MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

Delivery on 07 March 2025 (Virtual Platform)

Introduction:

As we gather today to reflect on the future direction of our nation and its role within the global community, we must examine the rapidly evolving political and economic landscape of the world. The global order is shifting, and these changes bring both challenges and opportunities that will directly affect the development sector and require a rethinking of our approach to economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. This debate is focusing on addressing the need for advancing the principles of solidarity, equality, and sustainable development to tackle the critical global challenges that are shaping the future of humanity. South Africa’s leadership at the G20, the international shift towards multipolarity, and our longstanding commitment to these values present unique opportunities to make a difference in the global discourse.

We are therefore confronted with the following questions:

1. How can South Africa leverage its leadership at the G20 to advocate for the needs of the Global South?

2. What specific steps should South Africa take to address both domestic inequality and the broader global wealth gap?

3. How can South Africa balance its transition to a sustainable green economy with the need for economic growth and job creation?

4. In what ways can South Africa further strengthen its leadership role in advancing the ideals of solidarity, equality, and sustainability on the global stage?

South Africa’s Leadership at the G20:

The South African President His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa has on behalf of the Republic assumed the Presidency of the G20 to be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa and Africa for the first time.

This historic colossal epoch of magnitude proportion event of world leaders convening for the first time in the African continent, to discuss economic and sustainable development challenges faced by the entire global community of nations will strive to find solutions to the world problems and a fight against hunger and under development.

Theme

“BUILDING ON G20 AS MULTILATERAL FOR ECONOMIC AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH”

Our country’s leadership of the G20 presents a historic opportunity for the country to shape global economic discussions on the African continent. As the first African nation to host the G20 summit, we have  positioned ourselves as a key player in addressing global economic and sustainability challenges.

The G20 Presidency:

• The South African government has adopted three key areas of focus for the G20: Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainable Development. These focus areas align with our national and international values and offer an opportunity to advocate for a fairer global order.
• By hosting the G20 in Johannesburg, South Africa can provide a platform for addressing the pressing issues of global economic inequality, underdevelopment, and climate change.

It would be ideal to consider the following:

• Use the G20 platform to advance South Africa’s principles of solidarity, equality, and sustainability on the global stage.
• Advocate for reforms to global economic institutions to ensure that they address the needs of developing countries, particularly those in the Global South.

The Shifting Global Political Landscape:

The traditional unipolar world order, dominated by a few powerful nations, is giving way to a more multipolar world. This shift offers both challenges and opportunities, especially for emerging economies like South Africa. As we stand at the crossroads of these global shifts, it is important to understand the implications of these changes and leverage them for the benefit of our nation and the broader African continent.

Key Dynamics:

• The transition from unipolarity to multipolarity offers smaller nations and emerging economies the chance to assert themselves in global discussions.
• Geopolitical tensions and the growing rivalry between global powers may destabilize international relations, but they also present an opportunity for the Global South to advocate for its own interests.
• The rise of economic nationalism and protectionist policies presents barriers to global cooperation on critical issues such as trade, climate change, and migration.

Implications for South Africa:

• South Africa must position itself strategically within Africa and the broader Global South, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable global system. This multipolarity can be leveraged to support human development and solidarity over the interests of powerful nations.

It would be ideal to consider the following:

• Strengthen alliances within Africa and the Global South to ensure that South Africa plays a key role in shaping the multipolar world order.
• Continue advocating for global systems that prioritize equity, social justice, and human development over power and economic domination.

Solidarity: Reaffirming Our Commitment to Global Cooperation:

South Africa is part of the Global-South and prides itself in championing solidarity amongst nations in the Global South which aims in developing themselves free from imperial and colonial influence. South Africa is a product of International Solidarity through its struggle for freedom and it has a moral obligation to support those countries that are in a similar position it was in yester years.

As part of the solidarity movement, South Africa has mobilised the world against the genocidal war by Israel against the Palestinian people by launching a genocide case in the International Court of Justice. We have since been joined by several peace-loving nations of the world on a course for justice.

South Africa’s history is built on the power of solidarity. From the anti-apartheid struggle to our support for progressive liberation movements, solidarity has always been a cornerstone of our international relations. As a member of the Global South, South Africa must continue to champion solidarity in international forums, supporting countries facing similar challenges to those we experienced during our struggle for freedom.

Global Crises Demand Global Solutions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and migration are transnational issues that require coordinated global action. These challenges cannot be addressed by any one nation alone.
• South Africa must continue to support international initiatives aimed at creating equitable global responses, particularly for developing countries.

