South Africa Takes A Break From G20 -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

South Africa would “take a break” away from G20 after being barred by the United States and did not expect other countries to lobby for its inclusion, Presidential spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said in response to a media query.

“For now, we will take a break until we resume normal programming,” Magwenya said on social media. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman said South Africa did not expect other G20 nations to boycott the US presidency or lobby for its inclusion.

The United States this month took over the year-long presidency of the group of leading economies after largely boycotting South Africa’s tenure, including the November summit, in an escalation of its attacks on Pretoria.

The Johannesburg summit, the first in Africa, was attended by a host of world leaders, including from countries not in the G20, but boycotted by US President Donald Trump.

It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, through annual meetings of heads of state and heads of government.

The G20 group of nations includes the world’s top economies as well as the European Union and the African Union regional blocs. It accounts for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.