WATCH | ‘Their absence ‘neither here nor there’ – SA minister on Trump snub

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Cape Town – Despite tensions between South Africa and the United States, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said that these issues are separate from the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg.

US President Donald Trump announced he will not attend, citing concerns about South Africa, but Ntshavheni stressed that the US remains a key trade partner and that bilateral relations are ongoing and strategic.

“The US-South Africa relations have nothing to do with the G20. The G20 is a multilateral platform with the top 20 countries in the world being part of that formation.

“So, South Africa has its own bilateral relations with the US, and we have indicated that we deem that relationship as strategic and as important to us; they are one among our leading trade partners.

“To demonstrate our commitment to that relationship, that is why the negotiations are ongoing; there are other countries that have not been given room to engage with the USA, and we have been given room to explain, and there are improvements,” she said.

Ntshavheni added that Trump’s absence will not affect the summit, as most world leaders are expected to participate and a declaration consensus is achievable.

“I do not know why we want to worry about absence, no absence actually, their absence gets us to get a declaration consensus.

“It’s neither here nor there for us. The leaders of the world are coming and remember the US did not go to the G7 they went to take a photo and left…for us their absence is not unique to South Africa, and they can say all sorts of things, but we are hosting the G20 a number of leaders and countries are participating fully, and we are confident that we will achieve a declaration,” she said.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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