Ubuntu diplomacy lands at Jozi G20 as US stays away

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The first G20 summit on African soil has flown by and, barring the United States’ view, it appears that President Cyril Ramaphosa has come in for near-universal applause for pulling off a global event of this magnitude. In what some are calling a diplomatic masterstroke, Pretoria pushed for the participating powers to adopt the summit’s declaration early on Saturday, possibly to avoid any overtures from Washington. For more on the politically charged weekend that was, we’ve got our deputy politics editor, Bongekile Macupe, in The Lead hotseat. Later, in our trending topic, Helen Zille breaks up a public spat between John Steenhuisen and Dion George. Finally, the capital, Pretoria, elected its first black mayor in 1995 On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. To advertise in the show: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The Lead is currently sponsored by 10X Investments.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Graeme's intro
  • 01:29 Crossing to Bongekile Macupe
  • 26:06 AD: 10X Investments
  • 26:32 Trending topic: Zille gags George & Steenhuisen
  • 28:46 On This Day in SA History: PTA's first black mayor
24 Nov 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

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