By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that South Africa’s exclusion from the upcoming G7 summit in France was due to pressure from the United States.
Ramaphosa was speaking with the media on the sidelines of his visit in Bloemfotein on Thursday afternoon.
During the G20 in South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron personally invited Ramaphosa to take part in the G7.
The Group of Seven industrialised nations often widen’s its work to invite other countries.
Earlier Pretoria said; the French embassy in Pretoria had communicated the decision to the government about two weeks ago, saying the U.S. had threatened to boycott the summit if South Africa was invited.
“There’s been no pressure from the United States or any other country, and if you are not invited to the G7 does not mean that you are being snubbed or you are being ignored,” he said.
“There are so many countries around the world that don’t get invited to the G7, and South Africa is not a member,
“So, we haven’t attended every G7. So, if we don’t go to this one, it should never be a surprise to anyone,” Ramaphosa said.
France announced earlier that it will host the leaders of India, South Korea, Brazil and Kenya at the summit to be held in Evian-les-Bains.
Asked at a briefing whether South Africa had been excluded on the U.S.’ request, a French official said this was not the case and that France had decided to invite Kenya this time.
Macron is due to visit Kenya in May for a two-day Africa-France summit.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized South Africa’s foreign policy and domestic race laws during his second term, boycotted last year’s G20 summit in Johannesburg.