Lamola confirms US handover of G20 will be at DIRCO, not summit

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says Pretoria will not hand over the G20 presidency to the United States (US) at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Sunday. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on Saturday, Lamola said the US will have to collect it from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) offices. 

He emphasised that the summit was South Africa’s G20, highlighting that it was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the African continent.

“No one will steal that spotlight. The African continent has made it,” Lamola said.

The statement follows the adoption of a declaration by G20 leaders, which he said was clear on issues affecting the Global South, particularly Africa.

He pointed to the framework on critical minerals, noting that 30% of the global minerals required to power artificial intelligence and green economies are found in Africa.

“South Africa has enabled the issue of beneficiation at source within this G20 framework,” Lamola added.

On the subject of artificial intelligence in Africa, Lamola acknowledged that few African content creators have access to resources, but stressed that the G20 summit aimed to change that dynamic.

“This G20 speaks about how the African continent must not just be a consumer of artificial intelligence but a source of innovation, research, data centres, and other platforms,” he said. 

“These are key issues for the continent’s young population. This G20 will revolutionise how Africa participates in the global economy.”

Lamola described the summit as a “mission accomplished,” adding that global visitors to South Africa had provided positive feedback.

“They love South Africa. They love our wine. They also know about biltong,” he said. 

“It has been a good year. We are very glad that a South African government has delivered a progressive declaration that will revolutionise the African continent and how the Global South engages in the global economy.”

Lamola rejected claims that the United States had been denied access to the closing ceremony.

“We did not deny anyone access. The United States is a member of the G20. If they want to be represented, they can send someone at the appropriate level. This is a leaders’ summit,” he explained. 

“The right level is the head of state, a special envoy appointed by the president, or a minister.”

He clarified that the handover of the G20 presidency would take place at DIRCO offices, not at Nasrec. 

“The President of South Africa will not hand over to the US at the summit but will do so at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation or wherever else the US may request within South Africa’s borders,” Lamola said.

“We remain open and cordial, and we are willing to cooperate and work with them. But the focus of this G20 summit has been on critical issues such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and the framework for critical minerals, and that’s what we must focus on.”

Earlier this week, IOL reported that the United States had warned South Africa not to issue a joint leaders’ declaration at the summit, saying it would block any outcome presented as a consensus position.

In a diplomatic communication delivered to Pretoria on November 15, Washington said it would not take part in preparatory meetings before the summit or in the gathering of world leaders.

Meanwhile, Lamola also stressed that the G20 declaration had centred on pressing global issues such as climate financing, with the African continent receiving less than 5% of climate finance globally.

He said that the summit was continuing and that there was no time to waste. 

“The countries here are participating, debating, and making inputs on how the global economy should function. That’s what we are focusing on,” he said.

IOL