South Africa is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to align global economic governance with African development priorities, using its G20 presidency to advocate for deeper collaboration between the Group of 20 (G20) and the African Union (AU).
This message was reinforced by Deputy President Paul Mashatile during the opening of the T20 Africa high-level dialogue in Pretoria on 29 April 2025.
Mashatile stressed the urgency of embedding African voices into G20 decision-making structures, noting that South Africa’s presidency aims to ensure the continent’s needs are central to global economic discourse. “The G20 cannot remain relevant without meaningfully integrating African priorities,” he said, calling for institutionalised cooperation that goes beyond symbolic representation.
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The T20 Africa forum—an intellectual platform within the G20 framework—has emerged as a critical space for shaping policy recommendations for G20 leaders. This year’s gathering brings together Africa’s top policy minds and think tanks under the coordination of the South African Institute of International Affairs, the University of Johannesburg, and AUDA-NEPAD. Key discussion themes include debt sustainability, climate finance, health security, and Africa’s role in reshaping multilateralism.
South Africa assumed the G20 presidency on 1 December 2024, marking a milestone as the first Sub-Saharan African country to lead the bloc. With its unique position as a member of both the AU and G20, Pretoria has used this platform to elevate African developmental priorities on the global agenda.
The ongoing T20 Africa dialogue reinforces South Africa’s broader objective to ensure the G20 becomes more inclusive and reflective of the Global South. As the G20 presidency progresses, African stakeholders are watching closely to see how Pretoria translates its diplomatic influence into lasting structural reforms that empower the continent within the global economic order.
