The significance of the 2025 G20 South Africa Summit on local governance

As the first G20 event on African soil in this format, it underscored the continent’s role in addressing pressing global challenges, including the stalled progress toward the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article examines the summit’s significance for local governance, particularly in Johannesburg, the host city. Drawing on economic, policy, and infrastructural dimensions, it explores how the event catalysed investments, policy alignments, and capacity-building initiatives at the municipal level. While offering opportunities for sustainable urban development and skills transfer, the summit also highlighted challenges such as resource strain and the exacerbation of inequality. Through analysis of the Leaders’ Declaration and preparatory frameworks, the study argues that the G20’s legacy could reshape local governance by embedding global priorities into municipal strategies, fostering resilience in emerging economies.