Ramaphosa
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to push for a new international body to tackle global inequality when he opens the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg in just 18 days. This bold call comes after he received a groundbreaking report from a panel of experts chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, at Tuynhuys in Cape Town. The report, which lays out a blueprint for fighting inequality worldwide, warns of an “inequality emergency” that threatens growth, democracy, and human dignity. Ramaphosa hailed it as a vital tool for putting this pressing issue at the heart of global talks, especially as South Africa wraps up its G20 presidency focused on solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
This move marks a historic moment, as South Africa becomes the first G20 chair to place inequality front and centre on the agenda. With the country and Namibia topping the list of the world’s most unequal societies – a legacy of colonialism and apartheid – Ramaphosa stressed that addressing this gap is not just about numbers, but about restoring people’s worth and building a fairer future. The report’s findings, drawn from months of work since the panel’s appointment in August 2025, call for urgent action through better policies, and Stiglitz echoed that inequality is a choice governments can fix. As leaders gear up for the summit from 18 to 20 November 2025, this initiative could spark real change, helping bridge divides that see the rich get richer while billions struggle.
Key Findings from the Stiglitz Report: An Inequality Emergency Unveiled
The Report of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality paints a stark picture of how unequal the world has become. A major highlight is the push for an international panel on inequality, which would help governments and global agencies measure, analyse, and fight this crisis. This body would track trends, share best practices, and guide policies to make sure no one is left behind.
Stiglitz, who led the six-member panel, made it clear that inequality goes beyond wealth – it touches every part of life, from access to health care and education to job chances. He pointed out shocking stats: between 2000 and 2024, the top 1% grabbed 41% of all new wealth created worldwide, while the bottom half got just 1%. “A lot of the wealth at the top is the result of monopoly, power and exploitation. The issue has gotten clearer and clearer. Now it stares you in the face and you can’t not notice,” Stiglitz said.
The report warns that this gap is like a climate emergency – a man-made problem that demands bold fixes. It shows how inherited wealth, set to pass down over $70 trillion globally in the next decade, will only make things worse unless checked. In South Africa, where the Gini coefficient – a measure of inequality – is among the highest at around 0.63, these trends hit hard, rooted in past injustices like apartheid that still shape access to land, jobs, and education.
Ramaphosa agreed, calling inequality “a betrayal of people’s dignity, an impediment to inclusive growth, and a threat to democracy itself.” He noted how it fuels social unrest, slows economic progress, and erodes trust in leaders. The panel’s work supports South Africa’s G20 goals, offering ways to link inequality fixes with climate action, trade reforms, and sustainable development.
South Africa’s Push: From Colonial Legacy to Global Leadership
As host of the G20 this year, South Africa has made inequality a top priority, a first for the group of major economies. Ramaphosa appointed the Stiglitz panel in August 2025 to give fresh ideas on how to measure and cut this gap, especially in the Global South where colonial histories and unfair trade deals keep many poor. The report builds on that, urging richer nations to step up with fairer taxes, better aid, and support for education and health in developing countries.
Stiglitz praised South Africa for leading the charge: “The decision by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to place inequality at the heart of the G20 agenda is historic. It marks a significant step towards addressing this pressing global challenge.” He added that governments hold the power to choose policies that close divides, like progressive taxes, worker protections, and investments in skills training.
For South Africa, this resonates deeply. Ramaphosa linked the country’s high inequality to its past, saying much stems from colonialism and apartheid, which left deep scars in wealth distribution and opportunities. Today, the top 10% own over 85% of the nation’s wealth, while millions battle poverty and joblessness. By championing this at the G20, South Africa aims to rally support for changes that help not just itself but all unequal societies, like Namibia, where similar histories play out.
What the New Institution Could Mean: A Global Watchdog on Inequality
The report’s big idea – an international panel on inequality – would act like a watchdog, helping track and fight this issue worldwide. It could guide the G20 and UN on policies, much like climate panels do for global warming. This body would gather data on wealth gaps, health disparities, and education access, then suggest fixes tailored to different countries.
Ramaphosa plans to table this at the summit’s opening on 18 November 2025, urging leaders to back it. If adopted, it could lead to yearly reports, funding for anti-inequality projects, and rules to curb tax dodging by the super-rich. Stiglitz stressed that without action, inequality will keep growing, hurting growth and stability everywhere.
This fits South Africa’s G20 theme, pushing for fairer global systems. With leaders from the US, China, India, and others attending, the summit could mark a turning point, committing to goals like cutting wealth gaps by 2030.
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