WeeklySA_AdminEU’S MASSIVE PLEDGE FOR AFRICA
The European Union (EU) has pledged €15.1-billion (R302-billion) toward boosting renewable-energy generation and increasing electricity access in Africa. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, made the announcement alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa at an event organized by Global Citizen.
The pledge is toward the EU’s Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign.
“We are turbo-charging Africa’s clean-energy transition,” she said. “Millions more people could gain access to electricity.” The pledge comes as efforts to bring power to the almost 600 million people in Africa without access to electricity, more than 80% of the world total, ramp up. Earlier Von der Leyen said the EU and the European Investment Bank would invest €350-million to support Transnet to modernise and decarbonise its rail, port and pipeline infrastructure.
The EU would also invest about €330-million in green hydrogen and e-batteries and sustainable critical raw materials value chains. The package would be mobilised in close partnership with KfW and GIZ, Germany’s development bank and cooperation agency. The EU was also investing €70-million in SA’s pharmaceutical and vaccine production, building on Europe’s existing €700-million support.
The Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, the first of its kind, which the EU and SA signed after long negotiations, is designed to drive mutually beneficial trade, investment and job creation while supporting decarbonisation and clean supply chains. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ENVOYS AGREE ON DECLARATION
G20 envoys have agreed on a draft leaders’ declaration ahead of this weekend’s summit in Johannesburg without U.S. input, four sources familiar with the matter have said. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that it will boycott the summit over disagreements with the host nation, South Africa.
Trump had said he would not attend the first G20 summit in Africa because of allegations – which have been widely debunked – that the host country’s Black majority government persecutes its white minority. He has also rejected the host nation’s agenda of promoting solidarity and helping developing nations adapt to worsening weather disasters, transition to clean energy and cut their excessive debt costs.
In defiance of Washington, G20 countries have included references to “climate change” in the draft declaration, a source familiar with the matter said, without sharing further details. The United States had earlier objected to mention of climate change.
“It is a longstanding G20 tradition to issue only consensus deliverables, and it is shameful that the South African government is now trying to depart from this standard practice despite our repeated objections,” a senior Trump administration official said. – Fullview.
LAMOLA LAUDS CIVIL SOCIETIES
South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, people-centred G20, with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola declaring that the 2025 G20 Social Summit had strengthened the role of civil society in shaping global governance.
Delivering closing remarks at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Lamola said South Africa had fulfilled President Cyril Ramaphosa’s mandate to continue the social summit tradition established in Brazil during its 2024 G20 Presidency.
“We promised to carry forward the innovative practice and courageous example set by Brazil in holding an inclusive G20 that centred the voices of people on the margins. We also promised to extend the G20’s work beyond engagement groups to include civil society organisations working at the grassroots level. I believe that we have kept that promise,” Lamola said.
He highlighted that civil society had played a decisive role throughout the summit, amplifying concerns that would otherwise be sidelined in high-level diplomacy. “International relations are far too important to be left to governments alone. This has long been the mantra of civil society,” Lamola told delegates.
He said civil society movements had been instrumental in warning governments about the risks of a new global minerals boom, cautioning that without beneficiation, it could “usher in yet another era of extraction and plunder.” – SA news.
BILLIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH
The Global Fund Eighth Replenishment Summit has raised 11.34 billion US dollars to bolster the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (TB). The announcement was made at the Summit in Johannesburg on Friday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa – co-hosted the Summit alongside United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“This is an extraordinary achievement. We hope that future generations will look back on this moment as a turning point in the global fight against HIV, AIDS, TB and Malaria.The pledge amount is no mere number. It is a solid foundation for impact and a renewed impetus for transformation and change. Millions of lives will be saved. Stronger, more resilient health systems will be built,” Ramaphosa said.
He hailed the pledges as a “defining moment for global health and for global solidarity”.
Leading by example, Ramaphosa announced combined pledges of about 36.6 million US dollars (R630 million) from the South African government and the local private sector.
This includes some 5.5 million US dollars from Goodbye Malaria as well as 4.5 US dollars million from mining giant, Anglo American.
“We commend them for their unwavering commitment to improve the health of the people of our country, our continent and the world. The South African private sector has indicated that more pledges will follow. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
