To ensure that ALL voices find expression in the leadership and no one is left behind, there will be co-option of 2 additional leaders. To this end, there will be a person from the Person’s with Disabilities stakeholders in civil society who will be co-opted through a civil society democratic process as the 2^nd 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 2^nd Sous Sherpa.

“The Civil 20 (C20) South Africa leadership marks a pivotal step in the country’s engagement with the G20 process, underscoring the critical role of civil society in shaping global economic and social policies” according to Thulani Tshefuta, C20 South Africa Chairperson.

As a key engagement group within the G20 framework, the C20 brings together diverse voices from civil society organizations (CSOs), enabling them to influence decision-making on global challenges, such as climate change, economic inequality, health, and social justice.

South Africa’s civil society’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” according to Mabalane Mfundisi, the C20 South Africa Sherpa.

This leadership was endorsed during the meeting between civil society leaders in South Africa and the International Advisory Committee (IAC) on the 20^th December 2024 where 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. At this same meeting the consortium of organisations led by Oxfam South Africa, AFRODAD and Environmental Justice Network (EJN) announced that they will no longer participate in the official C20 process. Any attempt or claim that the Oxfam South Africa, AFRODAD & EJN are leading C20 in South Africa must be dismissed in the stroingest terms. Their behind the scenes arrangement with the IAC is deplorable and unethical and it is not in line with the generally accepted democratic principles that underpin how civil society all over the world operates.

Thulani Tshefuta further said “The C20 South Africa 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.”

The C20 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 1000 organisations from South Africa, the rest of Africa and globally” said Tshefuta.

Tshefuta said the C20 South Africa leadership will heed the call made by President Ramaphosa in his G20 acceptance speech on the 3^rd 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.”