
G20 Development Working Group kicks off 3rd meeting coinciding with Africa Day
JOHANNESBURG - The G20 Development Working Group (DWG) kicked off its third meeting on Sunday at KwaZulu-Natal, coinciding with Africa Day.
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropane Ramokgopa, kicked off the meeting, calling for renewed global solidarity to tackle pressing development challenges.
Over the next three days, delegates will deliberate on three key priority areas, including strengthening domestic resource mobilisation through curbing illicit financial flows, advancing social protection systems, and supporting access to global public goods.
ALSO READ: Water and sanitation dept preparing to reopen the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel
Ramokgopa underscored the importance of policy coherence, welcoming the DWG's coordination with other G20 workstreams.
"These are vital linkages that reinforce the G20's unique position as a platform that bridges development, finance and global governance. As we embark on this important work, I want to remind us all that what we do here matters. Our negotiations over the next few days are about the livelihoods of billions of people around the world, and the kind of future we collectively wish to shape."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Celebrating Africa Day through community-driven hospitality partnerships
Africa Day is a celebration of identity, resilience and the diverse cultural heritage that defines the continent. In South Africa's tourism and hospitality context, it has also become a time of reflection for the sector, particularly around questions of ownership, representation and long-term community benefit. While African destinations have always held global appeal, there is a growing push to shift tourism from something done to communities to something done with and by them. As a result, community-based tourism is gaining momentum as a practical way to drive more inclusive, resilient and authentic travel experiences. Whether it's a small town or community group offering guided hikes through sacred or lesser known areas, a collective of women teaching beadwork and traditional cooking, or a youth-led project hosting storytelling evenings around a firepit, this approach to tourism looks to serve the community and not just the business owner, allowing local people to earn an income, preserve their culture and build pride from within. Crucially, these experiences are often co-created and community-led, rather than imposed or extractive. As such, hospitality providers are increasingly being called on to support these efforts, not only through procurement and employment, but by helping to unlock funding, training and audience access. Group Custodian at Dream Hotels & Resorts, Nick Dickson said the industry needs to evolve its understanding of partnership. 'We've moved beyond the idea that offering jobs to locals is enough. In many rural areas, we're seeing a hunger from communities to take ownership of their tourism narrative, including what stories are told, the offerings that are created and how value is shared,' he said. Dickson highlights a recent example where a small community near one of the group's properties developed a cycling tour initiative after participating in a supplier development programme. The group now caters to domestic and international guests, with guides trained in local history and ecology and mechanics sourced from within the same area. 'The power of that initiative isn't just the income it brings in, but the fact that it came from the community's own vision. We were just a bridge to help them take it further,' he added. There is growing evidence that community-based tourism supports broader development goals. A 2025 systema tic review published in Cogent Social Sciences highlights that community-based tourism in Africa leverages the continent's unique natural and cultural assets to create opportunities for locally based tourism, fostering cultural exchange and contributing to environmental conservation. Dickson notes that in several regions, young people trained through Dream Hotels and Resorts' education and bursary programmes have also gone on to start their tourism micro-enterprises, ranging from drumming workshops to township food walks. 'What excites me most is when you see a guest leave with a deep connection to a place, not just to a lodge or landscape, but to the people and stories they've engaged with. Those are the experiences that change perceptions of our lands and create repeat travellers,' he said. As the tourism sector continues to recover and reimagine itself post-pandemic, Africa Day is a timely reminder that innovation doesn't always come from technology or luxury, but from a true and meaningful engagement with local knowledge, creativity and community-driven ideas.


