Speaking in Pretoria, Ramaphosa dismissed suggestions that the alleged US move was causing diplomatic anxiety. “No, I don’t have sleepless nights,” he said. “All we want really is for South Africa to be treated as an equal sovereign country, one that respects others and fosters the success and prosperity of other countries.” His comments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria following the US decision to boycott South Africa’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg earlier this year.

The US administration has argued that South Africa should be excluded from the G20’s core work despite its formal membership, citing economic stagnation, corruption and what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as “race-based policies ” that have undermined investor confidence and pushed skilled workers to leave. Washington has also accused Pretoria of mishandling its G20 presidency by blocking negotiations, ignoring attempts at consensus and prioritising political messaging over economic progress. In parallel, the US announced plans for a “New G20”, inviting Poland to join instead.

In response, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said South Africa will suspend its participation in G20 activities until the presidency rotates to the United Kingdom in 2027. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola added that Pretoria will not lobby for reinclusion, framing the year-long pause as a principled stand against what he called US unilateralism. The dispute is now shaping into a broader geopolitical test, one that could redefine how emerging economies assert their role within global governance structures.

President Ramaphosa described the U.S. absence at the first G20 meeting to take place on African soil as “regrettable” and criticised the reasons provided by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

According to Ramaphosa, Trump cited claims that white Afrikaners were being violently persecuted in South Africa as the basis for the decision not to send a government delegation to the summit. South Africa has dismissed the allegations as “blatant misinformation”.

"It is even more unfortunate that the reasons the US gave for its non-participation were based on baseless and false allegations that South Africa is perpetrating genocide against Afrikaners and the confiscation of land from white people," President Ramaphosa said .

Speaking to the nation on Sunday evening, November 30, Ramaphosa stated that the justification provided by the U.S. administration for not attending the summit was based on false information. He confirmed that all other G20 members participated in related meetings throughout the year, with the United States being the only country absent.

Despite ongoing tensions, including U.S. tariffs on South African goods that currently stand at 30%—the highest imposed on any African country—President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s goodwill toward the American people.

"We offer the people of the United States nothing but goodwill and friendship," he said.

In response to Trump’s claim that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit in the United States, President Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s founding role in the G20.

"We must make it clear that South Africa is one of the founding members of the G20, and South Africa is therefore a member of the G20 in its own name and right. We will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20," he said.

The diplomatic rift follows a meeting in May at the Oval Office, where Trump accused the South African government of committing “genocide” against white farmers, referencing a video that was later shown to feature opposition figures rather than state officials.

Modi framed the initiative as a crucial tool not only for disaster risk reduction, but also for development. He highlighted India’s leadership in this area through its Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), emphasising that international cooperation must go beyond reaction to crises — it must support long-term planning and sustainable growth.

The proposal comes alongside his advocacy for fairer climate finance , including debt relief, blended financing and green-transition mechanisms for developing countries. He said that innovative tools like satellite data must be complemented by financial solutions that make the energy transition both ambitious and equitable.

Modi’s pitch at the summit reflects a growing call for space technology to play a central role in global sustainability, offering a way to use cutting-edge science to protect vulnerable populations and empower nations to take a more active role in shaping their own development path.

Rakabuming Raka said global growth must be “strong, but also fair and inclusive,” insisting that efforts at the G20 should go further on adaptation, mitigation and a just transition. He argued that developing countries require financing that is “more accessible, predictable and equal,” calling for debt relief, innovative instruments, blended finance and mechanisms to support green transitions.

Indonesia , he noted, has sought to lead by example by allocating around US$2.5 billion annually, more than half of its national climate budget, to green MSMEs, agricultural insurance programmes and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Rakabuming Raka concluded by stressing that all nations must retain the right to define their own development paths, rejecting any suggestion of a single global model. “Cooperation must empower, not dictate. Cooperation must uplift, not create dependency,” he told leaders. The two-day summit, expected to bring together representatives from 42 countries and international organisations, runs from 22 to 23 November.

In Dakar, Senegal, Djibril Gningue of the Research Group and Dappio – Council for Participatory Democracy and Good Governance (GRADEC) dismissed claims that the boycott is linked to allegations of a so-called “white farmer genocide” in South Africa. Instead, he argued that Washington’s decision reflects broader strategic anxieties.

Gningue said a “wind” of countries asserting their sovereignty is “blowing across the world and especially over Africa,” and warned that the US is ramping up pressure on the Global South as a result.

He suggested the boycott highlights a deeper shift in global power. “Isn’t it time to go in that direction, in the direction of a multipolar world ? Isn’t it also in the direction of sovereignism?” he asked, warning that attempts to pressure the Global South “will lead to the definitive decline of the West.”

