Lamola Fires Back at Washington: “Congrats on G20, but get the facts straight”

South Africa’s foreign policy arena lit up this week, not with polite diplomacy alone, but with a sharp backhand return from International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, who politely congratulated the United States on taking over the G20 Presidency, then firmly told Washington to check its facts.

After US officials suggested that South Africa had undermined consensus during its time as G20 host, Lamola made it clear: Pretoria would not be taking the blame quietly.

A cordial greeting, followed by a rebuttal with bite

Lamola opened his address the way any seasoned diplomat would, with a handshake in words:

“We extend congratulations to the United States on assuming the G20 Presidency.”

But he wasted no time in pivoting to the real message: South Africa rejects the narrative that it undermined global cooperation during its presidency.

He said America’s remarks “compelled” a response, invoking South Africa’s history of reconciliation to underline the core of his argument, that dialogue matters more than dominance.

The criticism that sparked the clash

The tension stems from comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused South Africa of:

• Allowing economic decline

• Becoming hostile towards Afrikaner citizens

• Abandoning post-apartheid democratic principles

• And scapegoating both citizens and the US

He went even further, claiming the ANC had embedded racism and tolerance for violence into policy statements that landed heavily in South Africa, where public reaction has been a mix of frustration, disbelief and “here we go again” eye-rolling on social media.

For context US-SA relations have weathered friction before, from BRICS alignment to International Court of Justice cases and Palestine foreign policy. This exchange forms part of a broader tug-of-war over global influence, especially as Africa positions itself more boldly on the international stage.

Lamola’s defence: South Africa didn’t derail consensus, the US wasn’t even there

Lamola defended South Africa’s G20 leadership by emphasising its commitment to multilateralism, Africa’s development, and elevating the Global South as an equal voice, not a junior partner.

He argued that praise from Germany, Japan, France, and even IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, showcased broad endorsement not obstruction. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also publicly thanked South Africa for its hospitality, described as warm and people-centred.

Lamola then dropped the quiet bombshell:

“The United States did not attend the G20 meetings in question.”

In other words, how do you accuse someone of sabotaging consensus at conversations you didn’t show up for?

The remark instantly gained traction online, with South Africans posting memes about “commenting from outside the room” and “WhatsApp group energy.” Politics aside, it was a line perfectly engineered for social commentary.

A Presidency built around Ubuntu, not power politics

Lamola positioned South Africa’s G20 approach as the “People’s G20”, rooted in Ubuntu, inclusivity and the idea that leadership isn’t about winning it’s about listening.

“True leadership doesn’t mean everyone leaves getting everything they want; it means everyone leaves feeling heard.”

The message marks a clear stance: South Africa wants a multipolar world, not a dominated one. And Lamola’s tone, firm, ceremonial, but unflinching, signals a government increasingly comfortable pushing back against Western critique.

Why this moment matters

This exchange highlights three major undercurrents:

1. The global balance of power is shifting, and South Africa is choosing the Global South seat confidently.

2. US criticism hits differently now, in an era where BRICS, Palestine solidarity and multipolar geopolitics shape public mood.

3. The G20 is becoming more than an economic forum, it’s a diplomatic arena, and South Africa is asserting itself as more than just a participant.

At home, South Africans are watching with interest, some cheering the assertiveness, others warning that diplomatic tensions could have economic realities. But one thing is clear: Lamola did not let the criticism go unanswered.