Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said on Thursday that South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025 will not be confined to climate change but also to the equitable treatment of nations of the Global South.

“These are important principles that we remain open to pursue and engage the United States on,” said Lamola.

This followed a social media post by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying he won’t attend an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 group of countries from February 20-21 in Johannesburg, South Africa, citing concerns with polices, including land reform.

"I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg. South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, & sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change. My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism," he posted on X.

On Sunday US President Donald Trump accused South Africa of "confiscating" land and "treating certain classes of people very badly," threatening to cut off all future funding to the country pending an investigation.

Lamola stressed South Africa’s sovereignty and democracy, which he said entailed a committment to human dignity, equality, and rights, championing non-racialism and non-sexism, while placing the country’s Constitution and the rule of law at the forefront.

He highlighted that there was no arbitrary dispossession of land or private property.

“This law is similar to the [US’s] eminent domain laws,” he noted.