📍Lord Charles Hotel, Cape Town, Western Cape

12 October 2025

Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa this morning held a bilateral meeting with the United Kingdom High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Antony Phillipson, on the sidelines of the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Ministerial Meeting currently underway in Cape Town.

The engagement provided an opportunity to reflect on shared priorities between South Africa and the United Kingdom, particularly in strengthening disaster risk reduction, advancing climate resilience, and exploring early financial response mechanisms to disasters. Minister Hlabisa underscored the importance of such engagements, even ahead of the main G20 Leaders’ Summit, as they help shape practical and innovative approaches to building state and community capacity.

A key focus of the conversation was the need to move beyond traditional government funding models by fostering collaboration with the private sector, multilateral institutions, and international development partners to establish sustainable resilience financing. Disaster risk insurance was also briefly discussed as part of mechanisms to accelerate recovery and strengthen preparedness.

“While government remains central to disaster response, we must look beyond state resources and actively pursue partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms that can help communities recover faster and stronger,” Minister Hlabisa said. He further noted that the goal of disaster risk reduction is not only to save lives but to restore livelihoods and enable communities to rebuild better than before.

High Commissioner Phillipson congratulated South Africa on hosting a successful G20 process thus far, noting that the country has demonstrated strong leadership and that the November G20 Summit should stand as a crowning moment. He reflected on the importance of international collaboration in responding to natural hazards, building resilience, and sharing expertise to mitigate disaster impacts.

Both parties agreed that the insights emerging from the DRR Working Group and related ministerial engagements will be consolidated into a report that will inform the G20 engagement in November.