South Africa says Global South interests dominate G20 presidency

JOHANNESBURG - Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, on Thursday said the country prioritised the interest of the Global South during its one-year G20 presidency, which comes to an end this week as World leaders gather in Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

While speaking at the G20 Social Summit, one of the conferences that will lead into the leaders’ summit, Ramaphosa said South Africa has ensured that the interests of the developing economies are elevated on the G20 agenda.

“We have sought to address poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. We have worked to strengthen and reform the international financial architecture, to democratise the systems of global governance, and to promote the right of all nations to development, equality, and dignity,” the president said.

Ramaphosa said South Africa has used its presidency to urge the world’s leading economies to invest in sustainable development and in the conservation of the planet for future generations.

He noted that for the G20 to fully live up to its mission of promoting international financial stability and deepening global economic cooperation, there should be no unwritten rules about those who feast and those who must settle for scraps.

Flags of G20 member states displayed at the G20 Media Center at Johannesburg Expo Centre, on November 21, 2025. (Credit: Hajarah Nalwadda)

“It cannot be that a country’s geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to,” he said.

He said South Africa is hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit at a time when the world is facing a time of great uncertainty.

He noted that political polarisation, global poverty, conflict and war, and the growing impact of climate change are threatening global development.

“Inequality in wealth distribution, imbalances in international development financing, and disparities in access to financial resources are holding back our ability to meet the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the president said.

While speaking on the sidelines after receiving the declaration from the G20 Social Summit, Ramaphosa said South Africa will not agree to be bullied by anyone.

He was responding to concerns after the U.S., which is going to take over the presidency, chose to skip the summit. U.S. says white South Africans are being segregated.

A man walks past a G20 signage at Johannesburg Expo Centre, on November 21, 2025. (Credit: Hajarah Nalwadda

Ramaphosa said South Africa has received a notice from the U.S. about change of mind about participating in the Summit. He said discussions are still ongoing.

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, told reporters that the U.S. maintains its earlier position of not participating in official talks. She said a representative of the U.S. embassy in South Africa will simply be there to recognise that U.S. will be the next host of the G20.

Delegates who have arrived include China’s Premier Li Qiang, Russian delegation headed by Oreshkin Maxim (Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office),  Prime Minister of the United  Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, António Costa, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. Narendra Modi, India's Prime Minister, is expected in South Africa on Friday. 

France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, are also among the world leaders expected to attend the meeting.