By Johnathan Paoli
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says Cabinet has noted the recent position taken by the United States regarding South Africa’s participation in the upcoming G20 Sherpa meeting, including indications that Washington intends to exclude South Africa, a founding member, from the 2026 G20 meetings.
She said that while the development is “regrettable”, South Africa’s commitment to the G20’s principles and its collaborative framework remains unwavering.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Ntshavheni told reporters that South Africa remains a founding member of the G20 and continues to participate fully in all structures of the multilateral forum.
“We have indicated our availability to participate, and we leave it to other members of the G20 to take it up and show a confidence in the G20 system that members cannot be excluded unnecessarily,” she said.
Ntshavheni confirmed that South Africa has already indicated its availability to attend the G20 Sherpa Meeting scheduled for next week Monday and Tuesday.
She added that several G20 countries had previously rejected attempts to “desecrate the G20 system” by excluding a founding member, insisting that “all members must participate as required”.
Cabinet, she said, remains confident that multilateralism is the foundation for shared global prosperity, citing South Africa’s successful 2025 G20 presidency as proof that collaboration still delivers meaningful outcomes.
“During our G20 presidency, South Africa firmly placed Africa’s development agenda in the purview of G20 leaders and mobilised consensus on meaningful actions to address the challenges constraining South Africa, Africa, and the global South’s development,” she said.
Despite concerns over the US position, Ntshavheni dismissed any suggestion that South Africa would appeal to Washington to reconsider.
“Why should we plead with the US? We are not in the business of pleading. We are a sovereign state. They are a sovereign state. They can take their decisions. We will take decisions that are in the interest of South Africa,” she said.
She emphasised that current G20 tensions should not be interpreted as a collapse in bilateral relations.
The US remains a “strategic trading partner”, she said, adding that South Africa continues to engage with Washington on trade and investment issues.
“The G20 fiasco does not indicate our relations and our ability to engage with the US. We value the US, and we continue to pursue mechanisms to remain a strategic trading partner,” Ntshavheni said.
Turning to domestic debates, the minister dismissed calls — including those amplified by abaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo — for a referendum on foreign policy positions.
“South Africa does not have to hold a referendum to implement global positions that align with our foreign policy and the principles of our Constitution,” she said.
Citizens elect a government based on manifestos and policies, she argued, and that mandate empowers the state to act internationally without seeking ad hoc public votes.
President Trump previously announced that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, citing what he characterised as “human rights abuses”, including unsubstantiated claims of violence and land seizures against white farmers.
The US government, through the administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that South Africa’s agenda under its 2025 presidency represented “radical” policies and that Pretoria no longer qualified among the world’s largest industrial economies.
The US declared that its G20 would proceed without South Africa, inviting replacement members such as Poland instead.
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