By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa will not participate at the G20 Finance Track and Sherpa Meeting that will be hosted by the United States (US) on the margins of the Spring Meetings.
Minister of finance Enoch Godongwana confirmed on the sidelines of the African National Congress (ANC) National General Council (NGC) in Boksburg.
“We don’t need an invite, but [The US] is not accrediting us,” he said.
The forum brings together at least 20 of the world’s major economies to discuss global policies, and the finance track is one of the most crucial gatherings, led by finance ministers and central bank governors.
The finance track meeting is crucial because it drives the core economic, financial, and stability work that underpins all the G20 decisions.
However, Godongwana said he will lead a delegation to the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington next year.
The first Finance Track and Sherpa meetings will be held in Washington from 15 to 16 December.
Fullview understands that South Africa has not received a formal communication from the US excluding it from the G20.
The International Relations Director General Zane Dangor said, Sherpas from other member states have agreed to warn the Trump administration that sidelining South Africa comes at a great risk to the cohesion.
“If the US excludes South Africa from its G20 presidency activities, then the regulatory framework of the G20 must be reviewed,” Dangor said.
The U.S. assumed the 12-month presidency of the G20 amid a bitter feud with South Africa and has said it will not invite Africa’s biggest economy to participate in next year’s G20 events.
South Africa has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated allegations that South Africa’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority.
The U.S. government has vowed to undertake “much-needed reforms” during its presidency and “return the G20 to focus on its core mission of driving economic growth and prosperity to produce results.”
Next year’s summit of G20 leaders will take place in Miami at a golf resort owned by Trump. US skipped this year’s gathering hosted by Pretoria and then accused South Africa of weaponizing its leadership of the group.