With just 100 days remaining before the historic G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa’s preparations are gaining momentum. This landmark event, the first G20 summit to be held on African soil, is slated to take place in November. As the host country’s G20 presidency approaches its climax, a total of 87 out of 132 G20 meetings have already been held across both the Sherpa and Finance tracks.
The upcoming ministerial meetings in September are expected to set the tone for the Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration, which will be anchored on the themes of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.” This agenda-driven framework aims to help shape the global economic focus for the summit. Key issues on the table include global inequality and sovereign debt burdens, which are critical concerns for many nations.
To address these pressing issues, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a G20 taskforce, chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, to examine wealth disparities and propose actionable remedies. The taskforce’s findings and recommendations are expected to inform the discussions at the summit.
One major question marking the countdown to the summit is whether US President Donald Trump will attend. He has expressed strong disapproval of South African policies, particularly land reform, and has signaled that he might send a representative instead. However, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has reiterated that South Africa’s invitation to President Trump stands, emphasizing the country’s flexibility amid diplomatic friction.
As the summit draws near, South Africa is gearing up to host the event, which is expected to bring together leaders from the world’s major economies. The Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration will provide a framework for addressing the key challenges facing the global economy, including inequality, sustainability, and economic growth. With its preparations in full swing, South Africa is poised to make a significant contribution to the global economic discourse, and the outcome of the summit is likely to have far-reaching implications for nations around the world.
