By Noko Mashilo
The announcement of the Civil 20 (C20) leadership in South Africa represents a significant advancement in the nation’s involvement with the G20 process, highlighting the essential contribution of civil society in influencing global economic and social policies.
The C20 is an essential engagement group in the G20 framework, bringing together a multitude of voices from civil society organisations (CSOs). This collective effort enables these organizations to effectively influence decision-making on critical global issues, including climate change, economic inequality, health, and social justice.
South Africa’s leadership in the C20 reflects its commitment to fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and equity on the global stage. This leadership role offers an opportunity to spotlight pressing issues affecting us globally and amplify the perspectives of marginalized communities.
Through dialogue, policy advocacy, and partnerships with other G20 engagement groups, C20 South Africa aims to ensure that civil society’s contributions are meaningfully incorporated into the G20 agenda.
The management announcement that sets the stage for enhanced public engagement, robust dialogue, and a stronger alignment between global priorities and grassroots realities, consists of Thulani Tshefuta from NEDLAC Community Constituency who has been given the role of Chairperson. Mabalane Mfundisi from Show Me Your Number is the Sherpa. Sheila Mbele from SANAC Civil Society Forum is the 1st Co-Chairperson.
There will be a person from the Persons with Disabilities stakeholders in civil society who will be co-opted through a civil society democratic process as the 2nd Co-Chairperson.
There will also be a person from the LGBTQI+ stakeholders in civil society to be co-opted through a civil society democratic process as the 1st Sous Sherpa and Terrence Mpanza from SANCO is the 2nd Sous Sherpa.
These men and women were announced on 20 December 2024 when the leadership from NEDLAC Community Constituency, SANAC Civil Society Forum, South African National Civic Organisation (SANAC), Show Me Your Number and WACI Health were present and agreed collectively.
Thulani Tshefuta said they will be guided by the independence of civil society to advocate for a better world that is possible when governments of the world govern in the interest of the whole of humanity.
“Through consultation and based on the work done in Brazil and other G20 processes, we will ensure an inclusive process that will provide a robust, radical and progressive voice of civil society that will culminate in the C20 Policy Pack that will be presented to President Ramaphosa and other global leaders in November 2025,” said Tshefuta.
He further said this process will be local through voices of the diverse civil society in South Africa, the rest of Africa and globally: “Currently, the C20 Civil Society Council that is all the organisations that have registered, they will continue to register on the database and put in place stands of over 400 organisations from South Africa, the rest of Africa and globally.”
Tshefuta said the C20 South Africa leadership will heed the call made by President Ramaphosa in his G20 acceptance speech on the 3rd of December 2024 where he said: “It is important for South Africa that our G20 Presidency is inclusive. Dialogue with civil society and other non-government institutions will be conducted through various engagement groups. South Africa firmly believes that civil society serves as a bridge between the G20 leaders and the people who have the greatest interest in their deliberations.”
He also said the stage has been set and their role as the C20 working in tandem with other G20 engagement groups will ensure that a strong bridge is built to carry heavy loads and people whose sole aim is to make the world a better place for all.
“This better world includes decisions that will alter the current global financial architecture and propel global leaders to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action and other commitments,” he said.
In the next few days, the leadership is adamant that the following actions will inform the work of the new C20 South Africa as they race against time to catch up since they just started discharging their responsibilities:
- Communicate the leadership through this media statement
- Brief the Civil Society Council (over 500 civil society organisations) that have registered on the database of the civil society organisations interested in the C20 South Africa process.
- Meeting with the Government Sherpa to introduce the leadership and finalise the configuration of the Working Groups based on the thematic focus of the South African G20 Presidency
- Finalisation of the governance structure through co-option of additional leadership of the C20 Presidency and Facilitators and Co-Facilitators of the Working Groups
- Finalise the Concept Note for C20 South Africa inclusive of the Working Groups.
- Presentation of the Concept Note and its endorsement by the C20 Civil Society Council
- Official launch of C20 South Africa based on the Concept Note
- Inception meeting of the Steering Committee (N.B. The Steering Committee of the C20 South Africa will be made up of the entire leadership in the Presidency of C20 and the Facilitators of the Working Groups
- Convene regular meetings of the C20 Steering Committee to track progress in the development of Policy Packs for the various work groups and the Consolidated Policy Pack to be presented at the G20 Summit in November 2025
- Further and ongoing engagement with the G20/ SA Government/ Sherpa Track