Ramaphosa joked they’d flee before hosting G20.
India’s 2023 G20 summit impressed South Africa, and Ramaphosa said they learned closely from India’s confident, inclusive leadership.
South Africa’s first time hosting the G20 summit became a moment of warm humour, candid reflection, and mutual admiration between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the two leaders sat down for their bilateral meeting in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa opened the conversation with a remark that instantly set the tone for a friendly, human exchange. Half joking yet half serious, he confessed, “Maybe we would have run away,” referring to the challenge of managing the massive global gathering. The room erupted in laughter, including PM Modi and the accompanying delegations — a moment that captured both the weight of the task and the camaraderie between the two nations.
In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa expressed heartfelt gratitude for India’s guidance and support as South Africa assumed the G20 presidency for the first time. He acknowledged that hosting a summit of this scale was no ordinary endeavour. The logistics, coordination, diplomatic complexities, and sheer global spotlight make it a daunting responsibility for any country, let alone one taking on the role for the first time.
What followed reflected the deepening trust between India and South Africa. Ramaphosa spoke warmly about how closely his team had studied India’s G20 presidency in 2023, calling it “spectacular” and a model for inclusive leadership. India’s hosting of the 18th G20 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi had been widely praised for its smooth execution, innovative diplomacy, and emphasis on Global South priorities. It was also under India’s presidency that the African Union was made a permanent member of the G20 — a landmark moment that resonated deeply across the continent and particularly in South Africa.
“We have learned a lot from your hosting of the G20,” Ramaphosa told Modi. He admitted that while India had delivered a large-scale, high-impact summit, South Africa’s version felt smaller in comparison. Before the weight of that comparison could linger, PM Modi responded instantly and warmly: “Small is always beautiful.” His remark, simple yet reassuring, drew smiles around the room. It reflected not just diplomacy, but a personal touch — reminding everyone present that effectiveness and sincerity matter far more than size or scale.
This exchange between the two leaders offered a glimpse into the human side of global diplomacy. Behind the grandeur of summits, the formalities of protocols, and the weight of international expectations, leaders too share moments of vulnerability, humour, gratitude, and mutual respect. Ramaphosa’s candid admission that the task was harder than expected, combined with Modi’s light-hearted reassurance, showed the ease of their rapport.
Their interaction symbolised a partnership grounded not only in shared geopolitical interests but also in genuine warmth. As Africa took its place at the G20 table as a permanent member, and as South Africa carried the responsibility of hosting the summit for the first time, the moment carried historical significance. Yet it was the human touches — a joke, a laugh, a reassuring reply — that made the moment memorable.