Mao criticised Tokyo’s recent comments and actions related to Taiwan, saying Japan should not “say one thing and do another.”

“If the Japanese government's stance on Taiwan truly remains unchanged, its leaders should not link the so-called ‘existential crisis situation’ to the Taiwan issue,” she said. “Merely stating that the position remains unchanged while crossing red lines in practice will not resolve China’s concerns.”

Tensions rose further on Thursday after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te posted a photo of a Japanese-sourced sushi lunch on social media , widely interpreted as a gesture of solidarity with Japan in its current dispute with Beijing.

“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. It is an inalienable part of China’s territory. No amount of posturing by the Lai Ching-te administration can alter this immutable fact,” Mao responded.

The rift has also affected regional cooperation. China has informed South Korea that it will postpone a trilateral meeting of culture ministers with Japan scheduled for this month.

Mao accused Tokyo of “challenging the post-war international order,” making the China-Japan-South Korea meeting “temporarily unfeasible.”

South Africa has announced a historic change to its monetary policy framework, lowering the official inflation target from the long-standing 3 – 6 % range to a fixed 3 % target, with a ±1 % band. The move marks the first adjustment in 25 years and is intended to strengthen price stability, enhance investor confidence, and pave the way for lower long-term interest rates. Analysts have described it as one of the most significant economic policy shifts since the 1990s. The rand firmed following the announcement, reflecting positive market sentiment, although economists caution that fiscal discipline and structural reforms remain essential to sustaining the gains.

Trump’s claims of Afrikaner persecution

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s allegations that white Afrikaners are victims of a “genocide” in South Africa, calling the claims “false and inflammatory.” Trump’s remarks, which also led to the U.S. boycott of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, have been widely condemned by South African officials. Godongwana stated that the government’s land reform policies are lawful, transparent, and aimed at addressing historical inequalities — not targeting any racial group. He also accused Trump of “recklessly exploiting misinformation” for political purposes, warning that such rhetoric risks damaging diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Washington.

G20 Summit

South Africa’s Cabinet has confirmed that preparations are complete for hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg from November 22–23, the first time the event will be held on African soil. Despite the U.S. decision to skip the summit, the government insists it will proceed smoothly, highlighting the significance of Africa’s growing voice in global economic affairs. During the same Cabinet meeting, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that the country added over 248,000 jobs in the third quarter of 2025, a sign of gradual recovery in key sectors such as manufacturing and construction. Ministers also reiterated South Africa’s commitment to inclusive growth, energy security, and fiscal reform ahead of the 2026 G20 presidency transition to the United States.

Vehicle sales surge in October

South Africa’s automotive industry recorded a 16 % year-on-year increase in vehicle sales in October 2025, signaling renewed consumer confidence and modest improvement in economic conditions. Data from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) revealed that both passenger and light commercial vehicle segments experienced growth, supported by improved credit conditions and inventory stability. Industry analysts, however, remain cautious, noting that persistent power supply challenges, low disposable incomes, and policy uncertainty continue to weigh on sustained momentum. The government has welcomed the figures as an indicator that its industrial support programs and trade incentives are beginning to yield results.

Economy could be in decline

A growing number of analysts believe South Africa’s economy may be on the cusp of a gradual turnaround after a decade marked by corruption scandals, energy shortages, and stagnant growth. Recent reforms in the energy, logistics, and financial sectors have improved investor confidence, while fiscal tightening has started to reduce budget deficits. Experts say the combination of a stronger monetary framework, improved governance oversight, and better infrastructure spending could help restore the country’s long-term growth trajectory. Still, they warn that entrenched corruption, unemployment, and sluggish productivity remain serious threats to sustained recovery. The coming year will be critical in determining whether South Africa’s reform agenda can deliver tangible results.

“They are giving up the very important role that they should be playing as the biggest economy in the world,” he said .

Trump announced earlier this week that neither he nor any U.S. official would attend the summit, citing discredited claims that white South Africans, particularly Afrikaner farmers, are being persecuted and having their land seized. “No U.S. government official will attend as long as these human rights abuses continue,” Trump said on social media, repeating his assertion that South Africa should not be part of the G20.

The South African government has dismissed the allegations of “white genocide” as “unsupported by reliable evidence,” insisting that no white farmers have had their land confiscated without compensation.

Trump has said he would send Vice President JD Vance in his place, while Argentina’s President Javier Milei, a close Trump ally, has also announced he will skip the summit, delegating his attendance to Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.

South Africa, which currently holds the G20 presidency, will host the gathering for the first time on African soil. Each year, a different member nation chairs the group and sets the agenda for discussions among the world ’s major economies. The United States is set to assume the presidency from South Africa next year.