Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 29 November 2025

📸 File photo: Tensions rise between Pretoria and Washington as diplomatic relations strain following President Trump’s threat to bar South Africa from the 2026 G20 Summit and halt US funding.

South Africa finds itself at the centre of an escalating diplomatic storm after US President Donald Trump announced that the country would be barred from next year’s G20 Summit in Miami and that all American financial support would be halted with immediate effect. His remarks, accompanied by renewed accusations of human rights abuses against white South Africans, have been firmly rejected by Pretoria.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, political analyst Nteboheleng Tsehla described Trump’s behaviour as “classic bullying”, adding that the US president remains “ignorant to all the facts that have been presented to him.” Tsehla emphasised that the South African delegation had even been shown a misleading video during their visit to the White House, yet Trump “refuses to listen to any of it.”

With South Africa being a founding member of the G20, Tsehla stressed that Trump does not have the authority to decide who attends the summit. “America cannot naturally make that decision,” she said. “They did not want to bow down to me and then they should not come. It’s simply not how the G20 works.” She noted that other G20 leaders were satisfied with South Africa’s hosting and are unlikely to support unilateral actions from Washington.

While the threat of exclusion is politically alarming, the more immediate concern is Trump’s declaration that all US funding to South Africa will stop. Tsehla acknowledged that the impact would be significant, particularly on health programmes. However, she noted that the South African economy is intertwined with American business interests, making an abrupt funding halt complex. “It’s going to be hard to just cut off any sort of funding directly or indirectly,” she explained, adding that the situation may push South Africa to explore new investment avenues in Europe and Asia.

Addressing why South Africa appears uniquely targeted, Tsehla argued that the country’s continental influence plays a major role. “South Africa is the most influential African country,” she said. “Anything the world wants to start off in Africa, they bounce off in South Africa.” She believes Pretoria’s refusal to bow to pressure has emboldened other African nations and unsettled Washington.

As for the future of the relationship, Tsehla was frank: “As long as President Trump continues to be ignorant and follow lies and propaganda, the relationship will continue to be strained.” Despite South Africa’s efforts to remain civil and engaged, she warned that repairing ties may be unlikely “for as long as he believes what is not true about South Africa.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily-Round with ANnisa Essack and Nteboheleng Tsehla.