SA's G20 Sherpa Zane Dangor to Host Consultations with African Union Counterpart

Ambassador Muchanga, who serves as the AU's G20 Sherpa and Commissioner for Economy, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM), will meet Dangor to discuss key areas of cooperation ahead of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Focus on Cooperation Ahead of South Africa's G20 Presidency and Africa's Role in Global Governance

Zane Dangor, Director-General of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the country’s G20 Sherpa, will lead consultations with Ambassador Albert Muchanga, his counterpart from the African Union Commission (AUC), on Thursday. Ambassador Muchanga, who serves as the AU's G20 Sherpa and Commissioner for Economy, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM), will meet Dangor to discuss key areas of cooperation ahead of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The session aims to foster collaboration between South Africa and the AU on shared approaches to the G20, particularly in shaping the draft outcomes of the Leaders' Summit. South Africa's upcoming G20 Presidency, set to begin on December 1, 2024, will also be a key point of discussion, with the two leaders expected to explore priorities for South Africa’s leadership term and broader cooperation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently underscored the importance of the G20’s "Call to Action on Global Governance Reform" at the G20 High-Level Opening Session in New York, held alongside the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. South Africa has committed to revitalizing multilateralism and reforming global governance institutions to make them more representative of the world’s diverse economies.

DIRCO views South Africa's upcoming G20 Presidency as an opportunity to spotlight Africa's developmental goals, while also advocating for the interests of the Global South. According to a DIRCO statement, the presidency will build on the achievements of recent G20 hosts, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil.

The September 2023 G20 Summit in India marked a historic moment by granting the African Union permanent membership of the G20. This inclusion will empower African countries to shape decisions on key global issues, an effort long championed by South Africa, the continent’s sole member of the G20 until now. DIRCO emphasized that the AU’s participation would amplify Africa’s voice in this influential global forum.

Dangor will be accompanied by senior officials from various South African government departments during the consultations. The G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for November 18-19, 2024, in Brazil, where South Africa will contribute to shaping critical global policies in its lead-up to assuming the presidency.