The theme for the 2025 SONA is: “Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”
This theme aligns with Parliament’s hosting of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) later in the year. Aligning the 2025 SONA with the P20 activities set the tone for creating a synergy between parliamentary business and pursuing global, regional and national development imperatives.
This alignment will begin to crystalise how multi-level governance can be leveraged for promoting a more consultative and consensus-based approach to addressing global commons and tackling shared challenges such as the maintenance of international peace and security, asymmetries in global trade, skewed and unequal global economic development, and climate change-induced food insecurity.
The theme underscores the transformational potential of parliamentary efforts in promoting inclusive, sustainable and collaborative approaches to address global challenges, thus advancing shared prosperity.
South Africa has held the rotating Presidency of the G20 for the first time since the intergovernmental forum was formed on 26 September 1999. The presidency term started on 1 December 2024 and runs until 30 November 2025. The G20 serves as an international forum for economic collaboration, primarily formulating policies and strategies to address contemporary and prospective global challenges.
The P20 Summit plays a crucial role in bringing a parliamentary perspective to global governance by raising awareness, building political support for international commitments, and ensuring their effective implementation at the national level. These summits also foster inter-parliamentary cooperation, strengthen engagement between governments, parliaments, and stakeholders, and advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thus, South Africa’s presidency not only provides a unique platform but also a significant opportunity to effectively advocate for the developmental interests and priorities of African countries on the global stage.
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