Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s dedication to fostering partnerships that promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. As South Africa prepares for the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the president emphasized the power of collaboration to uplift the nation and address global challenges.
Speaking ahead of the annual WEF gathering, where South Africa will outline its G20 Presidency priorities, President Ramaphosa highlighted the need for synergy across governments, businesses, and civil society. He underscored that the foundation of South Africa’s G20 agenda lies in cooperation, not only among nations but also within communities and organizations. This approach seeks to build partnerships that catalyze economic growth, create jobs, and address pressing global issues.
The President cited Operation Vulindlela as a testament to the success of collaborative governance. This initiative, which unites government departments and public institutions, has driven reforms in energy, logistics, telecommunications, and water infrastructure. Similarly, the Presidential eThekwini Working Group has fostered partnerships to revitalize Durban, improving water supply, tourism infrastructure, and law enforcement while restoring business confidence.
President Ramaphosa also noted the significant strides made in addressing South Africa’s electricity crisis. Through the National Electricity Crisis Committee, different groups, such as government departments, state-owned businesses, business leaders, and labor representatives, have worked together to make load shedding less severe. This shows how unified action can change things.
Beyond economic issues, South Africa’s partnerships have extended to social challenges. Initiatives like the national strategy to combat gender-based violence and femicide and collaborative efforts through the South African National AIDS Council showcase the government’s commitment to leveraging collective resources for societal progress.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of such cooperation, highlighting how effective coordination can save lives and livelihoods. Drawing on this lesson, South Africa will present its experience of fostering partnerships on the global stage, calling on multinational companies to partner with emerging markets and governments to pursue shared growth.
As South Africa prepares to host a G20 Social Forum, President Ramaphosa envisions it as a platform to unite civil society, business, and labor in a global dialogue for inclusive development. In his words, “Though our roles may differ, we share a common goal: to build a future where growth benefits all.”
