Johannesburg: Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has hailed the first day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as a successful opening that resulted in a landmark declaration prioritizing Africa and the developing world.
According to South African Government News Agency, Ntshavheni addressed the media at the G20 center in Nasrec, emphasizing that the declaration, which was accepted by acclamation, highlights Africa’s growing role in global governance. The declaration was agreed upon by an overwhelming majority of G20 countries and notably features the word “Africa” 80 times, the most in the history of the G20. President’s insight into this frequency underscores the prioritization of African interests.
Reflecting on the summit’s momentum, Ntshavheni expressed satisfaction with the unity displayed on key issues, describing the opening day as very successful. The consensus on the G20 agenda and the nations’ focus were points of encouragement for South Africa.
The declaration was shaped by crises, climate resilience, and development needs. Leaders addressed shared global challenges, including climate change, inequality, and unsustainable debt in developing countries. The Minister highlighted the impact of natural disasters in coastal provinces and the Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of building long-term disaster resilience and extending condolences to affected nations.
South Africa successfully placed issues such as inequality, access to finance, and debt sustainability on the agenda. The discussions aimed at establishing programs to prevent disasters and address these pressing concerns.
The Minister welcomed the alignment between the outcomes of the recent G20 Social Summit and the main G20 Declaration, ensuring that key social priorities were elevated to the leaders’ level. She emphasized that social issues raised by various sectors were not sidelined, and the main declaration covered critical topics like debt sustainability and access to financing.
Ntshavheni affirmed that South Africa’s commitment to the Social Summit was not a mere formality but a meaningful contributor to the leaders’ agenda. The inclusion of societal leaders’ contributions in the final declaration was a significant outcome.
Clarifying the summit’s closing process, Ntshavheni stated there would be no traditional handover ceremony between South Africa and the United States. The US, represented by a Charg© d’Affaires, had informed South Africa of its non-participation in the summit, opting only for a handover event. Due to protocol complications, the formal handover will occur at the DIRCO offices with an official of equivalent rank to the Charg© d’Affaires next week.