G20: What’s Been Done – and What’s Still to Come

South Africa is hosting the G20 for the first time in 2025 and with that comes a rare opportunity to reshape global conversations. Under the theme “solidarity, equality and sustainability”, the country has already made its mark with a series of bold moves, from high-level task teams to grassroots development efforts.

What’s Happening So Far

Since taking over the G20 presidency in December 2024, South Africa has hit the ground running. Preparations in Johannesburg which is the host city for the Leaders’ Summit in November are well underway. Venues like the Nasrec Expo Centre are being upgraded, the city’s safety infrastructure is getting a boost, and eco-friendly projects are being rolled out in key areas like Sandton and the inner city.

But the work goes beyond logistics.

One of the standout developments so far has been the creation of a global taskforce on wealth inequality, led by none other than Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz. The group is investigating how global wealth is distributed or more accurately, how it isn’t. Their findings are expected to spark important (and likely uncomfortable) conversations at the summit.

South Africa has also hosted several G20 working group meetings around the country, focusing on issues like health, trade, education, culture and climate change. These haven’t just been high-level talks. Many have included virtual participation and public engagement, reflecting the country’s emphasis on accessibility and inclusion.

At the same time, the Sustainable Finance Working Group has been developing a framework to direct more funding towards green, equitable development. And in a move that’s close to home for many African nations, South Africa has placed illicit financial flows firmly on the agenda, calling for greater transparency and accountability from both governments and multinational corporations.

In the digital space, the focus has been on building infrastructure that can support everything from e-government services to AI research. With the help of international partners, South Africa is championing a vision for technology that’s built in Africa, for Africa.

What’s Still Ahead

When the world’s leaders meet in Johannesburg this November, it won’t just be about handshakes and photo ops. The goal is to get real commitments on global inequality, on sustainable finance, and on how emerging technologies are governed.

It’s also expected to give South Africa’s tourism industry a serious boost. With an estimated of R1.2 billion+ in revenue expected, the G20 summit could leave a lasting legacy, not only in infrastructure, but in how the country is seen on the world stage.

As South Africa prepares to hand over the presidency to the United States, the message is clear: it’s time for the world to listen to voices that have been ignored for too long.

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