South Africa Launches G20 Inequality Taskforce Led by Nobel Laureate
As host of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg (22–23 November 2025), South Africa has committed to making global inequality a central focus, launching its first-ever G20 taskforce to tackle widening wealth gaps.
Taskforce Composition and Aims
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the panel to be chaired by Nobel Prize economist Joseph Stiglitz, with key members including Winnie Byanyima and Jayati Ghosh. The panel will deliver its final report at the G20 Summit. Reuters AP News
Why It Matters
Oxfam data underscores the urgency: the world’s richest 1% amassed an additional $33.9 trillion since 2015, enough to end global poverty 22 times over. Meanwhile, aid cuts and pandemic-era inequality continue to plague developing nations.
Policy Imperative Over Populist Symbolism
South Africa’s G20 presidency theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” signals a shift toward people-centered multilateral action. Stiglitz underlined that inequality is a consequence of policy choices, not inevitability. G20.org
Looking Ahead
- Will the taskforce’s findings influence G20 commitments toward debt relief, tax reform, and equitable recovery?
- Can South Africa secure policy shifts that reshape global economic dynamics beyond rhetoric?
This initiative sets a critical global test: turning rising inequality outrage into tangible policy change, under an African-led G20 presidency for the first time.
Fidelis News is free to read but not free to make.
By Fidelis News Staff | 2 September 2025
