JOHANNESBURG, April 2 (Xinhua) -- South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that its top officials returned from a trip to the United States, where discussions covered South Africa's G20 presidency, and engagements with the United Nations (UN) and U.S. government departments.

According to a statement issued late Tuesday by the department, the delegation, led by South Africa's G20 Sherpa and DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor, first briefed the UN General Assembly on the country's G20 presidency during the visit.

The officials also furthered discussions initiated by former South African Ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool, with representatives from the White House and the State Department to address bilateral priorities.

"We believe that these dialogues will assist to refine the current administration's understanding of South Africa's position on critical matters, fostering a more nuanced perspective," said DIRCO.

Rasool was expelled by the United States and declared persona non grata for remarks made during a webinar in which he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, implying that there was a push to further white supremacist ideals in the United States.

According to the statement, the delegation held meetings with U.S. government representatives to clarify key issues and address misconceptions about South Africa's policies and legislation, including the Expropriation Act.

DIRCO said the delegation directly tackled concerns and misconceptions that South Africa's policies were designed to violate minority human rights, noting that the government's efforts to address inequality are constitutionally mandated and necessary. Enditem

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