Mbalula, DIRCO dismiss Rubio's claims about divisive conditions at G20 summit

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has firmly rejected the recent assertions made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who alleged that South Africa's G20 Summit was overshadowed by racially divisive circumstances.

In a statement, on Thursday, the Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola defended the integrity of South Africa's presidency over the influential economic forum, asserting that the summit successfully represented the interests of the Global South.

Lamola argued that as a founding member ,not even the US has a right to exclude South Africa from the global leaders gathering.

"South Africa’s Presidency was built on a simple, powerful belief: that treating Africa and the Global South as equal partners and honestly addressing the systemic macroeconomic issues that impede their growth, is not an act of charity, but a strategic imperative for a stable, prosperous world.

"We reaffirmed multilateralism and the United Nations because our own liberation was won not in isolation, but through the solidarity of a global community that recognised a shared stake in justice. We understand, in our bones, that the world is an interconnected whole. The poverty, instability, or environmental distress in one corner of it does not remain there; it becomes a burden—or a crisis—for all," Lamola stated.

Rubio's attack resulted in swift criticism by Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, who dismissed the remarks with sharp, pointed sarcasm, just days after the country hosted the 2025 G20 summit, shortly before the US begins its preparations to assume the presidency of the influential economic bloc in 2026, its first time since 2009.

Rubio said the US-hosted gathering will be beter than the South African edition as it would showcase the strengths of American democracy and economic dynamism, drawing a sharp contrast with South Africa's current political climate.

As a result, Lamola said South Africa has been vindicated by global leaders, who commended President Cyril Ramaphosa for hosting an inclusive and dignified G20 Summit, which spoke to issues of Africa and other low-income countries, who found resonance in some of the declarations and commitments made by global leaders and members of the G20.

The success of our G20 Presidency was a result of the conducive environment for the free flow of ideas that South Africa has created. The people of South Africa created a hospitable environment in the true spirit of Ubuntu, which led to the South African G20 being a people’s G20, and many delegations attested to this in their public comments.

Fikile Mbalula, who addressed the media on the sidelines of the ANC Greater Johannesburg 18th Regional Conference also rubbished claims by Marco Rubio that South Africa’s G20 was operated with spite, division, and radical agendas.

Mbalula also hit out at Trump and Rubio, accusing them of being one of the biggest agressors against a peaceful country such as South Africa.

In light of the South Africa's approach to the fallout, Mbalula said the US has made up its mind and it has become difficult to find on ground with its leader, who does not want to budge.

"The administration of Donald Trump has made up its mind that they going to be the aggressor against a peaceful nation called South Africa, which is a sovereign state. Rubio the secretary of state of the US, speaks about South Africa as of it is one of the states in America," Mbalula told journalists on Thursday.

Mbalula further indicated that Trump has over the past few months since assuming his second non-consecutive terms at the helm of the White House shown lack of understanding.

"He does not understand that this country is a country in Africa with its own sovereignty. They have made up their minds and boycotted the country. They have now communicated a decision pubicly that we are not invited to the G20 as member in Miami even to participate. That is the worst aggresion you could have, where a states takes such a decision, "he added.