How Trump's absence from G20 Summit may affect US-SA relations

ALTHOUGH US President Donald Trump said he did not plan to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa, analysts believe that despite his continued hatred for the country, his presence would likely become a focal point for media coverage and overshadow other important discussions.

- MANYANE MANYANE

The analysts added that Trump's announcement regarding his potential absence from the summit raises several important considerations.

Trump on Tuesday announced that he did not plan to attend the G20 Summit and that he would send someone else to represent the US.

This is despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's request for Trump to attend the summit, which is expected to take place in November.

Trump has claimed that the South African government is adopting discriminatory policies against white residents.

He took aim at South Africa early this year after his election for the second term, promoting claims that white farmers were targeted, which Ramaphosa denied during the Oval meeting in May.

The US has also been critical of SA's BEE legislation and the land expropriation law signed in January. South Africa has insisted the latter law will not be used to arbitrarily confiscate white-owned land.

Political analyst Sethulego Matebesi said Trump is widely known for his radical views on other nations, and he would likely become a focal point for media coverage, potentially overshadowing other important discussions and initiatives at the summit.