South Africa (SA) will hand over the G20 Presidency to the United States (US) through an administrative process, after Washington failed to attend this year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the formal transfer, which traditionally takes place between heads of state at the summit, will now occur at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, where US officials will receive the handover documents.
Magwenya said the government had been satisfied with the outcome of the meeting despite the absence of the US. He noted that the remaining G20 members had expressed confidence in SA’s stewardship of the bloc during bilateral engagements.
“We have a summit declaration; we are happy. We’ve had a successful summit; we are thrilled. Our G20 partner countries are thrilled, along with the US. They have expressed that contentment in bilateral talks. So, there’s a lot more to be excited about over one country. We will find each other at some point,” Magwenya said.
He stressed that what government could not allow was for President Cyril Ramaphosa to hand over the Presidency to a junior US representative at a leaders’ summit, saying the matter will now be handled “at appropriate and more aligned levels”.
–ChannelAfrica–
