Germany's support heartens SA despite exclusion from G20 meetings in US - Lamola

Despite South Africa’s exclusion from G20 meetings in the United States (US), Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said it feels heartened by the support it’s receiving from Germany.

The German and French governments said they have been appealing to the US government not to ban South Africa from 2026’s gatherings in Miami, after hosting the forum in 2025.

Lamola is currently on a diplomatic visit to Germany for the bi-national commission, where a 200-million Euro climate loan has been extended to South Africa.

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Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago have been barred from attending G20 finance meetings in Washington this week, which are traditionally held on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

While several countries hold the view that the US does not have the power to block a member of the G20 from participating in its annual meetings, Godongwana has shrugged off the diplomatic impasse, saying South Africa will return to the gathering when the United Kingdom (UK) takes over the presidency at the end of 2026.

Speaking in Germany on Monday, Lamola said South Africa is appreciative of the support it has been receiving from other G20 member states on this matter.

“The voice of German support has made us to not feel excluded. We feel we are part of it because of the support we have received from Germany and other G20 members.”

In March, France denied it was uninviting South Africa to the G7 as a guest participant because of pressure it had received from the US, despite the South African Presidency saying this was the reason it was offered through its diplomatic channels.