South Africa’s G20 Presidency has strengthened African representation on the world stage and accelerated global action toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
This was highlighted by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, during a briefing on the country’s readiness for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in Johannesburg this weekend.
“We are not just participants in global affairs. We are determined to shape them. Our Presidency builds for the future; it does not preserve the ways of the past,” Lamola said.
Speaking at the historic NASREC precinct, the Minister emphasised the symbolic importance of the venue, calling it “a living testament to South Africa’s journey of transformation and resilience.” He noted NASREC’s role in connecting South Africa’s past and present, and its proximity to landmarks such as the Apartheid Museum, Vilakazi Street and Soccer City.
A Defining Moment for Africa and the Global South
Lamola described South Africa’s G20 Presidency as a significant milestone for the continent and the broader Global South.
“Our Presidency is a call to action as the last nation of the Global South to hold the Presidency in this cycle. A call to bridge the developmental divide between the Global North and the Global South, to champion equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” he said.
He confirmed that 130 of the 133 official G20 meetings had already taken place, with the final sessions — the Sherpa Meeting, Social Summit and Leaders’ Summit — marking the culmination of what he called a “transformative journey.”
Lamola drew on the philosophy of Ubuntu, saying it reminds us that “I am because we are,” a principle that aligns with global commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Energy, Stability and Reform
The Minister spoke of growing national stability, declaring: “The winds of change are no longer on the horizon, they are here.”
He welcomed progress in the energy and logistics sectors, crediting the Ministry of Electricity, Eskom’s board and its CEO for ending load shedding and steering the country into “a new era of energy security.”
These improvements, he said, form part of broader reforms driven by Operation Vulindlela, which continues to unlock economic potential. Lamola noted declining unemployment, South Africa’s removal from the FATF grey list, and S&P Global Ratings’ recent upgrade of the country’s credit rating as key signs of renewed confidence.
G20 Priorities and Global Leadership
South Africa’s Presidency centred on four priorities:
• Strengthening disaster resilience
• Ensuring debt sustainability
• Mobilising finance for a just energy transition
• Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth
The Presidency also created task forces focused on inclusive growth, food security and artificial intelligence (AI).
South Africa helped coordinate the G20@20 review, which consolidated global viewpoints into a report that will be presented at the Summit.
Following the African Union’s admission to the G20 in 2023, the country worked closely with the AU to ensure Africa’s development goals shape global economic governance. Lamola noted the continent was still recovering from a world order “that prized division over unity, inequality over haircuts and plunder over preservation.”
Some key achievements included:
• A successful G20 High-Level Dialogue in Addis Ababa on debt sustainability
• Establishment of the Africa Expert Panel chaired by Trevor Manuel
• A renewed Compact with Africa aligned with Agenda 2063
• Outreach meetings on food security in Cairo and industrialisation in Abuja
• Strong advocacy for reform of the international financial architecture
Legacy of the Presidency
Lamola announced several long-term initiatives, including the AI Initiative for Africa, the Technology Policy Assistance Facility, the G20 Clean Cooking Legacy Programme, the Africa Energy Efficiency Facility and new principles to combat illicit financial flows. Additional efforts include the Ubuntu Approaches on Food Security and a G20 Africa Cooperation Agenda on Trade and Investment.
He also highlighted the release of the Report of the G20 Extraordinary Committee on Global Inequality, which proposes the creation of a permanent international inequality panel modelled on the IPCC.
A Nation Moving Forward
Despite ongoing challenges such as crime, corruption and unemployment, Lamola said South Africans continue to demonstrate resilience.
“We have proven that we are a resilient nation. As we stand at the final stages of our historic G20 Presidency, the first ever on African soil, we do so with pride and purpose,” he said.
The Minister also celebrated recent sporting successes, noting achievements by the Springboks and Bafana Bafana as signs of national progress. “The list of positives is endless, the sky is the limit,” he added.
As South Africa prepares to welcome world leaders, the country stands not only as a host but as a global driver of reform, solidarity and shared prosperity.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit will take place from 22–23 November 2025.
