South Africa hosts the first-ever G20 Summit, marking it as a historic moment and bringing the voices of everyday people to the forefront. As an inclusive platform, the Summit gives civil society, grassroots organisations and communities a voice.
The Summit provides South Africa an opportunity to spotlight the African Agenda and Global South priorities in the world’s premier forum for international economic cooperation. To new beginnings, and a fairer and more inclusive policy development process.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency is completely focused on ushering A New Era for African Debt Sustainability and welcomed the world at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre.
On November 18th, Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered a keynote address at the welcoming and opening ceremony of the G20 Social Summit in Ekurhuleni. The summit brought together the civil society, labour, youth, women, faith groups, people with disabilities and grassroots organisations. They ensured that the voices of ordinary people guide SA’s G20 priorities under the theme Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability
It is a three-day programme packed with dialogues, breakaway sessions, public forums and leadership addresses, being observed from Nov 18 to 20, 2025.
The official G20 Summit will be observed on Nov 22 and 23, 2025, hosted by South Africa as a series of high-level G20 group meetings in the build-up to the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The meetings and interactions have built strong partnerships with other members and engagement groups, that are amplifying their negotiating power.
Known as the G20 Sherpas, are meeting ahead of the Leaders’ Summit to finalise negotiations on various issues that have been brought to the table based on the G20 South Africa Presidency’s priorities, following which, they will handover the report to the G20 leaders, led by the President Cyril Ramaphosa towards drafting of the Johannesburg Declaration.
As the report was presented it states, “The greatest opportunity for global prosperity in the 21st century lies in increased African productivity. This requires productive investment to realise the continent’s economic and human potential”.
SA President received the G20 Africa Expert Panel Report, as a key milestone of South Africa’s G20 Presidency that aims at strengthening Africa’s voice and influence in global economic policy. The report outlines actionable pathways for addressing Africa’s debt challenges, improving access to development finance, strengthening the global financial safety net, and positioning the continent as an active participant in shaping international economic policy.
Day-1 of the G20 Social Summit officially concluded at Birchwood, with the sessions that took place behind closed doors. Their commitment to building a fairer and more inclusive world was evident throughout the day.
On Day-2, the delegates continue their work in thematic sessions focusing on digital inclusion, climate justice, equitable trade, sustainable finance and more. South Africa is honoured to host this important global engagement