Johannesburg, South Africa – Today, South Africa officially launched its presidency of the Youth 20 South Africa—the only official youth engagement group of the G20—at a high-level event held at the historic Rand Club in Johannesburg, reiterating the call that this is Africa’s Y20!
The launch marks a historic milestone as South Africa assumes leadership of the Y20 process for the first time, bringing African youth voices and priorities to the forefront of the global agenda. The Y20 is the oldest engagement group in the G20. After receiving more than 800 requests and applications to participate, the event gathered 200 delegates, including young leaders, government representatives, civil society, media officials, international stakeholders, members of the diplomatic corps, and online participants.
Raymond Matlala, Chair of Y20 South Africa, affirmed the transformative vision of the presidency: “This is not just South Africa’s Y20 – this is Africa’s Y20. We aim to work with youth groups across Africa to uphold this presidency with inclusivity and integrity.”
The programme featured contributions from various national and international speakers, including Moeketsi Koahela (Youth 20 South Africa Co-Chair) and online messages of solidarity from Y20 Brazil 2024 and Y20 USA 2026 delegates.
The Youth 20 South Africa Presidency will focus on five key priority areas:
1. Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, Green Horizons: Leading a Just Energy Transition
2. Inclusive Economic Growth and Employment Pathways to Prosperity
3. AI, Digital Innovation, Education, and the Future of Work Innovate to Elevate: Building Skills for Tomorrow
4. Meaningful Youth Engagement and Reforming Multilateralism for a Just Future
5. Inclusive Social Development and Fighting Inequality – Leaving No One Behind
The event underscored South Africa’s ambition to build a people-centred, youth-driven agenda for global change based on equality, solidarity, and sustainability. Attendees were invited to join a yearlong process of dialogue, policy advocacy, and international and local engagement leading up to the Y20 and G20 Summits later this year.
“This launch repositions youth diplomacy and African leadership on the world stage,” said Levy Singh, Youth 20 South Africa Sherpa. “We are setting the tone for bold, accountable, and actionable youth policy.”
Levi highlighted some of the key challenges this Presidency aims to address:
1. Developing a Y20 Sherpas Council to institutionalise youth involvement in the G20 and Y20 processes moving forward beyond the Johannesburg summit.
2. Establishing a Y20 alumni network will enable previous Y20 delegates and working group members to inform future policies and structures, ensuring that their lived experiences represent the voice of youth worldwide.
3. We are incorporating a comprehensive assessment to track, assess, and enhance significant youth involvement throughout the G20, to institutionalise the Y20 following our chairmanship.
Next Steps
Following the launch, the Youth 20 South Africa team will launch its working group program for the negotiation tracks and embark on national consultations, regional dialogues, and thematic forums to gather input and co-create the official Youth 20 South Africa Communiqué ahead of the Y20 Summit in August
