The Civil 20 (C20) South Africa team’s first draft of the policy briefs is the culmination of months of extensive grassroots consultations and cross-border collaborations, and prioritises a collective call for justice, equity, and transformation. 

This was according to Greer Schoeman, policy & content technical leader in the office of the C20 South Africa Sherpa, who presented an initial policy draft brief, a collaborative effort by 14 diverse civil society working groups in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The working groups will submit their second draft in two weeks, which will then be further refined into the final draft and declaration of the C20.

The final draft will then be adopted at the C20 South Africa end-term meeting, taking place from September 28 to 30, 2025, with 300 participants in attendance.

Schoeman said the C20 work was achieved through six clusters and working groups, including the finance cluster focusing on trade, financial architecture, and sustainable development.

There is also a global governance cluster focusing on encompassing people-to-people interaction and solidarity, democratic governance, civil space, anti-corruption, and access to justice.

Regarding finance, Schoeman said: “Civil society is calling for urgent reform in global financial governance. Poorer nations must be given a greater voice in decision-making at the World Trade Organization and the unfair quota system within the International Monetary Fund must end.”

She said economies cannot grow equitably when the rules remain stacked against the people.

“We are also urging targeted investments in rural economies through building local value chains, advancing land reform, and scaling up community finance models that draw on indigenous knowledge and risk preparedness systems,” she said.

Thulani Tshefuta, chairperson of C20 South Africa, said effective interventions to address intergenerational cycles of poverty must go beyond short-term solutions. 

“We need evidence-based programmes that promote education, skills development, social protection, employment, and entrepreneurship,” he said.

He highlighted the need for better coordination and integration of policy variables to address the multi-layered challenges of skills development, employment, and economic growth.

“Skills policies must be demand-led and driven, economic policies must advance inclusive job-rich growth, and active labour market policies must be implemented,” he said.

He also noted that the transformation agenda is under attack, with voices opposing transformation becoming emboldened and organised. 

“Equality cannot be achieved without raising the base of the marginalised people through deliberate implementation of measures that support empowerment and transformation,” he stressed.

The C20 team supports the establishment of instruments like the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition‘s proposed transformation fund, believing it can play a strategic role in addressing key economic imperatives. 

They also welcome the decision to host the G20 Social Summit on November 18-20, 2025, as a platform to give more voices an opportunity to be heard.

Tshefuta said the leadership has intentionally adopted a Pan-African perspective in developing policy proposals, recognising that South Africa’s G20 presidency is taking place amidst a volatile global landscape marked by shifting geopolitical dynamics. 

The C20 team announced a series of events leading up to the G20 Summit, which include the Immigration Summit on October 9-10, followed by the People-to-People Soccer Bonanza on November 16 ,and the Digital Power of Women Summit scheduled for November 21-22.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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