Ekurhuleni: Registration is currently open for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society groups to participate in the Group of 20 (G20) Social Summit. This event is scheduled to take place from 18 – 20 November 2025 in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Social Summit is convened under South Africa’s G20 Presidency and aims to provide an inclusive platform that amplifies the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations, and communities. The summit is aligned with the G20 Presidency theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability’ and will gather both formal and informal networks. These include youth groups, women’s organisations, individuals with disabilities, faith-based organisations, community forums, and other grassroots structures.

The gathering will provide a platform for these groups to engage directly on global issues that impact daily life. ‘Government calls on informal groups and community movements across South Africa, the African continent and globally to register and take part in this historic people’s summit,’ the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said. ‘It is vital that global commitments are grounded in the lived experiences of communities.’

The summit’s goal is to promote global solidarity, advance inclusive development, and produce a Leaders’ Declaration that reflects the aspirations and experiences of all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among them. Building on Brazil’s 2024 innovation of institutionalising civil society input into the G20, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed that South Africa would not only continue but also expand the Social Summit. Conceived as a people-centred platform, the summit will elevate issues of social development, equity, and inclusion to the same level of urgency as macroeconomic and financial concerns.