Excerpt: South Africa’s preparations for hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on 22–23 November 2025 mark a historic moment for Africa. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the nation aims to address Africa’s financing gap and amplify Global South voices.
Summary
- South Africa, the first African nation to chair the G20, hosts the Leaders’ Summit on 22–23 November 2025 in Johannesburg, under its presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
- The summit’s theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” emphasizes inclusive growth, addressing Africa’s annual $100 billion infrastructure financing gap, and sustainable development.
- A new G20 taskforce led by Joseph Stiglitz will tackle global wealth inequality, while diplomatic tensions, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence and President Trump’s announced non-attendance, pose challenges.
A Historic Opportunity for South Africa
South Africa, the first African nation to chair the G20, assumed the presidency on 1 December 2024, with the Leaders’ Summit scheduled for 22–23 November 2025 in Johannesburg. This historic event, guided by the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” aligns with South Africa’s foreign policy pillars: national interests, the African Agenda, South-South cooperation, and multilateralism. It offers a platform to advocate for Africa’s development, especially following the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent G20 member in 2023, which amplifies the continent’s voice in global economic governance UN Africa Renewal.
Economic Cooperation and the African Union’s Role
The G20 Summit will prioritize economic cooperation, with South Africa leveraging the African Union’s (AU) permanent membership to push for regional integration and development aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063. While the AU has speaking power, its role is distinct from nation-members, focusing on collective African priorities like infrastructure and trade UN Africa Renewal. South Africa aims to foster partnerships that address trade imbalances, promote investment in infrastructure, and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), vital to Africa’s economic growth.
Addressing Africa’s Financing Gap
A key focus is Africa’s significant financing gap. Sources estimate an annual $100 billion shortfall for infrastructure alone, while others cite $130–170 billion for infrastructure needs, and broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Agenda 2063 requirements range from $900 billion to $1.3 trillion annually UN Africa Renewal Les Rencontres Économiques. South Africa is advocating for innovative financing models, such as blended finance and public-private partnerships, to bridge these gaps and support sectors like healthcare and education.
Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability
The presidency’s theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” drives South Africa’s agenda. Solidarity emphasizes collective solutions, equality focuses on fair opportunities for all, and sustainability ensures development without compromising future generations G20 Official Site. A G20 taskforce, chaired by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, was launched to address global wealth inequality, aiming to deliver actionable proposals at the summit CNBC Africa. Initiatives like the Women20 (W20) engagement group highlight gender equity, addressing issues like the gender pay gap.
Ministerial Engagements and Side-Events
During its presidency, South Africa will host approximately 130 working group meetings and 23 ministerial meetings, including a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 20–21 February 2025 at the Nasrec Expo Centre, led by Minister Ronald Lamola The Presidency. Side-events, as outlined by Minister Naledi Pandor, cover topics such as climate resilience, digital transformation, and food security, fostering global dialogue on sustainable development AllAfrica.
Challenges and External Dynamics
Hosting the summit, budgeted at R691 million (~USD 38.7 million), requires significant logistical efforts, including infrastructure upgrades and security. Diplomatic tensions, notably U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence from the February 2025 ministerial meeting and President Donald Trump’s announced non-attendance at the Leaders’ Summit due to South Africa’s “very bad policies,” pose challenges Reuters Reuters. Despite this, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola emphasized that the U.S. was represented by embassy staff, underscoring that the absence is not a complete boycott of South Africa’s G20 presidency G20 Official Site.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, culminating South Africa’s presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, is a historic opportunity to champion Africa’s economic aspirations. By focusing on “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” and addressing global inequality through initiatives like the Stiglitz-led taskforce, South Africa aims to leave a lasting impact on global economic governance Business Day.