Ramaphosa to send envoys to clarify SA’s foreign policy and G20 goals

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that he would send envoys worldwide to clarify South Africa’s foreign policy stance, particularly regarding the country’s presidency of the G20.

In his State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa addressed geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, civil conflicts in Africa, and support for Palestine.

“The key pillars of our foreign policy remain the promotion of human rights, peace and friendship and the strengthening of fair trade and investment ties with other countries,” the president said.

He also responded to accusations from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about South Africa’s land expropriation, emphasising the country’s resilience and commitment to defending its sovereignty.

“We are witnessing the rise of nationalism, protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests, and the decline of common cause,” Ramaphosa said.

#RAMAPHOSA: We want a nation that is at peace with the world.

We continue through our international relations to advance the well-being of the South African people as we seek to advance the well-being of humanity.

We will work to strengthen our trade relations around the… pic.twitter.com/luk2UkaFRu

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) February 6, 2025

“This is the world that we as South Africa, a developing economy, must now navigate, but we are not daunted,” he said. “We are, as South Africans, a resilient people, and we will not be bullied.”

Trump asserted this week that South Africa was “confiscating” land via an expropriation act signed last month, a charge the government denies and has described as “misinformation”.

Ramaphosa said that the envoys will engage key global players to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic relations.

“For the first time in its hirstory, the G20 is being hosted on the African continent…. With a view of explaining the positions that we have taken, and in particular , the objectives that we wish to achieve during our presidency of the G20. I have decised to send a delegation of government and other leaders to various capitals on our continent and across the world,” he said.

“This delegation will interact will interact with various key players on a variety of matters that affect South Africa’s interests. I will diect that they leave as soon as possible to interact with various key players on our continent and in the world so that our presidency of the G20 objectives can be well explained.”