South African Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says they have rejected suggestions from some delegates that President Cyril Ramaphosa should hand over the G20 presidency to a junior United States (US) embassy official.

Speaking after Ramaphosa’s opening address at the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Magwenya said such a proposal would amount to a breach of protocol.

This follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would not be attending the summit.

Magwenya stressed, however, that the G20 presidency will still be handed over to the United States.

VIDEO | Declaration unanimously adopted by all countries present: Vincent Magwenya:

Political Analyst Dr Sithembele Mbete says the credibility of the G20 will be upheld should the G20 Leaders’ Summit adopt a Summit Declaration by those in attendance.

Mbete says, “If the leaders have said that, have decided that they are going to adopt a declaration, which is just a summary of what’s come out of the 130 meetings that have happened in the G20 over the last year, I think that is a really good thing and it reinforces firstly the credibility of the G20 and the legitimacy of the G20, whether or not the United States is here and participating. And I think it’s a really important thing to just show that the G20 needs to be taken seriously as a negotiating forum, whether or not the US is here or not.”

VIDEO | More reaction to the adopted G20 declaration: Dr Sithembile Mbethe:

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