The Group of 20 (G20) Social Summit kicked off with a spirited cultural programme, where delegates and invited guests were entertained by groups, which showcased South Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
The three-day summit, which began on Tuesday, saw thousands of delegates from all walks of life gather at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, to air their views ahead of the long-awaited G20 Leaders’ Summit, taking place over the weekend.
The three-day G20 Social Summit is designed as an inclusive platform to amplify the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations and communities.
In a groundbreaking moment for international diplomacy, the G20 Summit has landed on African soil for the first time, marking a pivotal chapter in global governance.
The summit, hosted in South Africa, is emerging as a powerful platform for challenging existing global power structures and demanding meaningful African representation.
Dr William Carew, representing the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council, delivered a passionate address that cut to the heart of the continent's long-standing marginalisation.
“We are no longer content to be observers of our own destiny, but we are builders of a new global war,” he said, stressing Africa's determination to author its own narrative.
Highlighting the stark inequities in global systems, Carew pointed out critical disparities.
“Africa owns 30% of the world's mineral reserves, possesses 60% of the world's arable land and is home to the youngest population on Earth, and yet we remain on the periphery of global economic decision making.”
Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s welcoming remarks set a tone of hope and transformation.
Lesufi proclaimed that this summit will deepen cooperation and will ensure all nations come together with one goal: to make the world a better place.
Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller, representing the G20 engagement groups, further amplified the call for systemic change.
“We meet at a time of compounding crisis… climate collapse, democratic erosion, backsliding on human rights, economic precarity and deepening inequalities.”
However, she believes this is “a time of opportunity, where the architecture of global governance can be reimagined and not only repaired.”
The delegates’ core message resonated with the principle of Ubuntu - “I am because you are” - a philosophy of interconnectedness and mutual responsibility.
“We are not just stakeholders. We are co-authors of the global agenda,” said Bohler-Muller.
The delegates believe that this is more than a diplomatic event, but a profound statement of African agency, demanding recognition, respect and genuine partnership in solving global challenges.
“This is not a call for charity or concession. This is a demand for justice,” Carew said.
The G20 Social Summit stands as a landmark moment, signalling a potential shift from a world order built on historical inequities to one founded on genuine solidarity, equality, and shared prosperity.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver the keynote address at the Social Summit this afternoon. – SAnews.gov.za
