By AGISANANG SCUFF
23 November 2025- A historic moment unfolded in Johannesburg on Friday as the world turned 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 the Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa, accepted the G20 Presidency gavel from Brazil in 2024, he pledged that South Africa would lead with solidarity at the forefront. Ramaphosa said they 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.
He further said Africa and the global south would not be left behind. Ramaphosa added that 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. During the official launch of the G20 Presidency, we 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,” he said.
Rampahosa said the disparities in wealth and development within and between countries is unjust and unsustainable. He said by promoting equality, they 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.
“It is important to ensure 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,” said Ramaphosa.
He said these engagement groups are organised according to sectors, such as business, labour, civil society, parliamentary bodies and the judiciary. Ramaphosa said 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.
“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 me to present to global leaders over the next two days,” he said.
In a statement, 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. Modi said 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,” he said.
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.
The Guardian 