the decision to misinformation spread by various groups within South Africa, the US, and beyond. “These people who are spreading disinformation are endangering and undermining South Africa’s national interests, destroying South African jobs, and weakening our country’s relationship with one of our most important partners,” he said.
Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa had officially transferred the G20 presidency to the United States earlier this week and reiterated the importance of maintaining strong relations with Washington. The US is set to assume the rotating G20 presidency on December 1.
