By Katherine Marshall, Vice President, G20 Interfaith Association
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Members of the G20 Interfaith Forum leadership visited South Africa (the G20 2025 host) in February. The focus was on planning for G20 Interfaith events over the course of the year, and the group included Cole Durham, Tim Stratford, and IF20’s just named CEO, Whitney Clayton. We focused on forging links with South Africa’s G20 leaders and inter-religious groups, and on exploring priority issues where the G20 Interfaith community might focus, learn, and have an impact.
The visit centered around what became a far larger meeting than initially planned, held at the Future Africa campus of the University of Pretoria. We also spent a day at Pretoria’s Freedom Park, which stands as a powerful monument to South Africa’s freedom and democracy, founded on the values of Ubuntu and inspired by Nelson Mandela’s vision. I was not part of discussions in the latter part of the visit (teaching obligations in Washington).
The G20 Context and South African Priorities
We learned more about the South African government’s elaborate plans for its G20 year, and gained more appreciation for the three main themes: Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability. In some circles the plans have been under discussion for some time but the communication to a wider public, including religious communities, is still at a fairly early stage. There was much discussion of the “Trump effect”, which colored many discussions, particularly the abrupt cessation of funding especially for HIV/AIDS programs and controversies around South Africa’s recently passed Land Bill. The US administration’s stated ambivalence towards the South African presidency was noted, adding an element of uncertainty on specific plans for priority topics.
Key Themes Emerging from the Discussions
Several topics emerged as central for the networks represented at the Pretoria meeting, all fitting within South Africa’s G20 priorities:
- Serving the Most Vulnerable: My personal sense of the strongest underlying theme was an affirmation from different religious communities of their focus on the most vulnerable people and communities. This aligned with South African Deputy Minister of Social Development (who spoke at the opening dinner) who called for faith communities to help tackle persistent poverty.
- Ubuntu Values: There was rich discussion about the principles that underlie the concept of Ubuntu, with varying significance in different South and Southern African cultures. This concept of interconnectedness featured prominently in discussions about national identity and social cohesion.
- Poverty and Food Security: These issues have great importance and offer solid ground for discussion and action, with strong links to the focus of the Global Alliance against Poverty and Hunger launched by the Brazilian Government and the G20 at their November summit. Approximately 38 million out of 62 million South Africans rely on government grants for meals (as noted by the Deputy Minister)..
- Migration and Xenophobia: These topics were significant, reflecting regional challenges and social tensions.
- Gender Issues: Many highlighted the many issues facing women and families in South Africa; gender-based violence is a serious issue, described as a “state security issue.” Discussions highlighted concerns about the breakdown of traditional families and family values. These issues have obvious importance for men and especially children.
- Additional Topics: Disaster response, health, education, and mining were on the agendas. Less prominent were issues linked to climate change and environment. There was some resonance on trafficking and modern slavery, but less than in other settings.
Central to all discussions were issues of inequality and poverty, and the key roles of religious communities in both service and advocacy. There was a strong sense of the weight of the legacies of Apartheid, evident across many sectors and topics. Many references were also made to the COVID-19 era’s impact on attitudes, employment, education, health care, and mental health—a topic we should not neglect, especially given the prominent roles that religious beliefs and institutions played during the pandemic.
Structure of the Meeting
The three-day program began with dinner and a presentation by the Deputy Minister for Social Development, followed by two days of meetings—first at Future Africa, then at Freedom Park. The event, led by the University of Pretoria, involved breakout groups charged with reflecting on issues and seeking to rank them.
By its nature, the discussions were South Africa focused. Notable features, however, included emphasis on the African Union and efforts to situate the event within the context of South Africa’s interfaith landscape and international perspectives.
The Freedom Park visit involved continuing deliberations by the full group and presentations by Freedom Park leaders. The discussions were structured around the G20 Interfaith Forum’s core competencies: Programs, Networks, Policies, and Communications. Government officials and South Africa’s traditional leaders were invited, including the Queen of Rains, Masalanabo Modjadji VII, who is scheduled for coronation in 2025.
Looking Forward
Discussions focused on the planned G20 Interfaith Forum in Cape Town beginning August 10, 2025. There will be other encounters and events, both in South Africa and elsewhere. The G20 Interfaith team will take feedback from this visit and other settings to focus the 2025 agenda and plans.An important theme for us to keep in mind is the admonition to “pull together around South Africa’s G20 presidency to build a peaceful and secure world.” This spirit of collaboration and commitment to addressing pressing social challenges will guide our work as we move forward toward the 2025 G20 Interfaith Forum.
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Katherine Marshall is a senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. She serves as the vice president of the G20 Interfaith Association and executive director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue. With over three decades of experience at the World Bank, Marshall has been at the forefront of addressing development issues in the world’s poorest countries, with a particular focus on the intersection of religion and global development.