G20 Focus | Has SA's G20 Presidency Deliver For Africa and the Global South?

The article is a transcript of the TV program 'G20 Focus' hosted by Tula Saani, reflecting on the conclusion of South Africa's historic G20 presidency and the leaders' summit held in Johannesburg, the first on African soil. Despite the absence of the US leader and initial uncertainties about achieving consensus, the summit resulted in an early and unanimous adoption of the Leaders' Declaration at its outset—a rare and symbolic move emphasizing unity and the forum's credibility. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the declaration's focus on concrete actions for global issues, including accelerating UN Sustainable Development Goals, multilateral cooperation, and addressing shared concerns like poverty, inequality, and climate change, framed through African philosophies like Ubuntu. Guests Dr. Kingsley Makubella (former ambassador and Brand SA CEO) and Professor Anna Garcia (from Brazil's Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro) debated whether the presidency delivered for Africa and the Global South. They praised the declaration's centering of African issues, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, food security via Ubuntu approaches, industrialization, AI, and beneficiation of mineral resources. Key achievements included a framework on critical minerals for energy transitions, a report on inequalities, and progress on IMF reforms, financial stability, climate finance, and debt sustainability. It built on prior Global South presidencies (Indonesia 2022, India 2023, Brazil 2023), incorporating elements like Brazil's social summits, tropical forest funding, and taxation initiatives, while noting the African Union's full membership since 2023. The discussion unpacked themes: On climate change and resilience, the declaration urged scaling up finance for developing nations, disaster risk reduction, just energy transitions, and low-carbon shifts, aligning with Brazil's COP30 efforts and a $1.3 trillion annual climate finance roadmap, though implementation remains voluntary and uncertain. Debt sustainability was addressed by pledging support for low-income countries via the G20 Common Framework and Debt Service Suspension Initiative, critiquing their lack of agility, exclusion of private creditors and middle-income nations, and flawed IMF analyses that ignore climate investments; experts called for stronger debt relief to free fiscal space for health, education, and development, amid global debt exceeding $333 trillion. Reforms to global financial architecture, including IMF quota adjustments for emerging economies and rechanneling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), were reaffirmed but deemed vague and insufficient, reflecting consensus compromises among G7, BRICS, and other subgroups. Taxation efforts reinforced OECD's inclusive framework (15% minimum on multinationals) and UN cooperation, but omitted Brazil's prior proposal for a 2% wealth tax on ultra-high-net-worth individuals to fund climate adaptation. Interlinkages with BRICS were evident, with G20 language influencing BRICS declarations on IMF, climate, and taxation. Critiques included the need for more inclusive consultations (e.g., involving Gen Z), precise language to avoid ambiguity, and robust implementation mechanisms. With the presidency handing over to the US (potentially skeptical on climate and focused on growth/deregulation), concerns arose about follow-through on developmental priorities, multipolarity dynamics, and ensuring South Africa's continued role. Overall, the presidency was seen as a success in amplifying African voices and solidarity, laying foundations for justice and prosperity, but true impact hinges on global action amid geopolitical tensions.