News Briefs 15 August 2025
South Africa’s G20 Presidency
Middle powers must step up to salvage G20 and the fragile multilateral order
As the world stares down a vortex of geopolitical instability, the challenge facing South Africa during its presidency of the G20 is not simply one of technical diplomacy.
It is existential; the future of multilateralism is at stake.
As a senior foreign diplomat in Pretoria put it to me recently: “It is South Africa’s destiny to have the G20 at this moment in history.”
We live in an era of simultaneous, overlapping crises — climate change, inequality, war, debt, misinformation. But perhaps the most dangerous of all is the corrosion of international legal norms, standards and companion institutions that were established to manage such crises in the first place.
That system, born in the ashes of World War II and further entrenched during the post-Cold War years, is now unravelling under the weight of double standards, exceptionalism and populist disdain.
Donald Trump, the godfather of modern ‘anti-globalism’, has injected a dose of toxic precarity into international multilateral and trade relations, including the G20, whose presidency the United States is supposed to take over from South Africa at the end of this year.
His approach to geo-economics — cynical, transactional, inward-looking — has metastasised across the globe, with numerous copycat nationalist extremists galvanised by the political cover Trump provides.
Daily Maverick 09 August 2025
G20 Interfaith Forum: Archbishop Makgoba criticises government, declares ‘Ubuntu is broken’
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said that “Ubuntu is broken” when he delivered the keynote address at the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20) on Monday in Cape Town, which saw several global voices committed to shaping inclusive and ethical policy coming together.
The IF20 forum convenes religious leaders, civil society organisations, government officials, multilateral institutions, and scholars to explore collaborative solutions to pressing global challenges.
The IF20 event is intended to reflect and reinforce South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” The Cape Town event is intended as a catalyst for action, fostering partnerships that transcend borders, beliefs, and sectors.
Makgoba, during his address, appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government to take action on the five G20 action areas. This included food security and poverty, economic and financial action, social cohesion as a foundation for peace, migration and refugee movements, human trafficking, and religious involvement, as first responders.
“IF20’s continued work highlights extensive religious teaching and practices supporting policies and action to support those on the move, especially those who are most vulnerable,” he said.
“As South Africans, our appeal to our president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, and other government leaders is to prioritise these agenda points.”
Cape Times 12 August 2025
Can the G20 help solve Africa’s debt troubles?
SAIIA chief executive, Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, speaks to Business Day about the historical track record of debt crises and newer debt complexities against the backdrop of South Africa’s G20 presidency, placing Africa’s debt and debt costs on the agenda.
SAIIA 08 August 2025
Trump says he may skip G20 summit in South Africa, cites policy disapproval
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he might skip the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ summit in South Africa in November and send someone else to represent the United States, citing his disapproval of South African policies.
“I think maybe I’ll send somebody else because I’ve had a lot of problems with South Africa. They have some very bad policies,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, which has the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
Washington, both under Trump and former President Joe Biden, has complained about the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of genocide over its military assault in Gaza.
Policy.org 30 July 2025
S Africa: 4 key goals of AU Water Summit under G20 presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has called for unprecedented levels of investment to close Africa’s water gap and elevate water to the centre of global policy agendas. Ramaphosa officially opened the African Union–Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Wednesday (13 August).
The summit – hosted under South Africa’s presidency of the G20 – brings together African heads of state, 38 water ministers from across the continent, investors, development partners and civil society to advance and position water higher on global political agendas, including the G20, COP30 and the UN 2026 Water Conference.
Convened in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the summit aims to close Africa’s $30 billion annual water investment gap.
“This is a moment of immense opportunity. Water must no longer be an afterthought in climate and finance discussions. It must be at the centre, financed, tracked and championed,” Ramaphosa told delegates.
The summit seeks to mobilise investments for bankable climate-resilient water and sanitation projects, ensuring water security, economic growth and sustainable development across the continent, said the South African government.
ESI Africa 13 August 2025
President Ramaphosa to attend AU-AIP Water Investment Summit 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, attend the African Union-Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025.
The Summit takes place from 13 to 15 August 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
The Summit supports implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that was adopted in February 2021 during the 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit by the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government.
The Summit is convened in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”
This landmark Summit aims to close Africa’s US$30 billion annual water investment gap by bringing together African Heads of State, G20 representatives, global investors, ministers, private sector leaders, and development institutions.
The Summit is jointly organised by South Africa, the African Union, in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (NEPAD) and the AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa.
Together, these partners are mobilising the political momentum, financial capital, and institutional partnerships needed to deliver climate-resilient water and sanitation for all.
Delegates will participate in high-level dialogues, engage in project matchmaking sessions, and contribute to a Declaration on Water Investments that will influence both continental and global development agendas-including preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.
NB: The media accreditation process, as facilitated by the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation, has been finalised and is now closed.
The Presidency 12 August 2025