Lamola says he doesn't view US snub of G20 as boycott
Lamola's comments come amid heightened tensions between the US and South Africa after Washington falsely criticised Pretoria over its land redress policy.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/ EWN
JOHANNESBURG - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says he doesn't view the US snub of G20 as a boycott of South Africa's presidency of the economic bloc.
Lamola’s comments come amid heightened tensions between the US and South Africa after Washington falsely criticised Pretoria over its land redress policy.
After the Expropriation Act was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, US President Donald Trump and some in his cabinet made inflammatory remarks about violent land grabs.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to attend the G20 foreign ministers meeting currently underway at the Nasrec Expo Centre echoing Trump’s comments about bad things happening in South Africa.
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The criticism sparked concerns about what appears to be deepening tensions between the two countries with concerns of political, diplomatic and economic consequences.
The foreign ministers maintain that the US low-level delegation deployed to the two-day meeting has not dampened Washington’s contribution.
And with Rubio's absence dominating interest on the sidelines International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says it's business as usual.
"There was no boycott, they were here, they participated."
The meeting wrapped up on Friday with the G20 finance ministers meeting set for next week.