Ntshavheni to US: You’ll have to justify any move to bar SA from 2026 G20 Summit

Presidency Minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the US will have to explain why to the other 19 members if they don’t invite South Africa to their 2026 G20 Leaders Summit.

Ntshavheni told journalists on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg on Sunday that it was up to the US to make the decision.

“If they don't want us to participate, they'll have to tell the 19 other members of the G20 that South Africa cannot participate and the world will have to watch what the other members of the G20 will do,” she said.

The US is set to take over the G20 presidency next.

“The US will be the president, the UK will be the incoming president,” Ntshavheni said.

She added that accepting and prioritising the declaration will help them implement their plans.

“So we are rock and roll in terms of implementation, we focus on what we have resolved to do and to implement,” she said.

“We don't need anybody to take them forward, we can take them forward ourselves, but also the US will take over after we remain part of the Troika of the G20 and we'll make sure that the South African voice will be there.

“But we are part of the Troika as the outgoing president, the US will be the president, the UK will be the incoming president.”

Responding to visas being revoked for some South Africans, Ntshavheni “Even if they revoke my visa, it's fine, I will not have to go to the US. Actually, the majority of us don't go to the US, we go to the UN meeting.”

Meanwhile, the International Relations Department marked the US absent from the summit in Johannesburg. 

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics