South Africa: Foreign Minister Roland Lamola answered US that South Africa cannot be excluded from the G20. The statement was issued on the remarks made by the United States’ President Donald Trump that South Africa can no longer be in the G20.
Lamola stated this at the BRICS gathering and discussed about the US pressure on South Africa and new economic opportunities. The SA Foreign Minister said, “President Trump can’t say that we can no longer be in the G20, because we are the founding member of the G20, and no one member of the G20 can decide that this country can no longer be a member of the G20.”
He further added that it is important that the members of the G20 will have to discuss and characterise what that is, whether you can characterise it as a G20 if South Africa is not there.
Lamola was interviewed regarding this in New Delhi, India for the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations which was hosted under India’s BRICS Chairship on May 14 and 15, 2026. The meeting was convened under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS)”.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Roland Lamola says South Africa cannot be excluded from the G20.
On the sidelines of the BRICS, Lamola discussed the US pressure on South Africa and new economic opportunities.
“He (President Trump) can’t say that we can no longer be in the… pic.twitter.com/ZIvmGbBCFh
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) May 15, 2026
Considering this, he expressed his confidence that these high-level deliberations will further cultivate the strategic synergy between BRICS member states and also discussed the SA-India trade partnership and how the Middle East tensions have impacted proceedings.
Foreign Minister Roland Lamola further explained that what Donald Trump has done is not to invite South Africa into the G20 summit that will be hosted by the US, but they are a member of the G20. So, they really don’t know what that summit will be, which does not have one of its founding members.
Lamola clarified that it is a different situation as compared to the last year, given that the US was invited but has chosen not to attend. Other countries of the G20 such as Brazil and Russia are also raising concerns about South Africa’s exclusion.
Notably, South Africa has faced diplomatic pressure and threats of exclusion from Western powers, specifically regarding its pursuit of domestic policies; like land redress. In response to this pressure, Lamola has firmly stated that South Africa does not seek the US’s approval for its constitutional path.