The article analyses the South Africa Republic’s positions on key global governance issues. The analysis has been carried out on the basis of G20 documents and data from national sources (laws, national programs, leaders’ statements etc).

Given the priorities of South Africa’s development and the government’s stance on major international issues, the G20 agenda issues that appear to be of high importance to South Africa are: international financial institutions’ reform, international development assistance, and structural reforms.

The study revealed that despite the country’s status as a leading industrial power of Sub-Saharan Africa, South African Republic is still faced with the ramifications of economic and social inequalities, impeding its development and complicating social environment. Primary sector output still accounts for more than 60 percent of South Africa’s export. However, the government implements large infrastructure projects with an aim to overcome these obstacles, as well as making attempts to alleviate living conditions for a considerable part of the country’s population. In light of these challenges South Africa is likely to take interest in stimulating economic growth and creating new jobs including through structural reforms, promoting international development assistance (as a way to improve economic and social environment in the neighboring countries), and advancing the international financial institutions’ reform.

The study is implemented within the project of the Russian International Affairs Council and International Organizations Research Institute National Research University Higher School of Economics “Enhancing Effectiveness of Russia’s Participation in G20, G8 and BRICS”.