The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) notes the adoption of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, issued at the first-ever G20 Summit hosted on African soil. This historic moment carries enormous symbolic significance for a continent that has for too long been marginalised in global decision-making. But symbolism alone is not transformation. SAFTU has conducted a thorough reading of the Declaration, and while we acknowledge areas of progress, we must be equally clear: The G20 Declaration fails to confront the global economic order that drives poverty, unemployment, inequality, and austerity in the Global South. The Declaration speaks frequently of Ubuntu, solidarity, equality, and sustainability. Yet, in its substance, it still preserves an unjust global system that subordinates African development to corporate profit, creditor interests, and geopolitical power.
1. SAFTU WELCOMES KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION
1.1 Recognition of Africa’s structural crises
The G20 places Africa’s challenges at the centre of its agenda, acknowledging:
- catastrophic energy poverty, 600 million Africans without electricity, and
one billion without clean cooking, with two million premature deaths every
year from toxic household emissions;
- severe debt distress across low-income countries, especially in Africa;
- global food insecurity, with 720 million people hungry and 2.6 billion
unable to afford a healthy diet;
- the urgent need for critical minerals beneficiation, industrialisation, and the
Implementation of the AfCFTA.
This reflects issues long raised by African unions, progressive economists, and
people’s movements.
Final 22 November 2025 G20 South Africa
1.2 Commitment to universal social protection
SAFTU welcomes the Declaration’s reaffirmation of:
- universal social protection floors;
- the human right to social security;
- gender equality and the eradication of gender-based violence, including
femicide. This aligns with SAFTU’s long-standing demands for a Universal Basic Income Grant, stronger labour protections, and an end to the feminisation of poverty.
1.3 Acknowledgement of illicit financial flows
The G20 notes that Africa loses US$88 billion every year through illicit financial
Flows, profit shifting, base erosion, unlawful transactions, and capital flight. This
vindicates SAFTU’s argument that austerity is a political choice, not a fiscal
necessity, as billions are stolen from the continent annually with impunity.
2. However, SAFTU is deeply concerned that the declaration avoids the root causes of global inequality. Despite its progressive language, the Declaration fails to confront the global architecture that reproduces poverty and austerity.
2.1 No end to austerity, only code words
The Declaration speaks of:
- “Fiscal sustainability”,
- “Building fiscal buffers”,
- “Ensuring fiscal disciplines”,
- “long-term growth-oriented macroeconomic policies”.
These are code words for spending cuts, the very austerity that has collapsed
hospitals, schools, municipalities, and policing, and pushed unemployment
above 40% on the expanded definition.
The G20 refuses to condemn austerity, despite overwhelming evidence that cuts
entrench poverty and cripple growth.
2.2 No real solution to the debt crisis
While the document recognises that interest payments have doubled for low-income
countries and that Africa is sinking under debt, it offers:
- No debt cancellation,
- No suspension of interest,
- No mandatory restructuring,
- No time-bound commitments.
Instead, it recycles the failed Common Framework, which in five years has
delivered only four restructurings and left millions in hunger and joblessness.
For SAFTU, a global debt strike remains necessary if the Global South is to escape
its debt trap.
2.3 Industrialisation promises without confronting global power
The G20 supports “sustainable industrial policy”, but refuses to challenge:
- restrictive WTO rules that block localisation;
- multinational dominance of intellectual property, technology, and mineral processing;
- dollar-based financial dependencies.
Without policy space, industrialisation is impossible.
2.4 Critical minerals: sovereignty in words, control in practice
The Declaration “preserves the sovereign right of mineral-rich countries”, a
welcome recognition.
But it simultaneously promotes:
- “non-discriminatory standards”,
- “predictable regulatory environments”,
- “diversified value chains”.
These concepts are often used to lock Africa into raw material export roles,
leaving the real value in Europe, China, and the United States.
2.5 Climate justice ignored
The G20 reiterates its commitment to the Paris Agreement and net-zero goals, yet:
- offers no climate reparations;
- provides no enforceable commitments on adaptation finance;
- ignores the historical responsibility of the global North;
- gives no guarantee of funding for the US$5.8–5.9 trillion required by developing countries before 2030.
Climate justice without climate finance is empty rhetoric.
2.6 Food security language without confronting agribusiness monopolies
The Declaration speaks of transforming food systems, but does not name:
- the seed monopolies,
- fertiliser cartels,
- global grain traders that profit from African hunger.
3. South Africa’s role: progress in leadership, but still trapped
in the neoliberal framework.
SAFTU acknowledges the South African Presidency’s efforts to:
- Emphasise Ubuntu;
- Put Africa’s issues on the agenda;
- Push for an enhanced African voice in multilateral bodies;
- Highlight illicit financial flows;
- Champion Critical Minerals Value Addition
- Expand the Compact with Africa.
But South Africa’s own domestic policy, austerity, collapsing public services,
33% unemployment, underfunded NHI, frozen public posts, and a shrinking
manufacturing base undermines its moral authority. Our government continues
to obey the dictates of ratings agencies, investors, IMF prescriptions, and neoliberal
orthodoxy.
4. SAFTU’S DEMANDS MOVING FORWARD
4.1 End austerity – invest in people, not creditors
We reject fiscal tightening disguised as “reform”. Government must:
- fill vacant public service posts;
- expand social protection;
- Fund the NHI;
- invest in energy, water, rail, and local government infrastructure;
- Rebuild manufacturing capacity.
4.2 Cancel illegitimate and unpayable debt
Debt cancellation is a matter of justice, not charity. Africa cannot develop while
trapped in a centuries-old debt architecture designed to extract wealth.
4.3 Build African-controlled value chains
We demand:
- local processing of critical minerals,
- African technology development,
- strategic use of tariffs and industrial policy,
- An end to the era where Africa exports raw minerals and imports finished products at 10 times the price.
4.4 A People’s Energy Transition
Energy poverty must end in our lifetime. The G20’s “voluntary commitments” are not
enough. South Africa needs:
- massive public investment in renewable energy;
- the rapid expansion of local manufacturing;
- clean cooking solutions for poor households;
- energy sovereignty, not privatisation.
4.5 Climate reparations now
Rich nations must pay for loss and damage, adaptation, and the just transition. Africa
is the least responsible and the most affected.
4.6 Strengthen worker power in global governance
The G20 must no longer be a technocratic club of governments and corporations.
Workers need:
- A permanent seat at the table;
- Democratic accountability;
- Transparency;
- Social partners with decision-making power.
5. A G20 FOR HUMANITY REQUIRES BREAKING WITH NEOLIBERALISM
SAFTU welcomes the spirit of solidarity in the Declaration, but we insist
that solidarity without redistribution is hollow.
Africa cannot uplift itself on speeches and principles alone.
Real solidarity means:
- Cancelling debt,
- Ending austerity,
- Dismantling corporate monopolies,
- Rebuilding industrial capacity,
- Reversing privatisation,
- Redistributing wealth,
- Empowering workers and communities.
The G20 must stop managing inequality and start abolishing it.
SAFTU will continue mobilising workers, unemployed youth, women, students, and
communities to build a Pan-African and global movement that demands a new
economic order, one rooted in justice, democracy, and dignity.
A better world will not be given to us by global powers.
It will be won by organised masses standing together across borders.
A statement was issued on behalf of the SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
newtonm@saftu.org.za
0785164094
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
