Ramaphosa Takes South Africa’s Voice to the World Stage at UNGA80

From Gaza to climate change, Pretoria aims to shape global conversations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has touched down in New York City, carrying with him the weight of South Africa’s voice at a time when the world seems pulled apart by conflict, climate, and inequality. He is leading a delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), a milestone session marking 80 years since the UN Charter was signed.

This year’s theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” could not be more fitting. For Ramaphosa, the gathering is not just another summitit is a platform to push the concerns of the Global South onto the world’s most visible stage.

Spotlight on the two-state solution

On Monday, Ramaphosa will join a high-level meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Al Saud. The session is set to reaffirm international commitment to a two-state solution, an issue that has gained urgency amid the devastating war in Gaza.

South Africa, which has been vocal at the International Court of Justice about Israel’s actions in Gaza, will likely use the platform to underscore the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the territory.

A champion for the Global South

Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver South Africa’s address to the General Debate on Tuesday. As current Chair of the G20, he is expected to raise sharp concerns over how conflicts in Sudan, the DRC, Gaza, and Ukraine ripple out to hurt developing nations, amplifying food insecurity, inflation, and instability.

His speech is likely to highlight South Africa’s positioning as a bridge-builder, a country with credibility in mediation and reconciliation. Locally, many South Africans see this as a continuation of Pretoria’s longstanding foreign policy of siding with the marginalised on the world stage.

Just arrived in New York, where I will be attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

As Chair of the #G20 this year, South Africa will be advancing a strong message of multilateralism, human rights for all, sustainable development as and peaceful resolution to the… pic.twitter.com/YERwZLkjCt

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 22, 2025

Health, climate, and the SDGs

The week will see Ramaphosa juggling multiple roles. On Wednesday, he co-hosts a high-level dialogue on women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health alongside Botswana’s President Boko Duma and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Here, he is expected to frame health not only as a human right but as a cornerstone of peace and development.

Later that day, he will join the Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy, chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The gathering will test the world’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially as developing nations face the brunt of climate disasters and financial strain.

Ramaphosa’s presence will also be felt at a Special High-Level Event on Climate Action, co-hosted by Guterres and Brazil’s President Lula da Silva. With COP30 on the horizon, South Africa is expected to push for ambitious commitmentswhile also stressing that climate action must not sideline African economies struggling with unemployment and energy transitions.

Strengthening business ties in New York

Beyond the speeches, Ramaphosa is also using his time in New York to drum up investment. He will attend a Trade and Investment Executive Dialogue facilitated by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce.

With the United States already among South Africa’s top five export markets and a major source of foreign investment, Pretoria sees this as a chance to secure tangible economic wins that can feed back into domestic growth.

South Africa’s team on the ground

Ramaphosa is backed by a strong ministerial team: International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Trade Minister Parks Tau, and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. Each brings a portfolio directly connected to the UNGA agenda, from diplomacy to trade to global health.

For South Africans back home, there’s pride in seeing the country at the centre of international debate. But there’s also a watchful eye on whether these diplomatic moments translate into real benefits, whether in investment, peacebuilding, or climate resilience.

As one South African political analyst wrote on X, “Ramaphosa has a chance to prove that South Africa is more than a spectator on the global stage. The question is whether the world is ready to listen.”

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com