Ramaphosa: SA won’t be bullied, declares GBVF a national crisis

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa “will not be bullied”, insisting that the G20 declaration will go ahead without the United States.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 Social Summit’s closing ceremony at Nasrec, Ramaphosa reaffirmed that preparations for this weekend’s historic gathering — which will host leaders from 40 nations — are on track.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump warned Pretoria against issuing a joint leaders’ declaration at the summit.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated over several issues, including South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ and the Land Expropriation Act.

Trump has repeatedly claimed “bad things” are happening in South Africa, including the long-debunked myth of a white genocide. He recently hosted a South African delegation — including Ramaphosa, businessman Johan Rupert and cabinet ministers — at the White House in an attempt to ease tensions, but the meeting yielded little progress.

Ramaphosa maintains the summit remains “all systems go” and says all engagements are progressing positively.

“We will have a declaration, the talks are going extremely well, and I’m confident we are moving towards a declaration. They are not just dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s.”

Speaking at the same gathering, Ramaphosa announced the classification of Gender Based Violence and Femicide as a crisis.

“We do have a challenge of GBV, and the women of our country are crying out that they need much more focus on the issue of GBV, they need protection, they need support, and they need assistance largely from their government and the men of South Africa.

“We have agreed among all social partners that we need to take extraordinary and concerted action, using every means at our disposal to end this crisis,” Ramaphosa said.

This comes ahead of Friday’s planned national shutdown, organised by Women for Change, which is calling on government to take the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) seriously and implement long-delayed measures.

The organisation is demanding that government enforce existing GBV laws — including properly resourced police units, fast-tracked GBV courts, funding for shelters, amongts other issues.

Thousands of South Africans have already shown support by changing their social media profile pictures to purple.

Women for Change has also urged the public to wear black, refrain from work or spending, and sign a petition calling for GBV to be formally declared a national disaster.

Ahead of the G20 summit, the nationwide action is set for 12:00, inviting South Africans to pause, lie down for 15 minutes, and reflect on the 15 women who are killed every day in the country.

🇿🇦His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa receives the #G20 Social Summit Declaration from the ‘Custodians of the Future’, accompanied by leaders of 22 engagement groups during the closing ceremony at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in the City of Ekurhuleni.… pic.twitter.com/TyPcfO4RSn

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 20, 2025