South Africa aims to 'regain leadership status' with continent's first G20 summit • FRANCE 24

Key Concepts

• G20 Summit
• South Africa's Global Status
• Jacob Zuma's Regime
• State Capture
• Economic Challenges (slow growth, high unemployment)
• Violent Crime
• Inclusivity and Inclusion
• US Boycott/Participation
• G20 Presidency Handover
• G20 Declaration (non-binding, majority approval)

South Africa's Hosting of the G20 Summit

South Africa is hosting the G20 summit with the primary objective of regaining its status as a leading nation both in Africa and globally. This aspiration is framed against the backdrop of the Jacob Zuma regime, which was characterized by "widespread corruption" and "state capture." The current government aims to project an image of a country ready to move forward and re-establish its international standing.

Current Challenges Facing South Africa

Despite the ambition to host the G20, South Africa continues to grapple with significant domestic challenges. These include:

• Slow-growing economy: Indicating a need for economic revitalization and investment.
• High unemployment rate: A persistent social and economic issue.
• Violent crime: A concern impacting both domestic stability and international perception.

The G20 summit is presented as an opportunity to demonstrate progress and a commitment to addressing these issues.

Scope and Participants of the G20 Summit

The summit involves a broad range of international actors, highlighting its global significance:

• 18 G20 members
• 17 guest countries
• 27 international organizations
• Two G20 multilateral bodies: The African Union and the European Union.

This extensive participation underscores the G20's role as a major forum for international cooperation.

Theme of Inclusivity

Echoing President Cyril Ramaphosa's statements during a business summit, the theme of inclusivity and inclusion is central to this year's G20 agenda. This suggests a focus on ensuring that all nations and stakeholders have a voice and benefit from global economic engagement.

South Africa's Global Trade Ambitions

Hosting the G20 is viewed as a crucial chance for South Africa to signal its readiness for global trade, extending beyond just the African continent. This positions the summit as a platform for economic diplomacy and partnership building.

The US Boycott and Participation Controversy

A significant headline surrounding the summit has been the issue of US participation, or a perceived boycott.

• South Africa's Stance: South Africa has maintained a clear position that the G20 should send a message that "the world can move on with or without the US." International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has been quoted on this.
• Conflicting Statements: President Ramaphosa stated on Thursday that the US would participate. However, the US reportedly responded by stating that President Ramaphosa was "running his mouth" and indicated they would send a "junior official" to receive the G20 presidency.
• South Africa's Rejection: South Africa's presidency has stated they "will not hand over the G20 presidency to a junior official from the US."

G20 Declaration Process

The transcript details the process for the G20 declaration:

• Declaration Formation: The declaration has been formed "to a large extent."
• Approval Mechanism: If a "majority of countries in the room that's present agree to this declaration," it can move forward.
• Non-Binding Nature: The declaration is explicitly stated as "not a binding declaration."
• US Approval Not Required: If the majority approves, the declaration "will be put out as a G20 declaration," and "we do not have to get the US approval on that."

Synthesis and Conclusion

The G20 summit in South Africa is a pivotal event aimed at reasserting the nation's global leadership and addressing its internal economic and social challenges. The summit's broad participation and emphasis on inclusivity signal South Africa's commitment to international engagement. The controversy surrounding US participation, while a notable point of contention, highlights South Africa's firm stance on its presidency and the G20's decision-making process, which relies on majority consensus rather than individual member approval for its declarations. The non-binding nature of the declaration means that consensus among attending nations is the key to its adoption, irrespective of any single nation's dissent.