In a year marked by global power shifts and diplomatic drama, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the airwaves on Sunday, November 30, 2025, to deliver a message of resilience and unity. His televised address from the Union Buildings in Pretoria reaffirmed South Africa’s unwavering place in the Group of Twenty (G20), even as tensions with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to upend the world’s premier economic forum.
The speech came on the heels of South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg—a gathering praised for its hospitality and ambition, despite the conspicuous absence of the United States. According to Central News, over 130 G20 events were held across cities like Gqeberha and Polokwane, drawing tens of thousands of international guests. Ramaphosa did not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: Trump’s threats to bar South Africa from the 2026 G20 meetings, which will take place in Miami under U.S. leadership.
“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,” Ramaphosa declared, pushing back against Trump’s claims of “genocide against Afrikaners” and land seizures as “blatant misinformation.” His words, reported by Central News and echoed in Le Monde, were both firm and conciliatory. He called out the dangers of disinformation, warning that these narratives “are endangering and undermining South Africa's national interests, destroying South African jobs, and weakening our country's relationship with one of our most important partners.”
Trump’s boycott of the Johannesburg summit and subsequent announcement that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 meetings were justified by the U.S. president through unsubstantiated allegations of violence against white farmers and land expropriation. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump accused the South African government of “horrific human rights abuses” and declared, “South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20.” Yet, as Patrick Bond wrote in Cadtm.org, even the U.S. State Department’s own Human Rights Report had not substantiated any such claims of genocide or systemic abuse.
Ramaphosa’s response was measured but resolute. “Despite the challenges and misunderstandings that have arisen, South Africa remains a firm and unwavering friend of the American people,” he said, referencing the United States’ historical solidarity during the anti-apartheid struggle and the inspiration drawn from the U.S. Bill of Rights in drafting South Africa’s own Constitution. The message was clear: South Africa would not be cowed by external pressure, nor would it turn its back on the principles of dialogue and partnership.
As South Africa handed over the G20 presidency to the United States—officially taking effect on December 1, 2025—Ramaphosa celebrated the achievements of his nation’s year at the helm. The Johannesburg Declaration, a central outcome of the summit, included commitments to debt relief for poor countries, a new African board seat at the International Monetary Fund, ambitious green energy targets under Mission 300, youth employment initiatives through the Nelson Mandela Bay plan, and technological advancements like the AI for Africa Initiative. Each of these, Ramaphosa argued, would help drive South Africa’s own economic growth and create much-needed jobs at home.
“When we launched our G20 Presidency a year ago, I said that this must be the People’s G20,” Ramaphosa recalled, as cited by Central News. He relayed the warm praise of international delegates, including a German official who remarked, “I’ve attended summits on six continents. I’ve never experienced warmth like this.” Such anecdotes underscored the power of South African hospitality and the country’s unique form of “real power.”
But Ramaphosa’s speech was not all celebration. He acknowledged the deep and persistent challenges facing his nation: poverty, unemployment, and the high cost of living, often exacerbated by inadequate public services. “Here in South Africa, our people are confronted each day with poverty, unemployment and the high cost of living, which are made worse by poor service delivery in many areas,” he said. To address these, he announced the launch of a National Dialogue, inviting South Africans from all walks of life to forge a new future together. “We have now embarked upon a National Dialogue, where all South Africans – all walks of life, of all races and creeds – are invited to forge a new future for our country,” Ramaphosa explained, urging even those spreading misinformation to participate and seek solutions collectively.
The president also confirmed that gender-based violence would be treated as a national disaster, unlocking more resources to combat it—a move building on the momentum of recent activism, including the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Despite the diplomatic turbulence, there were signs of progress at home. Ramaphosa pointed to falling unemployment, improved public financial management, and a recent credit rating upgrade as evidence that the country was “turning the corner,” quoting business leader Adi Enthoven’s view that “after a decade of decline, South Africa has turned the corner.” He also celebrated national morale boosters like the Springboks’ sporting triumphs, which, he said, reflected the nation’s capacity for teamwork and resilience.
The international context, however, remains fraught. As Patrick Bond observed in Cadtm.org, the U.S. assumption of G20 leadership comes at a time of shifting global alliances and growing frustration with American unilateralism. The BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new members like Egypt and the UAE—has been touted as a counterweight to Western dominance. Yet, internal divisions and a lack of unified strategy have limited its effectiveness. Bond noted that, despite fiery rhetoric from figures like Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, who described U.S. power as “fading” in the face of a rising Global South, the reality is more nuanced. The BRICS have often struggled to present a coherent alternative, and some members have shown themselves willing to accommodate, rather than challenge, U.S. policies.
This year’s G20 process, Bond argued, saw South Africa and other emerging economies temper their ambitions in the face of U.S. pressure, focusing on achievable economic goals rather than more confrontational stances on issues like climate change or trade. Former South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool candidly described these efforts as “the appeasement route,” acknowledging that attempts to placate the Trump administration had yielded little in return.
Looking ahead, the prospect of a G20 summit in Miami without South Africa—and potentially without other BRICS members if a boycott materializes—raises questions about the future of global economic governance. Some diplomats and commentators have suggested that the remaining G20 members could move forward as a “G19,” or even relocate the summit if Trump’s exclusionary stance persists. As South African international relations expert Oscar van Heerdon put it, “If Trump doubles down on this issue, BRICS nations are going to boycott the next G20. I think Brazil, Russia, India and China are going to say if South Africa is not allowed to come, then we will also not come.”
For now, Ramaphosa’s message is one of steadfastness and hope. He thanked security personnel, officials, and ordinary citizens for making the Johannesburg summit a success, apologizing for any disruptions caused by the event. “We thank you for being patient and we apologise for any difficulties you experienced,” he said, closing a chapter on South Africa’s G20 presidency with a call for unity, dialogue, and pride in the nation’s place on the world stage.
