G20 foreign ministers meet in South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting began in Johannesburg on Thursday.
It is part of a series of ministerial gatherings leading up to the G20 leaders mega summit in November which will also be held in Johannesburg.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is hosting the event which is being held under South Africa's G20 Presidency theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.
Delegates are expected to discuss current global geopolitical dynamics which have been highlighted by President Donald Trump’s recent decision to cut aid to South Africa. The controversy started when Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, said "certain classes" of South Africans are being treated "very badly" and he would cut off all future funding to South Africa, pending an investigation.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn't want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see,” he posted.
South African-born businessman Elon Musk – a close ally of Trump – also fueled tensions when he accused the South African government of having "openly racist ownership laws". Ramaphosa has denied the claims, saying South Africa will not be bullied.
There are growing concerns that South Africa is being punished for its decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice over the conflict in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated he will not attend this week’s proceedings in protest over Pretoria’s land expropriation laws, but the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that Washington will be represented at the event.
DIRCO has also confirmed the attendance of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent when G20 Finance Ministers and Central bank Governors convene in Cape Town next week.
Trump will assume the presidency of the G20 once South Africa’s term expires at the end of November.
-0- PANA CU/AR 20Feb2025
