The South African government and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Sunday reacted angrily to US President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in a fortnight in Johannesburg.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula lashed out at both Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who repeated the allegations made by Trump.
Mbalula called the statements by the two US leaders false, labelling them as imperialist interference.
Trump announced on Friday that no US official would participate in the Summit, which is being hosted by South Africa as it prepares to hand over the annual Presidency to the US.
Trump cited the alleged persecution of white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa as the reason for his decision. This allegation has been denied and disproved repeatedly by both the South African government and leaders within the white community itself.