Daily Maverick
14 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
G20 alert — the assault on information integrity is intensifying
The Group of 20 is easily dismissed as a talk shop with little substance. The gathering of ministers and heads of state of the world's richest economies is dissed for being a bloated bureaucracy, a clubby talkshop that lacks legitimacy, inclusivity and impact. It passes by the general public annually as background noise. But thanks to Donald Trump and his theatrical threats, it is well known not only in South Africa but globally that this year's G20 is being hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa – the first time an African head of state has been handed the honour. What remains background noise are the engagements taking place weekly in the build-up to the G20 Summit in November, which is centred on three core themes: solidarity, equality and sustainability. Just take a glance at the packed G20 calendar to get an idea of the weighty agenda right now. The G20 programme encompasses 13 engagement subgroups from an array of interests, including the O20 (Oceans), C20 (Civil), W20 (Women), B20 (Business) and Y20 (Youth). The absence of Media in the formal structure is conspicuous. But no matter, the media has a window of opportunity to nudge public interest issues onto the agenda, and into key declarations, through the creation of its own M20. The M20 is a parallel, collaborative initiative operating outside the G20 tent. This year, it has been initiated by the SA National Editors' Forum, Media Monitoring Africa and other partners. Key media issues elevated during the Brazil G20 presidency in 2024 are being pursued again. Priorities are information integrity, artificial intelligence, copyright, sustainability and climate reporting. The starting blocks are already in place, emerging from the 2024 G20. The Digital Economy Working Group published a declaration that incorporates attention to the importance of digital inclusion for all, and the Brazilian government launched a Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change. There is an urgency to build on these gains, especially at a time of heightened unaccountability, counterfeit journalists, deepfakes, bullying, attacks on journalists and a daily struggle by the media to stay afloat. It is hard to keep track of the assaults on media and threats to information integrity. This week, for instance, a journalist in Ethiopia, Ahmed Awga, was given a two-year jail sentence for ' disseminating hateful information via a Facebook post he did not author'. In South Africa, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection issued a 'fake news' alert after an analysis about the interest of Elon Musk's Starlink in South Africa was circulated on X under the false pretence that it was penned by its executive director, Joel Netshitenzhe. Also in South Africa, word broke that the Mail & Guardian, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary of gutsy investigative journalism, is on its knees and slashing jobs to stay afloat. In the US, all remaining staff at Voice of America were expecting termination notices, 'effectively shutting down the international broadcasting network, according to Politico. Yet, against this disruptive backdrop, the first published M20 policy brief notes that the G20 programme gives less attention to information integrity this year compared with 2024. The G20 will, however, host a workshop on generative AI 'and its evolving ability to produce high-quality deepfakes at a lower cost, and the impact on information integrity, and consideration of possible recommendations'. The policy brief, which is open for comment, spells out both the potential for the G20 to make a difference, and the threat in the media space right now: 'Media engagement on the G20's interest in 'information integrity' can make a difference as to whether journalism's strength and standing can make gains – or if current troubling media trends stay as they are, or go more horribly wrong.' Right now, the outlook is bleak. The public interest media space is wilting, as the offensive against information integrity is advancing. Now is not the time to let cynicism silence a call to action. DM Janet Heard is involved in the M20 initiative. She writes in her personal capacity.


The South African
21 hours ago
- The South African
PROFILE: Who is Bassim Haidar?
Bassim Haidar is a distinguished entrepreneur and global business leader, renowned for founding and leading multi-sector enterprises across fintech, telecoms, technology, logistics, energy, agritech and hospitality. His outstanding contributions to Africa and the UK have been recognised by the South African government, which recently appointed him as both the Honorary Consul for South Africa to the UK and as a representative on the B20, the official business engagement group of the G20, during South Africa's chairmanship in 2025. With operations generating over $1.6 billion in revenue across Africa and the Middle East, Haidar has driven growth, financial inclusion, and significant inward investment into the region. He spearheaded the development of Africa's first AI-driven credit scoring engine, enabling nearly a billion unbanked individuals to access financial services and economic opportunities. His visionary leadership continues to create transformative solutions for emerging markets Through Knuru Capital, his fund and family office, Haidar has made significant investments in the region, supporting fast-growth companies that are driving innovation and economic development. Knuru's impact reflects his commitment to nurturing businesses with the potential to transform industries and create sustainable growth. Expanding his reach, Haidar has recently entered the hospitality sector, acquiring an unfinished hotel complex in the Turks and Caicos Islands, among other ventures. This strategic move highlights his ability to diversify and unlock potential in emerging industries. Through innovative investments and his commitment to excellence, Haidar continues to leave a significant mark across a range of sectors globally Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.