A historic moment is unfolding in Johannesburg today as the world turns its eyes to Africa.
For the first time ever, the G20 Leaders’ Summit is being held on African soil.
South Africa – and by extension the continent – is poised to centre its priorities and those of the Global South on the global agenda like never before.
When President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted the G20 Presidency gavel from Brazil in 2024, he pledged that South Africa would lead with solidarity at the forefront.
“We will work to ensure that no one is left behind. The world is faced with severe challenges and crises. Through partnerships across society, and by reigniting our common humanity, South Africa will seek to harness global collective energy to confront these challenges.
“Through our G20 Presidency, we will seek to strengthen solidarity. Whether it is in Gaza, Sudan or Ukraine, we must all stand in solidarity with those people who are facing hardship and suffering. We must stand in solidarity with those countries that are most vulnerable to pandemics and other global public health emergencies,” he said.
Furthermore, Africa and the global south would not be left behind.
“South Africa’s Presidency will be the first time an African country has presided over the G20.
“We will use this moment to bring the development priorities of the African Continent and the Global South more firmly onto the agenda of the G20,” the President affirmed.
Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability
During the official launch of the G20 Presidency, President Ramaphosa outlined South Africa’s theme for the year: Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.
“Through solidarity, we can create an inclusive future that advances the interests of people at the greatest risk of being left behind. This is important in an interconnected world, where the challenges faced by one nation affect all nations.
“The disparities in wealth and development within and between countries is unjust and unsustainable. By promoting equality, we strive to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all individuals and nations. We aim to break down divisions of economic status, gender, race, geography or any other characteristic.
“Sustainability involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In line with our theme, we will seek to strengthen and advance the international effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he explained.
He noted the importance of ensuring that the country’s G20 Presidency is inclusive – the people’s G20.
“Dialogue with civil society and other non-government institutions will be conducted through various engagement groups.
“These engagement groups are organised according to sectors, such as business, labour, civil society, parliamentary bodies and the judiciary.
“These engagement groups also include science bodies, think tanks, and audit institutions, as well as institutions of higher learning, specific groups for women and youth including vulnerable groups,” he said.
Indeed, engagement groups held some 100 preparatory meetings during the year which culminated in an inclusive G20 Social Summit held this week.
The Social Summit agreed on a declaration which was handed to President Ramaphosa to present to global leaders over the next two days.
Global praise
As the opening ceremony drew closer yesterday, heads of state and government and their entourages began to arrive for the summit – received by President Ramaphosa, ministers and high-ranking government officials.
In a statement ahead of the summit, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the leaders’ summit as a “particularly special Summit given that it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa”.
“During India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20.
“The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues. The theme of this year’s G20 has been ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’, by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I will present India’s perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and 'One earth, One Family and One future,’” the statement read.
On Friday evening during the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit hosted with President Ramaphosa in Johannesburg, UK Prime Minister Keir Startmer added to the chorus of voices congratulating South Africa on its Presidency.
“What a fantastic thing it is that the G20 is being hosted in Africa for the first time here in South Africa. What a wonderful opportunity.
“It has been a great success and the next two days will build on that success. Congratulations,” Starmer remarked.
In a press conference, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres praised South Africa’s efforts to put challenges that hit developing nations the hardest like finance debt reform and climate change.
“I first of all pay tribute to leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. I think he has put on the table all the issues that matter in relation to the needs, the financial and economic needs, of the developing countries in general and African countries in particular.
“It’s time to have a real global international financial system, which main preoccupation should be [to] address the challenges that developing countries face. Will the G20 be able to move in that direction? We will see. But I think that South Africa has done its part putting those things clearly on the table,” Guterres said.
A time for South Africa, Africa and the global south
The wait is over, world leaders have touched down in Johannesburg and the countdown has finally reached its peak.
South Africa is hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit – the final, illustrious stage of South Africa’s year-long G20 Presidency. – SAnews.gov.za
