Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, meeting with his counterpart, Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil during the official handover of the G20 Presidency, Brasília, Federative Republic of Brazil. Picture: GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa will unpack South Africa’s significant new role as the incoming President of the Group of Twenty (G20) on Monday, outlining the country’s ambitions when it leads the group of the world’s largest economies.
During the recent G20 Rio Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, Ramaphosa officially accepted South Africa’s responsibility for the G20 Presidency for next year. This will be the first time an African economy leads the G20 for a rotational, one-year term.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for The Presidency, said South Africa would, under its G20 Presidency, seek to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in-line with the main multilateral processes under the United Nations.
Brazil held the G20 Presidency this year, and South Africa will at the end of its term hand over the G20 Presidency to the United States in November 2025.
The G20 is a forum of the largest economies in the world who meet regularly to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) submitted a letter to Ramaphosa outlining its list of key proposals on South Africa’s approach to its hosting of the G20 Summit.
This submission includes some of the DA’s desired outcomes for South Africa’s G20 Presidency to ensure that we achieve maximum benefit from this window of immense international opportunity for all South African citizens.
DA deputy spokesperson on international relations and cooperation, Ryan Smith, said the DA was calling for the re-establishment of the G20 Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), which now comprises DA ministers Steenhuisen, Siviwe Gwarube, Solly Malatsi, and Dion George, to serve as South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) foreign policy engine room.
“Our G20 Summit is South Africa’s very first step into the international arena as a state under the direction of a plurality of parties and voices, and this more holistic representation of South African society within our national government must now reflect in our international engagements,” Smith said.
He also said as the IMC undertakes to provide policy guidance and recommendations to cabinet regarding the substantive and logistical preparations of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, this committee must also serve as the platform where the GNU foreign policy can be developed and ratified in conjunction with the G20 theme, using the Constitution and the GNU Statement of Intent as its policy compasses.
“We as the DA advocate for a foreign policy that is both principled in its adherence to, and promotion of, the South African constitution while being pragmatic in its pursuit of international trade and cooperation, which are in our country’s national interest,” Smith said.
“This must be undertaken in a manner that is cognisant of South Africa’s role as a regional power, a representative of both the global south and developing nations, and a crucial interlocutor between Africa and the world.”
The DA said it has also called for increased private sector involvement and expertise in South Africa’s G20 Summit, especially within the Think 20 (T20) and sector-specific Sherpa Track engagements, to specifically address the dire need for the reform of South Africa’s public healthcare and education systems.
Paul Calvey, Oliver Wyman partner and head of South Africa, said South Africa assuming the Presidency of the G20 was a unique opportunity to ensure greater focus on the priorities of the global south, while also demonstrating the progress being made and the vast opportunities South Africa holds for foreign investors.
Calvey said South African CEOs must adopt strategies to ensure their businesses are resilient and positioned to capture future growth opportunities.
“Given South Africa’s generally neutral standing in global affairs, local CEOs might find opportunities in markets where leaders from larger geopolitical powerhouses hesitate to venture,” he said.
“With geopolitical instability likely to persist, securing supply chains through practices such as supplier vetting, inventory control, and emergency preparedness will be essential. Additionally, companies should adopt more flexible operating models and adjust regional investments based on government incentives or regulations.”
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