Ramaphosa Jokes With PM Modi on G20 Challenges During Bilateral Talks in Johannesburg

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shared a light-hearted moment with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting on Sunday, quipping that New Delhi should have warned him about how “difficult” it is to host a G20 summit.

South Africa, which hosted the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil, formally concluded its presidency on Sunday as Ramaphosa struck the ceremonial gavel and handed over leadership to the United States.

Meeting on the sidelines of the summit in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa and Modi discussed cooperation across trade, investment, mining, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and food security. The South African president thanked India for its support in organising the global gathering.

“Thank you for the support that India has given to South Africa in hosting G20… You should have told us that it is such a difficult task, maybe we would have run away,” Ramaphosa said with a laugh, drawing smiles from Modi and others in the room. He added that South Africa had “learnt a lot” from India’s 2023 presidency, calling New Delhi’s summit “spectacular”.

Modi replied with a light remark of his own: “Small is always beautiful.”

India hosted the 18th G20 Summit in September 2023 at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, a year that also saw the African Union admitted as a permanent G20 member.

After the meeting, Modi posted on X that he had an “excellent” discussion with Ramaphosa, adding that the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India–South Africa ties, particularly in commerce, culture, investment, technology, AI, skilling and critical minerals. He also congratulated South Africa on its “successful” G20 presidency.

Modi thanked Ramaphosa for South Africa’s support in relocating cheetahs to India and invited him to join the International Big Cat Alliance. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Ramaphosa assured full backing for India’s upcoming BRICS chairship in 2026.