SA gets ready to host the Women20 summit

South Africa will make history next week as it becomes the first African country to host the Women20 (W20) summit, an official G20 engagement group focused on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

The W20 SA summit will officially open next week in Johannesburg, under the theme “Women in solidarity towards a just future.”

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi is set to deliver the official welcome address, while Sindi Mzamo, W20 SA co-chair, will chair the session.

Delegates from more than 20 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zimbabwe, are expected to attend.

As an official engagement group of the G20, the Women20 summit is set to provide a platform for women from diverse backgrounds to advocate for policies and programmes that promote women's economic empowerment and social justice.

The summit will run for three days, culminating in the adoption of a W20 communiqué, which will be submitted to the South African government for onwards transmissionto G20 leaders.

This year’s summit holds special significance, marking ten years of the W20 and highlighting the importance of inclusive, people-centred policies that support women’s empowerment, especially across Africa and the global south.

By hosting the summit, South Africa underscores its commitment to advancing gender equality, promoting multilateral cooperation, and ensuring that African perspectives are heard at the highest levels of global decision-making.