The chairman of the society, Thulani Tshefuta, will unveil the first policy draft shaped by 14 powerful civil society working groups. Tshefuta said the process was anchored in the independence of civil society.
Their role is to advocate for a fairer and better world where governments act in the interests of all humanity. Through broad consultations, and drawing from the work initiated in Brazil and other G20 processes, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive, transparent, and participatory approach.
“This will produce a robust, radical, and progressive civil society voice, culminating in the C20 Policy Pack to be presented to President Ramaphosa and fellow global leaders in November 2025,” said Tshefuta.
He said the united voice of civil society in South Africa, Africa, and globally will put forward bold policy recommendations. These cover global governance, food security, financial justice, cultural diversity, climate sustainability, education, health, and more. He said these are all aimed at shaping a fairer and more inclusive G20 agenda.
Among the key highlights are calls to democratise global financial governance. This includes reforms at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Other priorities include advancing food security and rural livelihoods, promoting indigenous and community-driven economic systems, ensuring access to inclusive education, health, and employment.
The draft also places cultural diversity and Global South knowledge systems at the center of governance. He said some of the working groups that shaped the policy draft include Trade, Financial Architecture, Sustainable Development, and People-to-People Interaction and Solidarity.
Others include Poverty Alleviation and Food Sustainability, Women and Gender Equity, Employment Opportunities & Retention, and Digital and Inclusive Economies. C20 South Africa is part of the global Civil 20 (C20) initiative. This platform was created in 2013 to ensure that the voices of civil society are heard in the G20.
It champions collective action and pushes for real change on urgent issues such as climate justice, human rights, gender equality, and fair access to health and education. Through its work, C20 South Africa continues to make sure that the concerns of communities are not just acknowledged but placed at the heart of global decision-making.
Happy Mnguni – multimedia journalist
