Former President Thabo Mbeki says the G20 leaders’ summit in November will proceed seamlessly despite the absence of US President Donald Trump. Trump announced that he will send his deputy, JD Vance, to attend the gathering.

The US is the incoming Presidency of the G20 after South Africa.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the African Peace and Security Dialogue in Magaliesburg, west of Johannesburg, Mbeki says that Pretoria put a lot of work behind the G20 and America will receive a rich programme.

News just in: Former SA President Thabo Mbeki reacts to the US administration’s announcement that its Vice President JD Vance will represent the US at the G20 leaders summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. #sabcnews #G20Summit #G20 pic.twitter.com/7gQMNPnZW2

— Khayelihle Rafiq Khumalo-James (@KhayaJames) September 6, 2025

He says, “I think it would still be seamless, of course, we would have preferred President Trump to come, but it is still perfect if Deputy President Vance comes. Our government is keen to hand over to President Trump. There is a lot of work that have been put behind G20. What we would hand over to the United States at the end of the year would be a very rich programme about the agenda of the G20.”

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