Inside South Africa's R131 million G20 summit budget

The government has detailed the millions of rands spent throughout South Africa’s G20 presidency and the upcoming two-day leaders’ summit this weekend.

An amount of R131.3 million has been allocated to various departments to cover costs related to the country’s G20 presidency.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has set aside R1.5m towards payments for capital assets for the FortiGate next‐generation firewall, according to the national estimates of expenditure presented after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's medium-term budget policy statement presented last week.

This includes R500,000 for branding and promotional items for the G20 development working group ministerial meeting.

Another R5m was paid towards venues and facilities for the G20 second energy transitions working group meetings at Cape Town International Convention Centre and Sun City.

The Presidency spent over R10m for the G20 social summit and has set aside about R5.7m for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The Department of Home Affairs transferred R10m to the Border Management Authority to cover expenditure related to the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has set aside R100m for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Documents also state that the Presidency spent R15.72m on other departments’ declared savings for the G20 Presidency Social Summit, which was R10.05m, and the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which stood at R5.67m.

“The funds will be used for travelling costs, venue hire, catering, security costs and other costs related to organising and hosting the events,” reads the estimates on national expenditure.

Another R3.25m was set aside for content processing and dissemination and this was rolled over for national priority and G20 presidency campaigns as well as promotional items.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) adjusted 97.8% of its budget of R744m.

According to the GCIS, compared to the first half of 2024/25, expenditure over the same period in 2025/26 increased by R70.1m, 20%, mainly due to activities related to South Africa’s G20 presidency and the procurement of information and communications technology equipment.

“As a result of hosting events related to South Africa’s G20 presidency, the department conducted more domestic development activities than planned during the period under review.

Additional opportunities through these activities were identified to promote tourism, trade and investment, resulting in the department hosting 80 engagements by mid-year against an annual target of 60,” the document states.

As part of G20-related activities, the GCIS also hosted more public participation programmes than planned to inform and promote South Africa’s foreign policy to domestic and international audiences.

For other adjustments, R100m funds was shifted between votes and the funds were transferred from other departments’ declared savings to cover a budget shortfall for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The Department of Electricity and Energy rolled over R5m for the payment of the Cape Town and Sun City venues for the G20 second and third energy transitions working group meetings.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za