South Africa has sharply condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, dismissing his claims of Afrikaner persecution as “imperialist” and racially inflammatory.
Trump announced via Truth Social that no US officials would attend the November 22–23 summit, citing alleged “human rights abuses” against white Afrikaner farmers.
He described the event as a “disgrace,” accusing South Africa of land confiscations and violence against the Afrikaner population.
“Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated,” Trump wrote. “No US government official will attend as long as these human rights abuses continue.”
Pretoria swiftly condemned the remarks, with the government rejecting the allegations as politically motivated and factually unsupported.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola called Trump’s claims “regrettable” and “imagined,” citing crime statistics that show rural violence affects all racial groups.
He said official figures show that the majority of the 225 people who were victims of farm-related crimes in South Africa between April 2020 and March 2024 were black.
“(Only) 53 of the victims were farmers, mostly white,” Lamola said.
“Claims of a ‘white genocide’ or its euphemism, Afrikaner persecution, are imagined and used for political expediency.”
African National Congress secretary general Fikile Mbalula echoed the criticism, branding Trump’s statements “a blatant lie rooted in imperialist thinking.”
He said the G20 summit would go ahead as planned despite the US withdrawal.
“Our country must go ahead, and the G20 will take place without (the US). It’s unfortunate that they’ve stirred up things which, in our view as the ANC, borders on imperialism. We are an anti-imperialist organisation,” he added.
Despite the US boycott, South Africa remained confident in the summit’s success.
Officials note that the G20 operates by consensus and that no single member can derail its proceedings.
Strong diplomatic ties with the European Union, China and other major economies are expected to ensure robust participation.
The 2025 G20 Summit will focus on global economic stability, climate finance and reform of international institutions.
JN/APA