G20 summit boycott sparks political uproar

US President Donald Trump's decision to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg has sparked fierce backlash across the political spectrum.

- Marizka Coetzer

The move follows Trump's claims of genocide of white South Africans in the country.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula accused Trump of deliberately distorting South Africa's democracy to stoke racial fear ahead of the US elections.

"These statements are not borne of ignorance; they are deliberate attempts to distort the reality of South Africa's democracy and to mobilise racial fear for political gain in the United States," he said.

DA spokesperson on international relations Ryan Smith said: "The ANC's use of Dirco [department of international relations and cooperation] to entertain dalliances with Iran and other malign international actors is now affecting our standing with major countries and trading partners key to our economic prosperity."