The Presidency says South Africa will not accept “insults from another country” after US President Donald Trump announced that Pretoria would be barred from attending the next G20 summit in the United States.
Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have escalated again after the US boycotted the two-day G20 Leaders’ Summit at Nasrec in Johannesburg.
Trump claimed the US stayed away because South Africa “refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific human rights abuses endured by Afrikaners”.
He went further, saying, “They are killing white people and letting their farms be taken from them.”
He accused the media of ignoring what he called “genocide”. These claims have been widely discredited.
US Boycott and G20 Dispute
Trump criticised South Africa for refusing to hand over the G20 presidency to US Chargé d’Affaires Marc D. Dillard, who represented Washington at the closing ceremony.
Pretoria had already made it clear that it would not transfer the presidency to a diplomat rather than a senior government representative.
Trump responded by announcing that the US would not invite South Africa to the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami.
He also said Washington would cut “all payments and subsidies” to South Africa.
Pretoria Calls Trump’s Remarks “Regrettable”
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa noted Trump’s “regrettable statement” and rejected suggestions that South Africa does not deserve its G20 seat.
“As a founding member of the G20, South Africa values consensus, collaboration and partnership,” Magwenya said.
He stressed that South Africa holds its G20 membership “in its own name and right”, supported by all members.
Magwenya added that South Africa respects the sovereignty of every country and will not criticise or demean another nation’s standing.
Ramaphosa pushes for stable relations ahead of 2026 G20
Magwenya said Pretoria remains committed to participating fully and constructively in the G20.
He urged G20 members to recommit to multilateralism and equal participation.
He said it was “regrettable” that President Trump continues to impose punitive measures based on misinformation, despite Ramaphosa’s efforts to repair relations.
