‘International Relations Committee Congratulates the Country on Successful Hosting of G20’
By Teboho Khoarane
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, applauds President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership and commends South Africa for hosting a successful G20 Social Summit.
South Africa has taken the G20 further by including the entire African continent, as the G20 is taking place for the first time on African soil. This is a momentous occasion for all Africans. The Portfolio Committee is pleased that there are legacy projects to further the commitments of the G20.
The committee welcomes the Social Summit declaration, which calls for a people centred Just Transition, in line with the principle of “leave no one behind”. Furthermore, a Just Transition Facility that provides grants, concessional finance and debt-relief mechanisms linked to climate action is required. In keeping
with global priorities, the committee supports universal access to affordable, clean energy by 2030 and reiterates the urgent need to eliminate pollution that damages ecosystems and human health.
The committee notes that the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms part of the declaration and calls for greater commitment from government to ensure that the SDGs are expedited. It also supports the call for innovative financing models to bridge investment gaps.
In keeping with the principle of ubuntu, the committee emphasises that the declaration must ensure that all people of the globe benefit, not just a few countries.
President Ramaphosa has declared that Gender Based Violence and Femicide is a national crisis and the committee calls for government, civil society and business to work together to end this scourge and to ensure that women and children are protected.
The committee also welcomes the recent development relating to the United States – which has sent notice that it is considering participating in the G20 Leadership Summit – and hopes that the handover will be facilitated smoothly. The committee sends its well wishes to the Troika (Brazil, South Africa and the United States) and congratulates all South Africans on the successful implementation of the G20 Social Summit.
