WATCH | South Africa is ready for the G20 Social Summit, says Minister Ntshavheni
Minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africa is ready to welcome G20 Social Summit delegates from across the country.
Image: Supplied
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africa is fully prepared to host the G20 Social Summit.
After a final walkabout at Birchwood, she declared: “It’s all systems go” for the gathering, which begins on Tuesday, November 18.
Ntshavheni, speaking on the sidelines of Birchwood after conducting the readiness inspection, said the government was impressed by how quickly the venue had been transformed since it was handed over on Friday.
“We are ready; technically, we are impressed with the progress that is being made,” she said.
“The venue was just handed to us on Friday, and now the preparations are ready. It’s all systems go.”
She said registration numbers were stabilising and that delegations from provinces such as the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, and KwaZulu-Natal had already started travelling.
“They’ve started to move, so we are expecting to have them in by tonight,” she said.
Ntshavheni highlighted the strength of the partnerships underpinning the summit, saying, “The partnerships that we have with the private sector and also civil society, we are very happy.”
She added that the exhibition centres for heritage collections, SMMEs, tourism, and cooperatives were ready.
“We are quite happy that we are going to be showcasing not only from Gauteng, but the best of what South Africa can offer,” she said.
She acknowledged the participation of the C20, Children 20 and B20, as well as the involvement of traditional leaders.
“The traditional leaders are ready, are coming through,” she said, adding that provincial representation across the country was strong.
Ntshavheni said preparations were supported by a “whole-of-government approach” involving the Departments of Traditional Affairs, Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, and Small Business Development.
“We have done amazing work in terms of supporting our couriers and exhibitors,” she said.
With an expected 5,000 delegates, including activists and representatives from provincial, district and local structures, Ntshavheni said the summit reflected a nation actively participating in global affairs. “This is South Africa at work,” she said.
She stressed the importance of the social summit within the G20 framework. “It’s important because G20, you've got the leaders of the 20 plus one most important countries, and it’s important that the civil society movement, the social partners, come in and say what is their voice, what is their view,” she said.
She added that “it’s not only governments that decide the future. It’s also ordinary citizens.”
Ntshavheni confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa would receive the summit declaration on Thursday.
'“The president will be receiving the declaration from the social summit on Thursday and will read it out. This declaration comes from the work of all sectors, whether civil society, whether G20 components, whether the structures of our social movement across the country. Everybody’s contributing to shaping the future of the world for the sake of our children in South Africa.”
Preparations complete at Birchwood as Social Summit sets the stage for inclusive G20 discussions
Image: Supplied
She explained that South Africa had added its own flair to the process. “We’ve included traditional leaders to say they have a view because they're part of South Africa's governance structure,” she said.
Ntshavheni added that the work done at the social summit would feed into the main G20 leaders’ declaration.
Key themes include inclusivity, the just energy transition, financial support for women and small businesses, and the welfare of children, women and entrepreneurs.
Ntshavheni said township-based voices were also represented. “That's why there's also the Township 20 to say what the contribution of those who are living and running our township,” she said.
She emphasised that the declaration demonstrated that South Africa’s G20 hosting was grounded in public participation.
“South Africa's G20 is not an elitist congregation. It is informed by what our people think, and we appreciate the support of our major sponsors,” she said.
“I don't want to lose sponsorship for the next event. We're hosting SADC twice,'' she said.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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