South Africa’s G20: A pivotal stepping stone towards centering inequality in the global agenda

South Africa’s G20 Presidency was centered around the theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. Finding consensus and actioning this theme was difficult in the context of domestic challenges and increasing geopolitical tensions. However, the South African government led the presidency well ensuring that inequality, the high cost of capital, industrial policy and critical minerals are some of the issues that were at the top of its agenda.  

Taking the baton from Brazil which prioritised the taxation of the super-rich in its agenda,  President Ramaphosa appointed an Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Inequality to investigate global inequality and provide a menu of recommendations to G20 leaders as one of the deliverables.This was the G20’s first ever report on inequality, highlighting South Africa’s prioritisation of issues that disproportionately affect Africa and the Global South. 
 

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