South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected US President Donald Trump's claims of white genocide in South Africa as 'blatant misinformation' during a national address. He reaffirmed South Africa's status as a founding G20 member despite threats to bar it from the 2026 summit. Ramaphosa emphasized continued dialogue with the US while crediting South Africans for the successful G20 presidency.
On Sunday, November 30, 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation following South Africa's G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on November 22-23. He described the presidency as a 'resounding success,' thanking South Africans for hosting over 130 meetings across cities like Gqeberha, George, Cape Town, eThekwini, Hoedspruit, and Polokwane, as well as beyond the country's borders. Tens of thousands of delegates attended, with locals welcoming visitors at airports, hotels, and tourist sites.
Ramaphosa highlighted African priorities advanced during the summit, including G20 commitments to debt relief for indebted nations, increased climate financing for vulnerable countries, and empowering resource-rich nations like South Africa to process critical minerals domestically for job creation. A Leaders’ Declaration was adopted without objection from attending members.
The address focused on tensions with the US, which boycotted the summit. Trump cited discredited allegations of genocide against Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers—and land confiscation from white citizens as reasons for non-participation. Ramaphosa called these 'baseless and false allegations' and 'blatant misinformation.' He noted the US, a founding G20 member set to take the presidency in 2026, missed key meetings.
Trump later threatened to exclude South Africa from the 2026 summit in Miami, Florida, claiming Pretoria refused to hand over the presidency properly. Ramaphosa clarified that South Africa formally handed it to a US embassy official, observing diplomatic protocols, and reiterated: 'South Africa is and will remain a full, active and constructive member of the G20.'
Despite the rift, Ramaphosa affirmed South Africa's friendship with the American people, valuing US participation in events like the Business 20 Summit, which drew nearly 600 American business leaders. He committed to 'engage in dialogue with the United States government... with respect and with dignity as equal sovereign countries.' Ramaphosa attributed the US stance to a 'sustained campaign of disinformation' by groups in both nations, urging critics to join the National Dialogue to address concerns rather than undermine national interests.
He acknowledged infrastructure efforts in Johannesburg, including pothole repairs and road closures that caused inconveniences, as examples of national unity in the interest of global diplomacy.
