Keypoints:
- Ramaphosa denounces Trump’s claims as inflammatory
- Pretoria defends its G20 role and sovereignty
- US blocks South Africa from 2026 Miami summit
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sharply condemned the United States’ decision to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, accusing President Donald Trump of distorting facts and undermining multilateral cooperation. His remarks came after the US leader announced that South Africa would not receive an invitation to the summit, citing allegations of human-rights abuses Pretoria has dismissed as inflammatory and baseless.
The South African President described Washington’s stance as ‘regrettable’, noting that it contradicted months of diplomatic outreach aimed at repairing strained relations between the two governments. According to Ramaphosa, his administration had made ‘numerous attempts’ to reset ties with the United States, only for the Trump administration to persist with punitive decisions rooted in ‘misinformation and distortions’.
Pretoria defends its G20 standing
Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s performance as G20 chair and host of this year’s summit, calling the Johannesburg meeting one of the most successful in recent memory. He said the event produced a declaration reaffirming the central role of multilateralism in addressing global crises, including economic volatility, climate risks, and geopolitical tensions.
‘South Africa will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20,’ he said. ‘We call on all members to uphold the spirit of multilateralism, based on consensus and equality.’
He underscored that South Africa’s G20 membership was determined collectively by all member states, not by the unilateral decision of any single country. ‘South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy and does not appreciate insults from another country about its standing or worthiness in global platforms,’ he said. ‘We respect the sovereignty of all nations and will never demean another country or its place in the community of nations.’
US absence at Johannesburg summit revisited
The President also addressed claims by Trump regarding the symbolic transfer of the G20 Presidency. The United States had opted not to attend the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, despite being expected to participate throughout South Africa’s presidency. As a result, Ramaphosa said, G20 instruments were formally handed over to a US Embassy official at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation rather than at the summit itself.
The President emphasised that while political disagreements had deepened, US businesses and civil-society organisations had taken part extensively in G20-related activities, including the B20 and the G20 Social Forum.
Trump alleges abuses against white citizens
Trump’s decision was announced on his Truth Social platform, where he accused the South African government of perpetrating ‘horrific Human Rights abuses’ against Afrikaners and other citizens of European descent. He alleged that the government had failed to respond to killings and land seizures targeting white farmers.
‘They are killing white people and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,’ Trump wrote. He also criticised major US news organisations, including the New York Times, accusing them of concealing what he described as a ‘genocide’.
Trump added that because South Africa did not hand over the G20 Presidency to a senior US representative at the close of the Johannesburg summit, he ordered that South Africa be excluded from the Miami summit. He further announced that the United States would halt all financial contributions to South Africa, saying the country was ‘not worthy of membership anywhere’.
South Africa rejects what it calls distortions
Pretoria has rejected Trump’s comments outright, saying they misrepresent crime patterns and weaponise racial narratives for political gain. South African officials maintain there is no evidence of a targeted campaign against white citizens and argue that Trump’s statements risk fuelling racial tensions.
Ramaphosa said South Africa would continue to uphold multilateral cooperation and work with global partners despite what he called attempts to politicise the G20.
‘We will remain committed to the principles of consensus, collaboration and partnership that define the G20 as a forum for international economic cooperation,’ he said.
