Mashatile: US stance 'problematic' for G20, but SA rules out boycott

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says US President Donald Trump’s current posture towards South Africa is “problematic,” but he insists it will not derail the declaration stemming from the G20 hosted in the country.

He has also ruled out any boycott of next year’s G20 in the United States by South Africa.

This clarification comes despite social media comments by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, who suggested South Africa might take a “commercial break” from G20 activities as the US takes control and threatens to exclude the country.

Mashatile was addressing Parliament’s Press Gallery Association earlier.

G20 Must Move On
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has acknowledged that the United States’ attitude towards South Africa is not ideal.

But Mashatile says the rest of the G20 must move on with plans agreed upon at the leaders’ summit in Johannesburg.

"The current President Trump’s posture is problematic, but it will not derail the G20."

He says the US might end up being the only country opposed to the declarationshould it choose to disregard what this year’s G20 decided on.

"But G20 itself will not be derailed because countries in South Africa this year are moving ahead with the declaration, and to the extent that the U.S. may want to ignore some of those, they might end up being the only country that does so when the rest of the world is moving in another direction."

He also suggested that the US G20 may not be as “rigorous,” implying fewer guests and participants.