SA PRESIDENCY: Ramaphosa will not hand over the G20 presidency to US chargé d’affaires!

 US-South Africa Tensions Escalate Ahead of G20 Summit

Tensions between South Africa and the United States are running high ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, with both countries engaging in a war of words. President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly stated that he will not hand over the G20 presidency to a US chargé d'affaires, March Dillard, despite Washington's decision to send a consular delegation to receive the presidency.

The US had initially announced it would boycott the summit, citing alleged human rights abuses in South Africa, but Ramaphosa claimed on Thursday that Washington was reconsidering its decision. However, the Trump administration swiftly dismissed his remarks, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accusing Ramaphosa of spreading "fake news" and saying the US would not participate in official talks at the summit.

Leavitt also rebuked Ramaphosa, saying the US president was not pleased with his comments. "I saw the South African president running his mouth a little bit against the United States and its president, and that language is not appreciated by the president and his team," she said.

Despite the US stance, Ramaphosa remains resolute, with his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya insisting that the president will not hand over the G20 presidency to a chargé d'affaires. The diplomatic row highlights the strained relations between the two countries, with South Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola saying the world can function without the US.