South Africa’s Historic G20 Presidency: A Turning Point for African and Youth Voices

As the first African nation to hold the G20 presidency, South Africa has been handed more than just a leadership role, it has been handed a historic opportunity to reshape global narratives and drive a people-centred agenda. This moment, rooted in decades of multilateral diplomacy and postcolonial aspiration, holds the promise of advancing African priorities in global governance, economic reform, and sustainable development.

At a recent high-level dialogue hosted by the Southern African Liaison Office (SALO), Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) unpacked the ambitions of South Africa’s Women 20 (W20) presidency. W20, a formal G20 engagement group focused on advancing gender equality, is this year marking a decade of existence and South Africa’s presidency seeks to make it count.

“We are about being women in solidarity towards sustainable socio-economic development. Our value is Ubuntu an African principle of interconnectedness that speaks to our identity as South Africans, as Africans, and as global citizens,” said Bohler-Muller.

This year’s W20 agenda has been shaped through extensive consultations across South Africa and the Global South, focusing on key priorities: financial inclusion and entrepreneurship for women, recognition and support for the care economy, climate justice and environmental sustainability, the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, advancing health equity for women and girls, ensuring women’s access to land and agricultural resources, and promoting education and skills development in STEM fields while addressing the digital divide. Cross-cutting themes include the empowerment of persons with disabilities and promoting the African Agenda, with an emphasis on solidarity, equality, and sustainability as guiding principles for South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

Despite limited resources, the South African W20 team a coalition of academics, civil society leaders, and businesswomen has been pushing forward through partnerships with government entities like the GCIS, and outreach initiatives across provinces and borders. Their aim is to feed these priorities into a robust communiqué, shaped by consensus across W20 countries, to be tabled at the October summit.

But amid all this, a powerful parallel movement is also gaining momentum: youth-led advocacy through the Youth 20 (Y20).

“As youth, we are at the center of the global crisis from climate change to the just energy transition and inclusive economic growth. We are not just participants; we are stakeholders. We demand to be heard,” declared a Y20 delegate during the same SALO event.

“We want a system that doesn’t just hear the youth but acts on what we say. Listening is not enough. Implementation is justice.”

These words resonate deeply with a generation that has grown weary of performative inclusion. From school climate strikes to digital entrepreneurship in townships, young people are leading change but continue to be relegated to the margins when it comes to decision-making. South Africa’s presidency, which comes at a time of global Poly crisis, offers a rare opportunity to centre youth voices not as symbolic contributors but as equal partners in building the future.

South Africa is part of the G20 troika alongside Brazil (2024) and the United States (2026). Brazil’s presidency laid significant groundwork for inclusive global reform, emphasizing the fight against hunger, poverty, and inequality. It also pushed for greater representation of the Global South within global financial institutions and elevated the urgency of climate action.

Brazil hosted the G20 Social Summit a pioneering initiative that brought civil society voices directly into policy dialogues. It also emphasized digital inclusion, fair trade, and multilateral cooperation as pillars for sustainable development. These efforts have given South Africa a strong foundation to build on and a partner to collaborate with in shaping long-term outcomes.

As the presidency transitions to the United States at the end of 2025, the need for continuity and legacy projects becomes paramount.

“We are building something that must live beyond us; this presidency is not just a moment it’s a movement,” said Bohler-Muller.

Brazil, South Africa, and the United States must now work together to institutionalize gains made under their respective presidencies. This includes creating mechanisms for long-term inclusion of African voices, formalizing youth and gender equality recommendations, and ensuring accountability across the rotating presidencies.

From Pretoria to Nairobi, from Rio to Washington, the global governance landscape is being redefined by those long excluded. And as Africa steps into the centre of the conversation with women and youth leading the charge — the world must listen, and more importantly, act.

South Africa may be the first African nation to lead the G20. But it must not be the last.