Why our G20 legacy must move from policy vision to real implementation

AS SOUTH Africa stands on the eve of hosting the Group of Twenty (G20) Heads of State Summit from November 22 to 23, the world's most powerful economies will gather in Johannesburg to discuss the future of our planet.

- SUNIL GENESS

But here's the critical question, will these discussions remain locked in conference rooms, or will they translate into actionable change that transforms lives across Africa?

The B20, the official business voice of the G20, concludes its summit from November 18 to 20 with 30 concrete recommendations.

The challenge facing South Africa's presidency is not crafting ambitious policies; it is ensuring these policies are implemented.

This is where many presidencies fail. Documents get signed. Leaders shake hands. Then, six months later, little has changed. South Africa must prove that African leadership means moving decisively from policy vision to measurable action.

Confronting the inequality emergency

President Cyril Ramaphosa's commissioning of the G20 Extraordinary Committee on Global Inequality, chaired by one of my academic heroes, Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, marks a watershed moment.

The committee's report, delivered on November 4, warns of an "inequality emergency" with stark findings worth emphasising.

Between 2000 and 2024, the world's richest 1% captured 41% of all new wealth, while the poorest 50% shared only 1%.

This extreme inequality undermines dignity, stifles economic growth, and threatens democracy itself.

The committee recommends establishing an International Panel on Inequality, modelled on the IPCC, to systematically monitor trends and guide policy responses. This historic report positions inequality reduction as a core G20 priority, not peripheral rhetoric, but essential to global stability and prosperity.

Building continuity beyond South Africa’s presidency