Examples of Solidarity in Action:

• COVAX: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVAX initiative ensured equitable access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, combating vaccine nationalism and ensuring that Africa was not left behind.
• Africa CDC: Through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, South Africa has contributed to strengthening Africa’s capacity to address health crises. The African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) was pivotal in securing COVID-19 vaccines for the continent.
• AfCTA (African Continental Free Trade Area): The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) is a landmark initiative aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across Africa. South Africa has played a crucial role in promoting and supporting AfCTA, which aims to reduce trade barriers, enhance intra-African trade, and foster economic cooperation among African nations. By lowering tariffs and streamlining the movement of goods, this agreement fortifies African unity and economic autonomy, fostering solidarity across the continent to advance mutual development and prosperity.

It would be ideal to consider the following:

• South Africa should continue to lead in advocating for the needs of developing countries in international organizations such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the African Union.
• South Africa must build stronger regional partnerships with fellow African nations to address shared challenges through collective action.

Equality: The Fight for Inclusive and Just Development:

As a country ,we do subscribe to the principle of equality on all member states in the multi-lateral forums such as the United Nations hence we are championing the reform of the multi-lateral institutions including the UN Security Council.

The geo-political outlook of the world still reflects the conditions that obtained after the Second World War (II), the coloniser and the colonised. World Superpowers still compete for domination of the developing countries through another form of colonialism currently known as imperialism.

Our outlook as a people, as a nation is to strive to an egalitarian global society in which member states observe the rules and standards based on international law on equal basis.

Inequality remains one of the greatest challenges, both within South Africa and globally. While we have made significant progress since the end of apartheid, millions of South Africans still live in poverty, and inequality continues to persist. The global wealth gap has widened, and many countries in the Global South are left behind in the international economic system. South Africa must continue to champion equality both here at home and globally.

Domestic and Global Inequality: The harshest realities:

• Here at home: Despite progress, millions of South Africans still live without access to basic services like education and healthcare. The challenge of inequality remains entrenched within our society.
• Globally: Inequality is also evident on the global stage. Many nations in the Global South continue to suffer the long-term effects of colonialism, debt, and unequal participation in the global economic system.

Implications for the country (South Africa):

• South Africa must persist in championing policies that address inequality, both domestically and internationally, ensuring that economic growth equitably benefits marginalized communities.
• South Africa must push for a fairer global economic system that addresses historical injustices and supports equitable development for all nations.

It would be ideal to consider the following:

• Strengthen domestic policies aimed at reducing inequality, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
• Advocate for the reform of international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to make them more responsive to the needs of developing countries.

 Sustainable Development: Navigating the Path to a Greener Future:

Our posture as a country has been to commit to sustainable development goals adopted at the United Nations as a blueprint for development across all nations. These sustainable developmental goals find expression in our National Development Plan 2030 vision and our Multi-Year Budget Framework.

Sustainable Development is a primary driver of economic and social developmental growth of all nations in our globalised world. It is imperative that we socialise our partners in development to adopt sustainable development projects and programs in our region and the world as part of their planning national processes.

As climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation continue to threaten the planet, it is imperative that we transition to a more sustainable model of development. This transition must balance the need for economic growth with environmental responsibility, ensuring a future that is both equitable and sustainable.

Global Sustainability Challenges:

• Climate change remains one of the most pressing threats to global stability, disproportionately affecting developing nations.
• The global economy is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and while progress has been made, the transition to renewable energy remains slow.

Implications for South Africa:

• South Africa, with its heavy reliance on coal and other non-renewable resources, must ensure that the transition to a green economy is just and fair, providing economic opportunities for all citizens.
• The transition to a green economy should include investments in renewable energy, green technologies, and the development of green industries to create jobs while protecting the environment.

It would be ideal to consider the following:

• South Africa must champion a green economy, prioritizing renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture.
• Advocate for greater financial support for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

There can Obstacle and Challenges on our way

In the globalised world we live in it is fraught with unimaginable calamities such as wars, natural disasters characterised by the effects of climate change and migration; and these are some of the critical challenges faced by majority of nation member states in the United Nations.

These challenges may be characterised in two-fold, internal country specific challenges of a nation state such as lack of economic opportunities, inequality, racial spatial economic development such as the one that is obtained in South Africa, and those that affects developing countries such as adequate finance for development and broad development challenges such as climate change and health.

The inequality in relation to economic, social and political stature of the developed and the developing countries present a clearing contrast between the rich and the poor.

As a country we will continue to strive for a world that is free from diseases, underdevelopment, inequality and poverty by propagating for policies that seeks to empower the indigent members of the society in all nation member states who subscribe to the ideals of sustainable development by encouraging a fight against waging of wars and reparations by those who condemned our people for years of poverty and underdevelopment.

Conclusion:

As the global political landscape shifts, South Africa remains committed to advancing the ideals of solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. These principles have long been the foundation of our foreign policy and our struggle for a just, equitable society. South Africa’s leadership at the G20 and our role in global forums provide us with the opportunity to shape the future of global cooperation, ensuring that the challenges of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation are met with collective action.

Let us continue to fight for a world where solidarity, equality, and sustainability are the guiding principles of global development, and where South Africa remains a leader in advocating for a fair and just world.