President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue to participate as a full member of the G20, despite US President Donald Trump announcing overnight that he will not invite Ramaphosa to attend next year’s gathering in Miami, Florida.

In a post on Truth Social late yesterday, Trump blasted South Africa for failing to formally hand over the G20 Presidency to the US at the end of the Leaders’ Summit. The handover was only done at DIRCO’s offices a few days later.

Trump also doubled down on his false claims of Afrikaners being persecuted, threatening to withdraw subsidies from SA.

“South Africa has demonstrated to the World that they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

In a statement overnight, the Presidency labelled Trump’s statement as “regrettable.”

Ramaphosa says the G20 South Africa 2025 Leaders Summit, attended by several Heads of State and Government, was hailed by all those who attended the summit as one of the most successful summits.

He says the summit produced a declaration that affirmed the indisputable strength and value of multilateralism in response to the most pressing challenges facing the world.

“As the United States was not present at the summit, instruments of the G20 Presidency were duly handed over to a US Embassy official at the Headquarters of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.”

The President went further to say that the United States was expected to participate in all the meetings of the G20 during South Africa’s Presidency, but it elected not to attend the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg of its own volition.

“We are, however, pleased that US entities such as businesses and civil society organisations participated in large numbers in G20-related activities such as the B20 and the G20 Social. South Africa values their participation.”

Furthermore, Ramaphosa says South Africa’s G20 membership is at the behest of all other members.

“South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms. South Africa respects the sovereignty of all countries and will never insult or demean another country or its standing and worthiness in the community of nations.”

He says South Africa will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20.

“We call on members of the G20 to reaffirm its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, based on consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing in all of its structures.”

The Presidency concluded by saying it is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the US, President Trump continues to apply “punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country.”