SA's relationship with the United States remains in focus ahead of G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit

A number of conferences and summits in the lead-up to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this November have had to contend with the delicacy of the South Africa-United States relationship, and the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ (P20) Summit is no exception.

The US will take over the G20 Presidency from South Africa when its term concludes at the end of November.

Apart from the 30% unilateral tariff imposed by the United States, and the negotiations underway to rescue the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) deal, a number of G20 members have also been worried about how the outcomes and goals will be carried forward.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola recently stated that the country remains unfazed by US President Donald Trump’s decision to miss the upcoming G20 Summit, as his Vice President JD Vance will represent the country.

Trump’s non-attendance at the high-stakes summit comes as he had previously indicated his intent to skip the event, citing unsubstantiated claims of systemic persecution and killing of white citizens in South Africa.

These claims have been widely debunked and have contributed to an already strained relationship between Washington and Pretoria.

On Tuesday, ahead of the P20 Summit in Kleinmond, located about an hour and 20 minutes from Cape Town, National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, also tackled the question of the US representation at the event, to which she said that they have been informed that there will be four representatives present.

“We have been informed by the United States that there will be four representatives who will be coming, but at a Speakers’ level, members of Parliament, and others from the embassy, and the handover will be done.

“Secondly, I must say, that even in all other countries, there are some who are sending Speakers, others are sending Deputy Speakers, others with bicameral parliaments like ourselves - like in this meeting of the women (P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians), we’ve had two deputy Speakers from the United Kingdom, one coming from the House of Lords and one coming from the House of Commons, and the speaker of the House of Commons is actually coming.

“So, you’ll find that the representation from other countries will be either at the Speakers' level or the deputy speakers' level, and where that (is not the case), it will be a delegation led by members of parliament or the ambassador of that specific country.”

Didiza added that, as is customary, there will be a ceremonial handover of the Presidency at the end of the summit to the US.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday also said South Africa was strengthening trade and investment ties with the US, following a series of high-level engagements with US companies, lawmakers and government officials in New York last week.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and included a South Africa–US Trade and Investment Dialogue, convened by the US Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business advocacy organisation.

In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the engagements demonstrated growing confidence in South Africa’s economic reforms and its long-term growth prospects.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi will officially open the P20 Summit on Wednesday on behalf of Ramaphosa, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile expected to give closing remarks on the last day.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

*Additional reporting by Mashudu Sadike and Siphelele Dludla