G20 Summit Countdown: South Africa Hosts First in Africa

With about 85 days to go, South Africa is entering the final stretch of preparations for the historic G20 Leaders’ Summit—the first time the event will take place on African soil on 22nd and 23rd of November, 2025.

As the host nation, South Africa is working around the clock to ensure a successful and impactful gathering, the summit aims to bring together global leaders under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” with a sharp focus on solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

So far, the country has successfully hosted 87 of the planned 132 G20 meetings across both the Sherpa and Finance tracks.

These meetings have laid the groundwork for the highly anticipated Leaders’ Declaration, which is expected to set the tone for global cooperation on economic recovery, climate action, and inclusive growth.

A final round of ministerial meetings in September will wrap up the preparatory process.

In a major step forward, President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a high-level G20 task force dedicated to tackling global inequality and sovereign debt. This task force is chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and includes top financial thinkers from around the world. Its goal is to draft bold, actionable proposals that G20 leaders can adopt during the summit.

The focus areas include building fairer global tax systems, implementing effective debt relief strategies for low-income countries, and encouraging sustainable investments through innovative financing models.

The task force is expected to present its policy paper just weeks before the summit.

Tensions Rise Over Trump’s Attendance

One unresolved issue is whether U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the summit. Trump has publicly criticised South Africa’s domestic policies, particularly land reform, and has indicated he may send a representative instead. His potential absence has sparked diplomatic chatter, but South African officials are standing firm.

“We will proceed with the G20 Leaders’ Summit with or without President Trump,” said International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. “This summit is not about individuals—it’s about collective action on global challenges.” The official U.S. position remains unclear, but the invitation stands.

Who’s Coming: Confirmed Attendees and Allies

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the U.S., many other G20 leaders have confirmed their attendance. These include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the heads of Canada, Brazil, Japan, and the European Union.

International organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will also be represented at the highest levels. India, which held the previous G20 presidency, has pledged strong support to South Africa, calling the summit “a milestone moment for the Global South.”