ADDIS ABABA — South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, delivered a powerful and unapologetic message at the 8th African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning, and Integration, declaring that “the era of aid is over” and calling for Africa to take full control of its destiny.
Speaking under the theme “Bridging Africa’s Health Financing Gap in a Changing Geo-Economic Context”, Godongwana said Africa must stop relying on dwindling foreign aid and instead build its own sustainable health and economic systems.
“Our health sector is underfunded, overstretched, and facing a decline in international assistance,” he warned. “We must strengthen our resilience and strategically wean ourselves off external financing.”
With South Africa leading the 2025 G20 Presidency “on behalf of Africa”, Godongwana said the country is determined to make the voice of Africa and the Global South impossible to ignore. Under the banner of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” the Minister outlined South Africa’s vision to reshape global finance and advocate for fairer treatment of developing economies.
He emphasized that Africa’s future lies in innovation, investment, and unity, not dependency:
“Africa must stabilise its economies, bolster institutions, and protect the vulnerable. The old development models will no longer work.”
Godongwana also hinted at a new dawn for Africa’s economy, saying the continent’s youth, minerals, and renewable energy could turn it into a “flywheel for a healthier and more vibrant world.”
“Africa holds the keys to solving global challenges. We must approach development with sharper investment discipline,” he said, adding that new technologies and the global energy transition offer “a thumping new pulse in our veins.”
The Minister also called for targeted taxes on harmful products like alcohol and tobacco, public-private partnerships in healthcare, and crackdowns on illicit financial flows that rob African countries of vital funds.
As the AU session continues, Godongwana urged ministers to emerge with a united continental strategy to fund health and development — one that reflects Africa’s strength, not its struggles.
