SA's G20 triumph must not be allowed to fade

Six months after hosting the inaugural G20 Leaders' Summit on African soil, South Africa faces the challenge of ensuring that the promises made during the summit translate into meaningful progress for the continent. The G20 Johannesburg Declaration, signed in November 2025, marked a significant shift by placing African concerns at the center of global economic discourse. Issues such as the continent’s mounting external debt, estimated at $1.2 trillion, the role of critical minerals, food security, energy transition, and inequality were all highlighted as central themes. At a recent review policy dialogue organized by the University of Pretoria's Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship in collaboration with South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, participants emphasized the urgency of maintaining momentum. They stressed that Africa cannot afford to lose this historic opportunity, which positioned the continent prominently in global conversations about sustainable development and economic transformation. South Africa took over the G20 presidency amid challenging circumstances, including deepening geopolitical divisions, skepticism toward multilateral cooperation, and stalled efforts on climate action and international development. Despite these challenges, Pretoria advocated for a vision centered around solidarity, equality, and sustainability—principles aligned with the African philosophy of Ubuntu. Although some nations, including the United States, Italy, and Argentina, resisted certain development-focused initiatives proposed by South Africa, the country managed to secure a practical roadmap for implementation. The G20 Johannesburg Declaration referenced Africa 52 times, reflecting a commitment beyond symbolic gestures. This was supported by the Sherpa Track, which generated numerous legacy projects. These included fifteen working groups and specialized task forces that produced results such as the G20 Critical Minerals Framework, the Ubuntu Principles on Food Security, high-level guidelines for disaster risk reduction, and ambitious goals for youth employment under the Nelson Mandela G20 Youth Target. The G20 Social Summit offered a unique platform for grassroots organizations to engage directly with global leaders. Many of Pretoria's proposals were quickly embraced by the African Union Summit held in February 2026. Additionally, the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) entered its second phase, extending from 2025 to 2033, following the completion of the initial period from 2017 to 2024. On the Finance Track, South Africa's leadership promoted an African Engagement Framework aimed at tackling macroeconomic vulnerabilities, institutional shortcomings, infrastructure deficiencies, high capital costs, and the need to mobilize private sector investment. Debt sustainability became a focal point with the first-ever G20 ministerial statement on the subject and notable advancements in the Common Framework. Other topics discussed included enhancing cross-border payment systems, moving financial inclusion from mere access to active usage, developing AI applications suited for emerging markets, and increasing funding for climate adaptation. However, the incoming U.S. G20 presidency, adopting a “back to basics” strategy, poses a potential threat to the developmental agenda that had been meticulously crafted by four consecutive Global South presidencies between 2021 and 2025. South Africa has concentrated on integrating its G20 achievements into major international institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, regional development banks, and UN agencies. It has also worked to ensure regional ownership of G20 projects through partnerships with the African Union, Africa's Regional Economic Communities, the AfCFTA secretariat, and the African Development Bank. One of the most concerning developments highlighted at the Pretoria workshop was South Africa's exclusion from the current U.S.-led G20 presidency (2025–2026). This departure from standard practice among permanent members raises concerns about the potential impact on the G20's effectiveness and stability. Despite being excluded from the formal leadership structure, Pretoria continues to engage actively through alternative channels to maintain influence and ensure continuity in the G20 process.