South Africa will host a World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting in Cape Town between 27 and 31 March 2028, National Treasury said in a media statement on 2 November. The meeting was first announced for 2027, but the dates were revised.
What Treasury announced
Treasury said South Africa will host the meeting through the Treasury. It said the dates were "subsequently revised following adjustments to the WEF's international meeting calendar".
The meeting forms part of the WEF's broader efforts to extend its global engagement beyond its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, according to the statement. Treasury said it will bring together leaders from across the world to examine the forces reshaping the global economy, explore new opportunities for growth and investment, and forge partnerships.
Why it matters
Hosting a WEF special meeting gives South Africa a platform to pitch itself to international investors and policymakers. The statement does not set out specific investment goals or expected outcomes, and those details will matter when the programme is announced.
What we do not yet know
The Treasury statement does not give the venue, the cost to the fiscus, the expected attendance, the programme or the names of any speakers. It also does not name a minister or official as the spokesperson for the announcement. Media queries were directed to Treasury's media office.
