By Thapelo Molefe
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa is “on leave” from the G20 this year and will return to the grouping on December 1, amid strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.
Speaking at the International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and World Bank International Conference 2026 in Cape Town, Godongwana said South Africa had temporarily stepped away from the G20.
“Last year, on the side of the G20, by the way, we were once part of the G20. We’re just on leave this year,” Godongwana said.
“We’re going back on the 1st of December, so we just took leave this year.”
South Africa held the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025 and hosted the leaders’ summit in Johannesburg.
The United States did not attend the summit and, after taking over the presidency, announced that South Africa would not participate in
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