The country’s opposition has said that poor infrastructure, water shortages and power cuts could overshadow the high-profile event
South Africa is ready to host a “very successful” G20 Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said ahead of the event which will take place in Johannesburg, the provincial capital of Gauteng, in November.
Despite the government’s optimism, the upcoming G20 Summit has drawn criticism over Gauteng’s persistent service delivery failures. Opposition parties and civic groups argue that potholes, water shortages, power cuts, uncollected waste, sewer spills, and poor infrastructure could mar the event. Critics claim the province is not adequately prepared to host world leaders.
Speaking on Thursday at the European Union’s Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, a high-level summit aimed at promoting global connectivity amid mounting geopolitical and economic challenges, Ramaphosa emphasised the need for investments in Africa to be truly transformative. “These investments should not replace one dependency with another,” he said.
“They must enable African countries in the global south to pursue development paths suited to their circumstances and the needs of their people.”
Ramaphosa said the summit’s theme, “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” was carefully chosen to reflect current global challenges.
”We should all act together – the strong supporting the weak, the rich lending support to the poor, the healthy supporting the unhealthy,” he said.
“The world needs more equality and inclusion rather than leaving others behind.”
Ramaphosa said South Africa’s preparations were well advanced, with around 100 of the 132 official meetings already held since the country assumed the G20 presidency from Brazil. He expressed appreciation for the European Union and other nations supporting South Africa’s G20 priorities, which include addressing the heavy debt burdens faced by many developing economies.
“It is simply unacceptable that many developing countries pay far more for their debt than developed economies,” Ramaphosa said.
“This unfair treatment perpetuates inequality between individuals and between countries.”
To address this, he announced that South Africa had established a G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, chaired by Nobel laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, to present a report at the summit.
Ramaphosa also called for reform of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to better respond to global challenges such as climate change.
”We must massively increase support for climate action in the global south and for reconstruction after extreme weather events,” he said.
“Greater support through climate finance is essential, and existing commitments must be honoured.”
He further urged stronger action against predatory mining and for value addition to occur at the source rather than exporting raw minerals.
Adding to the controversy, US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will not attend the summit, citing strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. Vice President JD Vance will represent the United States instead.
Trump administration’s recent human rights report alleging racially motivated attacks on white farmers was dismissed by Pretoria as “distorted and inaccurate.”
Speaking at the White House last month, Trump told CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs, “I won’t be going this year. It’s in South Africa. I won’t be going. JD will be going – great vice president and he looks forward to it.”
Ramaphosa had travelled to Washington in June to mend relations between the two countries, negotiate a trade deal, and avert reciprocal tariffs ahead of the summit. However, it seems that his meeting did not yield any tangible results.
The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, representing the world’s largest developed and emerging economies. South Africa’s 2025 presidency marks the first time the summit will be hosted on African soil.
Meanwhile, Trump announced that the 2026 G20 Summit will be held at his Doral golf resort in Miami, Florida.
