South Africa hosts G20 Leaders' Summit

South Africa is preparing to take centre stage in global diplomacy as it hosts the 2025 G20 Leaders' Summit — a gathering of the world’s largest and most influential economies. 

From 22 -23 November the summit, which brings together leaders from 19 countries, the African and the European Union, will shape decisions on issues that directly affect ordinary citizens — from trade and jobs to food prices and climate finance.

The Group of Twenty, was established in 1999 to strengthen global economic cooperation and policy coordination. Its members represent about 85% of global gross domestic product, 75% of world trade, and two-thirds of the planet’s population.

 The forum provides a platform for major economies to work together to promote financial stability, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. While the G20’s decisions are not legally binding, they carry immense political and economic influence across the world.

For South Africa, the 2025 G20 Presidency is a milestone moment — and not just for the country itself. In 2023, the African Union (AU) was officially admitted as a permanent member of the G20, giving Africa as a region a formal seat at the table for the first time. 

This means that the continent’s priorities — such as fair trade, climate finance, debt relief, and infrastructure development — can now be presented directly to the world’s most powerful economies.

As the only African country among the original G20 members, South Africa will play a crucial role in ensuring that the continent’s voice is heard and its interests are advanced. Through this Presidency, South Africa is expected to act as a bridge between developed and developing nations, strengthening the global push for a more balanced and inclusive world economy.

The summit is expected to draw heads of state and government from all G20 member countries, including major global players such as China, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, and the European Union. It will be one of the most high-profile diplomatic events ever hosted by South Africa, attracting thousands of delegates, business leaders, and journalists.

G20 themes

The government has identified three guiding themes for its G20 Presidency: Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability. 

These principles reflect South Africa’s commitment to promoting inclusive growth, reducing inequality, and ensuring that development takes place in harmony with the environment. 

Under the banner of Solidarity, South Africa aims to strengthen cooperation between developed and developing nations to tackle shared challenges. Equality emphasises the need for fairer global economic systems that give developing countries a stronger voice.

And Sustainability highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and supporting transitions to cleaner, greener economies.

Hosting the G20 Summit is not just about prestige — it has real potential to deliver long-term benefits for ordinary South Africans. Improved trade and investment flows, job creation, and infrastructure development are all key areas expected to receive renewed focus. By attracting global attention and investment, South Africa hopes to stimulate economic activity and open up new opportunities for local industries.

G20 discussions on food security, energy stability, and global inflation also have direct implications for South Africans struggling with the high cost of living. Collaborative global solutions to these issues can help stabilise prices and strengthen local resilience. 

Furthermore, the G20 Presidency positions South Africa as a powerful voice for Africa in shaping international economic policy — ensuring that the continent’s priorities are no longer peripheral but central to global decision-making.

As the country gears up to welcome world leaders, the 2025 G20 Summit represents more than a diplomatic milestone — it is an opportunity to reinforce South Africa’s leadership on the continent and to champion a fairer, more sustainable global order.

Sources: Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO); The Presidency; G20 official communications.