US bars South Africa from G20 summit, Finance Minister Godongwana not accredited
via The Citizen4 min read
South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago were not accredited to attend the upcoming G20 finance chiefs meeting in Washington, US. This follows an announcement in November 2025 by US President Donald Trump that South Africa would be barred from the next G20 summit in America. Godongwana confirmed that South Africa would not be part of the G20 for the entire year, stating, "We are members of the G20... However, the US has not accredited us." Tensions between the two countries escalated after the US boycotted the G20 leaders’ Summit hosted in Johannesburg, with Trump citing South Africa's refusal to address alleged human rights abuses against Afrikaners. A month later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated an intention to bar South Africa from the forum and replace it with Poland. The US took over the G20’s annual rotating presidency from South Africa in late 2024. Godongwana noted that South Africa views this year as a "holiday from the G20" and anticipates re-engaging with the UK Presidency in November. Trump has previously criticized South Africa on various issues, including claims regarding the treatment of white farmers.
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