Johannesburg is preparing to host one of the biggest global gatherings in its history as the G20 Leaders Summit arrives on African soil for the first time. The event will take place this weekend at the Nasrec Expo Centre, with more than 60 heads of state and senior officials expected to attend.
The summit will unfold under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, showcasing South Africa’s ambition to spotlight urgent global issues such as climate finance, food security, fair economic growth, and reform of international financial systems.
But the excitement has been tempered by a number of high-profile withdrawals. US President Donald Trump will not attend, having recently taken a harder line on US–South Africa relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have also opted out, and Argentina’s President Javier Milei is the latest to skip the meeting.
Still, the list of confirmed attendees remains significant. President Cyril Ramaphosa will host leaders including Germany’s Olaf Scholz, France’s Emmanuel Macron, the UK’s Keir Starmer, India’s Narendra Modi, Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba, and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol. Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney are also expected.
African Union representatives, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and heads of institutions such as the IMF and the European Commission will join the discussions.
The G20, which includes 19 major economies along with the EU and the African Union, accounts for more than 85% of global GDP and most of the world’s population. This year’s summit comes at a volatile moment, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East reshaping geopolitics, a fractured global trade environment, and extreme climate events hitting vulnerable countries hardest.
In the lead-up to the gathering, South Africa has hosted more than 130 meetings across two major streams:
The Sherpa Track, which focuses on socioeconomic issues
The Finance Track, led by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago, which addresses financial reforms, climate funding, debt challenges, and the future of cross-border payments
Business leaders from around the world have also been meeting under the Business 20 (B20) umbrella to craft recommendations that will guide discussions on trade, technology, and sustainability.
Johannesburg has been working around the clock to prepare for the influx of delegates and media. Key roads, traffic systems, and water and power infrastructure have been upgraded. Road closures and lane restrictions are expected around major routes such as the M1, Nasrec Road, and the Golden Highway. Security around OR Tambo International Airport has also been tightened, with officials warning of possible delays caused by increased movement.
Despite some major absences, South Africa insists the summit will produce meaningful global partnerships and highlight the continent’s role in shaping future economic and political priorities.