The G20 Summit has ended, along with its promises, announcements, and political theatre. South Africa spent nearly R700 million to host a gathering that delivered little certainty for the economy and no clear path to growth. Grand speeches and investment pledges sound impressive, but without genuine policy reform, they rarely translate into action on the ground. New loans and financial commitments also create long-term obligations that taxpayers will carry long after the delegations have departed, adding to an already heavy fiscal burden.
The real issue is not what global leaders say, but what South Africa chooses to do next. For years, the country has relied on high-profile events and political symbolism to signal progress, while ignoring the structural barriers that keep unemployment high and investment low. Economic freedom, secure property rights and a competitive business environment cannot be substituted with summits.
This is why the FMF’s Liberty First Initiative is so important. South Africa does not need more conferences. It needs more freedom. Liberty First focuses on reforms that actually move the country forward, including stronger property rights, labour law exemptions to help small firms hire more people, reduced red tape, and a government that is smaller, efficient and accountable. These are the shifts that unlock growth and give individuals and businesses the space to succeed.
The Summit is over. The real work is at home. South Africa’s recovery will come from economic freedom, not political spectacle.
