With South Africa’s G20 Presidency underway, civil society leaders are urging member states to move beyond tokenism and embrace their role as a vital bridge between governments and the public. The core message is clear: for the G20 to achieve its goals of solidarity, equality, and sustainability, the policy proposals and grassroots knowledge of civil society must be taken seriously through a process of meaningful engagement.
The Civil 20 (C20), an official G20 engagement group, recently convened a major meeting in Sandton, bringing together organisations from South Africa, the African continent, and G20 member countries. According to Thulani Tshefuta, chairperson of C20 South Africa, the purpose was to consolidate policy ideas to present to governments. “C20 organises the voice of civil society in order to put together policy ideas that can be advocated with governments as part of addressing the challenges that G20 will be dealing with,” Tshefuta explained.
The South African government has publicly stated its commitment to an inclusive approach. In a statement on its G20 presidency, the government affirmed its belief that “civil society serves as a bridge between the G20 leaders and the people who have the greatest interest in their deliberations.” It also acknowledged that the “experience and grassroots knowledge” of these groups will “greatly enrich the G20’s collective discussions and policy decisions.”
However, civil society representatives stress that this must translate into concrete action. Tshefuta emphasised the need for a change in approach: “The least we ask for is that we must be engaged on the strength of our ideas, not on the basis of who is raising this idea.” He added, “We believe in meaningful engagement as the primary way of advocating for our ideas.”
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Key Areas for Policy Development
The C20’s work is structured around several working groups focusing on critical global and local issues. These groups are developing policy proposals on topics that reflect the complex challenges facing the world, including:
Economic Justice and Inequality: The C20 aims to promote economic justice and ensure that financial resources are allocated efficiently to benefit all, under the principle of “leave no one behind.”
Climate and Environmental Justice: As highlighted by the 2025 State of Civil Society Report by CIVICUS, climate inaction is a major global concern. In South Africa, the recent proclamation of the Climate Change Act marks a significant step, but civil society continues to advocate for the urgent finalisation of regulations for greenhouse gas emission reductions and carbon budgets.
Gender Equity and Human Rights: The C20 is pushing for greater accountability on commitments to gender equality and the protection of human rights. Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, urged that the G20 should not be a “box-ticking exercise” and called for the budget to be inclusive and for accountability on violence against women and children.
Governance and Anti-Corruption: Addressing corruption and strengthening democratic governance and civic space are central to the C20’s agenda. This is particularly relevant in the host nation, which grapples with high rates of crime, including organised crime, which has been linked to poverty and inequality.
As the G20 summit in November approaches, the call from civil society is not just for a seat at the table, but for a substantive role in shaping the outcomes. The success of South Africa’s G20 presidency, and the legitimacy of the forum itself, may depend on whether world leaders heed this call for meaningful engagement.
Image: C20 South Africa chairperson Thulani Tshefuta highlighted the group’s role, not as adversaries of the government but as crucial partners who advocate for those most vulnerable in society. Credit: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
