According to an official statement, the designation reflects the profound impact of the country’s presidency and hosting of the G20 summit, held last November, a global event that dominated the national public debate.

The winning word prevailed over other significant candidates such as “Government of National Unity,” “Tariffs,” “Femicide,” and “Madlanga Commission,” in a process organized by PanSALB in collaboration with the media research firm Focal Points.

For the selection, the frequency of use of words and terms in prestigious print, digital, and audiovisual media was analyzed from January 1 to December 2025.

“‘G20’ emerged as the most prominent keyword, largely because South Africa hosted the G20 summit in 2025. These terms capture the main events and issues that shaped South Africa in 2025,” the institution explained in the text.

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