Pretoria – South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has issued a detailed response to US Senator Marco Rubio’s recent Substack post, defending the country’s G20 presidency and domestic policies while addressing critiques of its governance. The letter, dated 4 December 2025, underscores South Africa’s position as a founding member of the G20 and its commitment to multilateralism, inclusion, and principled leadership on both the global and domestic fronts.
Lamola began by congratulating the United States on assuming the G20 presidency, wishing for a term that promotes global unity and inclusive progress. Yet, he stressed that South Africa, as a founding member, cannot be excluded from the G20 by any single nation. He wrote: “South Africa’s Presidency was built on a simple, powerful belief: that treating Africa and the Global South as equal partners and honestly addressing the systemic macroeconomic issues that impede their growth, is not an act of charity, but a strategic imperative for a stable, prosperous world.”
The minister outlined the philosophy guiding South Africa’s G20 leadership, grounded in Ubuntu, the African principle meaning “I am because we are.” He explained that the country’s goal was to create an environment conducive to dialogue and consensus, rather than force agreements. He said the success of South Africa’s presidency was in part due to the “hospitable environment” created by its people, which made the summit “a people’s G20.”
Lamola cited specific reactions from delegates at the summit to illustrate this atmosphere. A German representative remarked: “I’ve attended summits on six continents. I’ve never experienced warmth like this.” A Japanese delegate highlighted the professionalism and friendliness of South Africans, noting that “security guards smile while being vigilant” and drivers “share stories while navigating,” while protocol officers and coffee vendors alike treated delegates “like welcomed family, not foreign dignitaries.” France’s delegate reflected that while discussions focused on economic frameworks, what stood out was “how your people made us feel. That’s not soft power, that’s real power.”
High-level international recognition of South Africa’s presidency extended beyond summit floors. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the South African government and its citizens for their organisation of the summit, while International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva praised the “incredible hospitality.” Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the integration of Africa into the G20 as “important” and lauded South Africa’s ambitious leadership in “turbulent times.” The United Nations Development Programme’s South Africa representative declared that the summit “showed the world what African leadership looks like—dignified, strategic and people-centred.”
Lamola strongly refuted Rubio’s suggestion that South Africa had sabotaged consensus, pointing out that the United States itself chose not to attend key meetings. “Our role as host was not to force agreement, but to create the conditions for it: a table of equals, governed by the spirit of Ubuntu,” he wrote. “True leadership doesn’t mean everyone leaves getting everything they want; it means everyone leaves feeling they have been truly heard.”
Turning to domestic issues, Lamola addressed Rubio’s critique of South Africa’s governance, particularly claims of systemic racism, violence against Afrikaner citizens, and mismanagement of the economy. He reminded that South Africa is governed by a ten-party Government of National Unity, not the African National Congress alone, representing a vibrant and contested democracy. He framed the country’s policies of redress and transformation as constitutional obligations intended to heal the scars of apartheid, a process spanning more than three centuries of colonialism and racial oppression.
Lamola cited the words of Nelson Mandela to underscore the constitutional and moral foundation of these policies. In 1997, Mandela emphasized the need to address economic power concentration, stating that sustainable development requires structural change. Earlier, in 1995, Mandela spoke on land restoration, linking reconciliation and redistribution as mutually reinforcing elements of justice. Lamola stressed that South Africa’s democratic journey is “but 30 years young,” involving the immense task of dismantling entrenched inequalities while building a foundation for a just society.
The minister highlighted tangible progress in economic and social indicators since the end of apartheid. South Africa’s GDP grew from R3.6 trillion in 1994 to R7.3 trillion in 2024. Household access to electricity now exceeds 95 percent, while piped water reaches nearly 90 percent, a dramatic change from the racialized infrastructure of 1994. Using the Human Development Index, the country has advanced from Medium to High profile, reflecting gains in health, education, and living standards. Lamola said that, on average, individual South Africans are now 1.5 times better off than at the dawn of democracy.
Regarding land reform and the agricultural sector, Lamola provided detailed data to counter allegations of discrimination against Afrikaner citizens. He noted that South Africa’s farming sector had more than doubled in value since 1994, contributing significantly to food security, and exports approached US$14 billion in 2024, with projections to surpass that in 2025. The government continues to pursue a market-based and equitable approach to land redistribution, ensuring inclusivity without threatening commercial confidence. Commercial banks continue to invest in the sector, signaling strong investor confidence.
Lamola also stressed that transformation is a constitutional imperative, rooted in the inclusion of previously excluded Black South Africans. He underscored that South Africa’s domestic policies aim to dismantle the legacy of apartheid while creating shared prosperity, not to marginalize any group.
In his closing remarks, Lamola appealed for respect for South Africa’s sovereign path. “We do not seek your approval for our path. Our path is our own, chosen by our people and guided by our sovereign laws. But we do seek, and we will always extend, a hand of respectful partnership,” he wrote. Lamola called for dialogue and multilateral cooperation, underlining that nations can disagree yet still work together for shared priorities like public health, community stability, and environmental sustainability. He invoked Mandela’s vision of a world built on justice, reconciliation, and humanity, noting that South Africa continues to pursue that ideal daily.
Discussion about this post