South Africa will have its work “cut out” when it takes the G20 presidency from Brazil this week.
That is according to Dr Oscar van Heerden, senior research fellow at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership. He made the comment in an interview with Newzroom Afrika.
He suggested that there was much work to be done once SA officially took over from Brazil. This will happen at the Leaders’ Summit currently taking place in Rio de Janeiro.
SA will head the group, which includes the United States, under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.
“When you talk of a sustainable planet, when you talk of inclusion and combating poverty and hunger, these are worrying times. South Africa is going to have their work cut out for the better part of next year if indeed they want to make a success of the Summit towards the end of the year.”
The result of the recent US election, which returned Donald Trump to the White House, means there will be added pressure on SA, he said.
“We’re going to have a difficult time with Donald Trump’s presidency. I suspect that Donald Trump is going to come to the G20 next year and give President Ramaphosa an ultimatum: either you are with us, or against us.”
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PICTURE: G20.in
