South Africa Seeks Partnership with G7

South Africa regards the Group of Seven (G7) as a strategic partner in its pursuit of climate resilience, a just energy transition, and value-added investment in its abundant mineral resources.

This was stated by President Cyril Ramaphosa following his working visit to Canada, where he participated in the G7 Summit Outreach Session. The session took place on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, held in Kananaskis, Alberta.

“South Africa views the G7 as a strategic partner. We seek greater cooperation in areas such as investment, financing for development, international crime, climate change and just transitions, as well as inclusive global growth and development,” the President said on 17 June.

The G7 comprises the world’s largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union also participates in G7 Summits, although it is not a member.

The Outreach Session aimed “to explore leadership and collaboration in driving a comprehensive approach to energy security with a focus on technology and innovation; diversification and strengthening critical mineral supply chains; and infrastructure and investment.”

This theme aligned closely with South Africa’s national priorities as the current Chair of the G20.

Outreach Sessions have long been a feature of the G7, aiming to strengthen unity among member states and like-minded countries in addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

President Ramaphosa described the summit as “most meaningful,” particularly given South Africa’s role as G20 Chair.

“We’ve just concluded our visit to Canada to attend the G7 Summit. It has been most meaningful for us, particularly as we are the President of the G20. We’ve had the opportunity to engage with a number of heads of state and government,” he said.

Climate Change

The President placed climate change and its devastating impacts at the heart of South Africa’s message to G7 leaders. He highlighted the destruction caused by floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, as well as ongoing droughts in parts of the Western Cape.

“We put that firmly on the global agenda — that there should be sufficient funding for incidents such as these, which recur frequently, especially in our sub-region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and more specifically in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, which have suffered repeated flood damage, along with drought in the Western Cape,” he explained.

Beneficiation

On the economic front, President Ramaphosa advocated for a global shift in how Africa’s critical minerals are managed, emphasising beneficiation and inclusive value chains.

“We discussed the importance of treating our critical minerals not merely as extractive commodities but ensuring value addition through beneficiation. Minerals play a vital role in energy security, and South Africa aims to move beyond exporting raw materials towards producing finished goods,” he said.

Investors are being advised upfront that South Africa expects value chain development alongside extraction.

“Those who invest in our minerals should know that we seek not only extraction but also beneficiation, so that ultimately we sell value-added products to the world,” the President stressed.

Bilateral Engagements

President Ramaphosa held bilateral meetings with leaders from Canada, France, Germany and the Republic of Korea during the summit, which he described as “most beneficial” for advancing South Africa’s diplomatic and economic interests.

He welcomed the strengthening cooperation with Canada, particularly in relation to the G20 and G7.

“Canada’s Africa strategy is comprehensive, and there is strong potential for cooperation aligned with the African Agenda.”

Several engagements have taken place between South Africa and Canada at Sherpa and Ministerial levels. – SAnews.gov.za