WATCH: UK’s Keir Starmer nearly tumbles in Joburg ahead of G20 summit
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer nearly took an embarrassing fall in front of the world’s media, at the G20 summit in South Africa.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer stumbled over his own feet on Friday, 21 November 2025, as he arrived to meet senior business leaders in Johannesburg ahead of the successful G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Footage captured by press cameras shows the prime minister tripping just before approaching a group of executives, a moment of awkwardness Starmer deftly recovered from by regaining his balance and greeting the group.
“How are you all?” said a cool Starmer.
WATCH AS UK PRIME MINISTER TRIPS UP
Keir Starmer’s trip to G20 South Africa
Starmer’s trip to South Africa was highly anticipated, as he had defended his decision to travel for the G20 just days before a potentially controversial budget was due in the UK.
Starmer insisted the visit was good value for British taxpayers, arguing that securing investment from G20 partners and allies is vital for dealing with the cost of living crisis and creating secure jobs back home. He also spent part of the trip trying to shore up support for Ukraine amid geopolitical tensions.
Despite his tiny stumble before the business engagement on Friday, Starmer delivered on the investment front, announcing landmark deals aimed at stimulating job creation and deepening UK-SA economic ties. These deals included a programme backed by over R100 million in UK funding with Anglo American, expected to unlock R500 million in private finance and create over 4,800 jobs.
Further boosting South Africa’s tech ventures, the UK partnered with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. In a saucy security boost, UK firm Babcock is even set to assist the South African Navy in maintaining its Type 209 submarines.
The G20 summit in Johannesburg, which was the first to be held in Africa, hosted over 40 heads of state, although some high-profile guests, including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, were noticeably absent.
World leaders, including Starmer, began departing South Africa after the summit wrapped on Sunday, 23 November 2025.