The Lead: Ubuntu diplomacy lands at Jozi G20 as US stays away

The podcast episode of 'The Lead' from News24 discusses the historic first G20 summit on African soil, hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, under President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership. Despite significant tensions with the United States, the event was deemed a success, earning Ramaphosa widespread international praise for his diplomatic handling. Key highlights include the early adoption of the summit's declaration on Saturday, influenced by Ubuntu philosophy, emphasizing global peace, climate action, support for the Global South, and African issues like funding for climate resilience—areas often overlooked in Western-dominated forums. The declaration was adopted unanimously by most members, though Argentina opposed elements related to Gaza and peace, but this did not derail consensus. US-South Africa relations soured the event: Initial indications suggested a low-level US delegation might attend, but last-minute demands for special accreditation and escorts were rejected due to tight security and protocol. The White House denied participation and criticized Ramaphosa for 'running his mouth,' leading to accusations of disrespect. Consequently, the US was absent, and South Africa arranged a low-key handover of the G20 presidency on December 1 to a junior US official by a DIRCO counterpart, bypassing Ramaphosa to avoid protocol breaches. Ministers Ronald Lamola and Enoch Godongwana described the handover as ceremonial and non-essential, stressing that South Africa had moved on after delivering a glitch-free event. The informal nature of the summit means agreements are non-binding but serve as guiding principles for member policies, potentially influencing long-term global cooperation on economics, trade, and climate—crucial for South Africa's mineral sector amid US tariffs. Host Bongile Matupula highlighted national pride in South Africa's resilience against US 'bullying,' positioning the country as a capable global player. Ramaphosa's statesmanlike conduct, drawing from his Mandela-era experience, was lauded, with world leaders congratulating him post-event. In the 'Trending Topic' segment, an internal Democratic Alliance (DA) spat unfolds: Former Environment Minister Dion George, dismissed over policy clashes and interpersonal issues, accused DA leader John Steenhuisen of financial mismanagement (R150,000 credit card debt despite a high salary). Steenhuisen referred George to the party's Federal Legal Commission in retaliation. DA Federal Council Chair Helen Zille gagged both from further public comments and ordered an investigation, raising concerns about public officials' finances funded by taxpayers. The episode concludes with 'On This Day in South African History': On November 24, 1995, Johannes Leon Slo Ramuas became Pretoria's first black mayor, bridging racial divides during the democratic transition and earning lasting recognition. Overall, the summit underscores South Africa's diplomatic prowess and global relevance, while domestic segments highlight ongoing political accountability issues ahead of municipal elections.