The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has dismissed comments made by former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that no American officials would attend the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg due to what he described as the “continued killing of Afrikaners.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US would boycott the summit unless action was taken to stop the alleged killings. DIRCO has since responded, saying Trump’s remarks are “misleading” and reflect a “lack of historical understanding” about South Africa’s complex social landscape.
“The characterisation of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group lacks historical perspective,” DIRCO said, adding that South Africa remains committed to the protection of all its citizens, regardless of race or background.
International relations expert Thembisa Fakude also dismissed Trump’s statement, saying it is unlikely to have any real diplomatic consequence.
“There are going to be Americans at the summit,” Fakude said. “Trump is trying to shift attention from his own domestic troubles by pushing a false narrative. His claim that he’s defending Afrikaners is simply political theatre.”
The G20 Summit in Johannesburg is expected to draw leaders and representatives from the world’s largest economies later this month.