Former Deputy President Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Deputy President Paul Mashatile jointly addressed the media at the G20 Social Summit, offering a united front on South Africa’s priorities and the broader agenda of the Global South.
The leaders explained how the G20 Troika — with South Africa as the outgoing chair, the United States as the current president, and the United Kingdom as the incoming chair — will work together to ensure stability and continuity in the G20’s social commitments. They noted that the United Kingdom has already pledged to carry forward key priorities set in Johannesburg, even if some countries shift their political positions.
Speaking on geopolitical tensions, the delegation stressed that South Africa will not be discouraged by negative attitudes from any single country. They reiterated that the Global South remains strong, confident, and supported by the majority of participating nations, giving Africa a firm platform from which to push its developmental goals.
The briefing also focused heavily on women’s health and menstrual education. The leaders highlighted ongoing efforts to expand sanitary support programmes in primary and high schools and confirmed that the national curriculum is being strengthened to better support girls who experience early-onset menstruation.
Responding to questions about internal political speculation, the Deputy President dismissed any succession debates, saying such topics fall outside the G20 framework. The leaders closed by reaffirming the strong cooperation among Global South nations and expressed confidence in the success of this year’s summit engagements.