South Africa Kicks Off G20 Presidency With First Sherpas Meeting

South Africa began its G20 Presidency by starting the first of over 130 meetings leading up to the G20 Summit in 2025 as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola officially opened the first G20 Sherpas Meeting in Johannesburg on Monday.

The Sherpa Track is led by the personal representatives of the G20 leaders. It manages negotiations, discusses the main topics for the summit's agenda and coordinates much of the work, SA News reported.

The first G20 Sherpa Meeting is seen as an important step in setting the stage for South Africa's G20 Presidency and for discussions on some of the world's most critical issues. In line with the spirit of Ubuntu, which emphasizes shared humanity, the meeting aims to tackle these challenges through key actions and priorities.

These focus on promoting strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth while building partnerships across all sectors to find collective solutions.

South Africa's G20 Presidency is focused on the theme: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," aiming to bring global support and resources to address the world's major challenges.

During its G20 Presidency, South Africa will work to make urgent progress on shared goals, including improving disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilizing finance for a fair energy transition, and using critical minerals for inclusive growth and development.

To bring the Sherpa and Finance tracks closer together, South Africa will establish three temporary Task Forces, an Initiative, and a Commission during its G20 Presidency.

Lamola said one of South Africa's key goals for its G20 Presidency is to review the work of the G20, focusing on its achievements over the past 20 years and future directions. South Africa will also propose creating a Cost of Capital Commission during its Presidency.

The South African government acknowledged the progress made by Brazil's G20 Presidency in strengthening the G20 as a platform for global democratic engagement.

A comprehensive dialogue with civil society and other organizations will be held through the existing Engagement Groups. In line with Brazil's approach, South Africa will host a G20 Social Forum before the Leaders' Summit in November 2025, bringing together representatives from civil society and other groups to contribute to the G20.