‘Poor form’: Steenhuisen backs Ramaphosa, slams US plan to receive G20 presidency via chargé d’affaires

Agriculture Minister and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has backed President Cyril Ramaphosa in his diplomatic standoff with the United States over its decision to send a chargé d’affaires to receive the G20 presidency from South Africa, describing the move as “poor form”.

In diplomatic practice, a chargé d’affaires is the lowest-ranking head of mission, typically appointed only when a country does not have an ambassador in place. Unlike an ambassador or minister, a chargé d’affaires does not present credentials to a host head of State and is generally viewed as a temporary or junior-level representative.

South Africa considers the G20 presidency handover a high-level ceremonial event, prompting concern that the US was downgrading its participation by assigning a chargé d’affaires to lead its delegation.

The United States is scheduled to take over the G20 presidency from South Africa, but President Ramaphosa has apparently refused to proceed with the handover after learning that Washington plans to send a junior diplomat instead of a senior representative or the president.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, on the eve of the G20 Leaders Summit, Steenhuisen said the decision by Washington was disappointing, given the importance of the G20 and South Africa’s leadership role.

“It’s something so important, particularly when you are the incoming host country. I think that was poor form and I think no matter what you think about the G20, and what you think about South Africa, the institution is important,” he said.

“I think the institution of the G20, the body of the G20, rightly requires respect. I think South Africa showed it, and any host country has to show that. I am sympathetic to the president’s view in this particular matter.

“I think it wasn’t great form,” Steenhuisen added.

Steenhuisen’s comments come as Pretoria and Washington remain locked in a diplomatic impasse over the level of representation for the ceremonial handover scheduled for Sunday. The presidency of the G20 rotates among member states, with South Africa currently chairing the influential bloc of the world’s largest economies.

Pretoria's pushback emerged in a Thursday night post on X (formerly Twitter) from Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, who said the president would not preside over a handover ceremony involving a chargé d’affaires. 

Magwenya's post came after the United States quietly reversed its earlier total boycott announcement by President Donald Trump, and informed Pretoria's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) it would now send a small delegation led by its chargé d’affaires in Pretoria, Marc D. Dillard.

The United States currently does not have an ambassador in Pretoria, and US ambassador-designate to South Africa Brent Bozell III is tipped to take over the post left by Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II. In November last year, IOL reported that Brigety announced his resignation,  effective January 10, 2025. This came as per the standard procedure during the change of presidential administration, after US citizens re-elected Trump as president.

Ramaphosa has argued that the transition should reflect the importance of the forum and that South Africa deserves a handover attended by a senior US official.

South Africa’s G20 presidency has centred on advancing African priorities in global governance, including reform of international financial institutions, food security, and a just energy transition — issues Steenhuisen’s own ministry has played a key role in championing.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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