ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has labelled US President Donald Trump an “aggressor” for excluding South Africa from next year’s G20 summit, set to take place in Miami.
Mbalula was speaking on the sidelines of the ANC Johannesburg Regional Elective Conference in Woodmead, Sandton, on Thursday.
This comes after the Presidency confirmed that South Africa will not participate in any G20 activities during 2026, following the decision by the US administration to remove the country from the forum.
Mbalula said the move undermines South Africa’s sovereignty and its long-standing commitment to global peace.
“The administration of Donald Trump have made up their mind that they are the aggressor against a peaceful nation called South Africa, which is a sovereign state,” he said.
He also criticised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he described as patronising remarks about the country.“Marco Rubio speaks about South Africa like it’s a state in America. He doesn’t understand that this country is a country in Africa with its own sovereignty.”
Mbalula described South Africa’s exclusion from the G20 as “the worst form of aggression”, adding that Cuba faced similar hostility for maintaining its political stance.
He emphasised that South Africa would continue protecting its independence and strengthening global partnerships.
“We will never forsake our country or the beliefs we stand for — our sovereignty, our commitment to multilateralism. Those are the principles we stand for,” he said.
Mbalula insisted that South Africa will remain a voice for peace on the global stage.
Meanwhile, the US has since invited Poland to replace South Africa at next year’s G20 summit.
Rubio defended the decision, saying Poland has shown strong economic growth.“We will invite friends, neighbours and partners to the American G20. In particular, Poland… now ranks among the world’s 20 largest economies and will be joining us to assume its rightful place in the G20,” Rubio said.
