Ramaphosa on leaders pulling out of G20: ‘Boycott politics never work’

Johannesburg
JM

Jabulile Mbatha

14 November 2025 | 10:30

He said boycott politics never work because the work set out for the meeting will continue in their absence.

Ramaphosa on leaders pulling out of G20: ‘Boycott politics never work’

President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the keynote address at the Japan-South Africa Business Forum, which took place at the Hyatt Regency in Yokohama, Japan on 22 August 2025. Picture: @PresidencyZA/X

President Cyril Ramaphosa said those who have pulled out of attending the G20 will miss out on the important work of the summit.

He said boycott politics never work because the work set out for the meeting will continue in their absence.

ALSO READ:

Ramaphosa was speaking at the CEO City Clean-Upat Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto.

He expressed that he is pleased with the progress of the city’s revitalisation a week before the summit.

United States (US) President Donald Trump was among the first to announce that he will not attend the G20 summit, adding that no other US government officials will be present.

Since then, the presidents of China, Argentina, Mexico and Russia have also withdrawn from attending and opted to send representatives instead.

Commenting on the impact of absent leaders on the summit, Ramaphosa said it is those who choose not to attend who will be most affected

“We have said that boycott politics never work because the show will go on. The summit will go on; we are not going to stop because they are not here. We will continue and take fundamental decisions on matters that affect people of the world.”

He adds that the G20 represents up to 80% of the global economy.

JOIN US ON WHATSAPP

Stay ahead of the story: Join our WhatsApp channel today.

Want breaking news at your fingertips, the moment it happens? Our WhatsApp Channel is the fastest way to stay connected with the stories that matter most.

From breaking news alerts to exclusive stories, analysis and must-read features - you’ll get it all directly on your phone.

Joining is simple.

Just click Follow on our WhatsApp Channel and stay informed.

Get the whole picture 💡

Take a look at the topic timeline for all related articles.

Trending News