SA, Africa interests to remain on G20 agenda, says Dirco as summit winds down

At the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, attending nations adopted a Leaders’ Declaration on global security, sustainability, trade, and multilateralism, despite U.S. disruptions including a last-minute request to participate via a chargé d’affaires, which South Africa declined as a protocol breach. DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri affirmed robust support for the declaration, now dubbed the South Africa Declaration, highlighting South Africa's push for priorities like inequality reduction, industrialization, development, and job creation relevant to Africa. The U.S. White House criticized the adoption in their absence, but Phiri retorted that they should have attended. This achievement positions the declaration to influence ongoing international forums, advancing South Africa's national agenda globally.