South Africa has been selected to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) in April 2027, a move poised to catalyze continental economic transformation and solidify the nation’s standing as a global diplomatic heavyweight. Addressing delegates in Switzerland, Minister Lamola asserted that South Africa is uniquely positioned to lead high-level discourse. “South Africa’s leadership in climate diplomacy, renewable energy transition, digital transformation, and regional integration aligns closely with the World Economic Forum’s mission to improve the state of our world,” Lamola stated. The decision to award South Africa the 2027 hosting rights is widely seen as a vote of confidence following the country’s successful G20 Presidency in 2025. Minister Godongwana remarked that the G20 summit proved South Africa could act as a “credible mediator” on sensitive issues like debt relief and multilateral institutional reform.
