With just five days until the world’s economic powerhouses converge on African soil for the first time, South Africa’s government has signaled full readiness for the landmark 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit. The event, hosted at the Nasrec Expo Centre from November 22–23 under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” caps a year-long presidency that began on December 1, 2024, and positions the continent at the heart of global talks on debt relief, climate finance, and inclusive growth.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, speaking on SABC’s Morning Live today, emphasized the summit’s role in amplifying diverse voices. “You’ve got leaders of the most influential countries, those who run the economies of the world, congregating,” she said.
“It’s important that civil society movements and social partners come and say what their voice is, because it’s not just governments that decide the future—it’s also ordinary citizens that must contribute to what governments do.”
Ntshavheni added that the government anticipates a “successful week,” urging South Africans to take pride in their nation’s leadership: “It’s all systems go. South Africa, we are ready, and we want South Africans to feel comfortable that their country is going to lead this G20.”
The summit arrives against a backdrop of diplomatic friction, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a full boycott last week, citing debunked claims of “Afrikaner persecution” and labeling the Johannesburg hosting a “total disgrace.” Argentina’s Javier Milei has followed suit, sending Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno in his place, while China’s Xi Jinping will skip the event, represented by Premier Li Qiang. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, constrained by an ICC arrest warrant, will send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed the pullouts in Cape Town on Wednesday, stating, “Boycott politics never work… Those who choose not to come will miss an opportunity to shape the global agenda.”
He quipped that South Africa won’t “pander” by traveling to Washington for the December 1 handover, opting instead for a symbolic transfer to an “empty chair.”
Despite the absences, confirmed attendees include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen alongside EU Council President Charles Michel. African Union Chair leaders and guests like Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (NEPAD chair) and Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim (ASEAN chair) will bolster the Global South’s presence.
Pre-Summit Build-Up Accelerates
Preparations are in high gear, with the Fourth G20 Sherpa Track Meeting—where technical negotiators finalize the draft Leaders’ Declaration—underway in Johannesburg since November 16 and wrapping up November 19. The joint Finance and Foreign Ministers’ session on November 17 is locking in economic priorities, including multilateral development bank reforms and SDG financing. Kicking off tomorrow, the G20 Social Summit (November 18–20) at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre will integrate civil society inputs, negotiating a declaration on women’s empowerment and just energy transitions for handover to leaders. Co-hosted with the T20 think tank, it underscores Ntshavheni’s call for citizen-driven policy. Meanwhile, the inaugural B20 South Africa Summit (November 18–20) gathers business leaders to push Africa’s industrialization via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). South Africa’s priorities align with the UN’s 2030 Agenda deadline, emphasizing:Debt relief and sustainable finance: Reforms to ease developing nations’ burdens.Just energy transition: Gender-inclusive green jobs amid coal dependency.Inequality and governance: Launching a G20 expert committee on global disparities. Health, food security, and infrastructure: Post-COVID reforms and AfCFTA trade boosts.The R691 million ($38.7 million) budget reflects the stakes, framed by Ramaphosa as a “people-centred” drive for equity.
Security, Logistics, and Local Buzz
A Level-3 security operation—coordinating the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), police, and metro units—blankets Johannesburg, with road closures around Nasrec from today. Officials recommend Rea Vaya buses for commuters, and while no public holiday is declared, nearby schools may adjust. A major security dry run on November 15 tested Sandton routes and emergency protocols.Social media is abuzz, with Gauteng officials counting down: “5 DAYS TO GO | South Africa is looking forward to welcoming G20 world leaders,” posted @GautengProvince.