SA shrugs off Trump theatrics post G20

South Africa's risk is not expulsion, which the G20's rules do not allow, but a year of disruption that could blunt the gains of its presidency

- Hasina Kathrada

South Africa is standing firm after a bruising week of diplomatic tension with the United States over the G20. As a result, President Donald Trump vowed not to invite the country to next year’s summit in Florida after he snubbed this past weekend’s forum in Johannesburg.

Angry that South Africa refused to agree to President Cyril Ramaphosa handing over the G20 presidency to a junior US representative, Trump took to social media to say he had directed that “South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year”.

Despite Washington's political theatrics, Pretoria is moving to consolidate the gains of its successful G20 presidency and to rally other members around the principle of consensus. Government officials say the focus now is on ensuring the US takeover does not derail the workstreams on debt relief, climate finance and inclusive growth that defined the Johannesburg summit.

“South Africa will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20. We call on all members of the G20 to reaffirm its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism based on consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing in all of its structures,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the United States, President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country.”

The presidency dismissed Trump’s attempt to question South Africa’s place in the forum, calling his remarks false and undiplomatic. But beyond the rebuttal, South African diplomats are quietly working with G20 partners to insulate the group’s agenda from American domestic politics in the run-up to the 2026 summit in Miami.