Ekurhuleni: Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged global leaders to recognise the significant impact of their decisions on humanity's future. Speaking to an audience of local and international delegates at the G20 Social Summit, the Deputy President stressed the summit's critical mission to 'develop solutions while serving as a platform for fostering collaboration between state and non-state actors to advance sustainable global partnership for development.'

According to South African Government News Agency, the G20 Social Summit began on Tuesday at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, under the theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.' The three-day summit is designed as an inclusive platform to amplify the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations, and communities.

The country's second-in-command used his platform to highlight the urgent need for collective action. 'As we engage in discussions in the coming days, we must remember the billions of lives at stake, the aspirations of unborn children and our profound responsibility to leave behind a world that surpasses the one we inherited.' Grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the gathering seeks to reshape global discourse by positioning developing nations, particularly in Africa, as active agents of innovation and change, not mere recipients of aid.

Key priorities included addressing global challenges such as climate change, social and economic inequalities, and creating pathways for inclusive economic growth. The summit introduced three cross-cutting task forces focusing on economic growth, food security, and artificial intelligence for sustainable development. 'We must continuously find ways to build bridges and common ground. Working together is key to building a better future with solutions that fit our unique challenges,' the Deputy President stressed.

While the G20 Social Summit in South Africa focuses on global partnership, Deputy President Mashatile believes that other issues have significantly broader implications across multiple critical societal challenges. He also took the time to touch on gender-based violence (GBV), which he described as 'one of Africa's most pressing and severe social issues.' The Deputy President urged the international community to address obstacles to gender equality with 'renewed agency, solidarity and innovation.'

He also placed the spotlight on youth leadership, noting that through the Youth 20 (Y20) communique, the African youth have effectively delivered directly youth-driven recommendations to G20 leaders. The Deputy President said the leaders see the youth as 'vital contributors to the creation of a sustainable and inclusive global future.'

Former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in her capacity as Co-Convener of this year's 2025 G20 Social Summit, thanked everyone in the room for the work they have done preparing for the gathering. She recognised the importance of the diverse voices and said the programme will be nothing without the lived experience of people. Mlambo-Ngcuka rallied the summit participants to focus on sustainable impact, emphasising the importance of supporting the vision outlined in Agenda 2063.