Unisa, in collaboration with the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), is hosting the two-day Midterm Conference of the Think 20 (T20), a dynamic network of research institutes and experts from across the world who provide vital input into G20 processes.

The opening session took place in a packed function hall at Unisa’s main campus

Watch a recording of the commencement of the T20 Midterm Conference

Taking place on 19 and 20 June 2025 and themed Consolidate and Sustain, the conference will see T20 task forces and G20 representatives participating in a series of panel discussions and roundtables exploring the thematic priorities of the T20 and the broader G20 agenda.

Key focus areas include building global solidarity, tackling inequality and addressing poverty. In addition, representatives from the Women 20 (W20), Civil 20 (C20) and Youth 20 (Y20) engagement groups will participate to ensure inclusive contributions to the policy dialogue.

A world of stark contrasts

Welcoming delegates on 19 June, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), said that the world has changed dramatically and is back to volatility and uncertainty. She continued: "The nature of how we live, how we work, how we play, has changed dramatically and will continue to do so. We live at the dawn of converging technologies, inspired and fuelled by ground-breaking research, innovation and development in areas such as natural sciences, medicine, technology, social sciences, humanities, and the indomitable human spirit."

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Turning to the darker side of a changed world, the VC said that due to greed, populism and even barbarism, the entire international system has been destroyed, thereby risking the sustainability of the Earth and humanity itself. "It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, powerful or powerless, a believer or a non-believer, the situation is untenable for us all."

She continued: "We live in a world of stark contrasts – of progress and regress, of great starts and false starts, of poverty and wealth, of freedom and oppression, of war and peace, and so on."

Pondering a solution, the VC considered what is to be done. "The geopolitical shift taking place in the world today," she posited, "if engaged carefully, holds great promise for the rebalancing of global power and fairer allocation of resources. This shift can serve as an opportunity and a platform to realise a truly transformed global governance system, where peace and happiness thrive, far away from the threats of anarchy, war and suffering."

Inspiring the delegates to give their all in the serious discussions that lie ahead at the conference, the VC concluded as follows: "I hope that we can reclaim the progressive developmental agenda that must define the new world order that lies ahead of us. And just maybe, we may succeed in consolidating and sustaining. Let us rally and put our heads together to co-construct a future we are proud of."

Forefronting humanity

Delivering the keynote address, Councillor Nasiphi Moya, Mayor of the City of Tshwane, echoed the VC’s sentiments by urging delegates to think about humanity while deliberating on the various issues on the table. "Let’s think about the human beings before we think about the systems," she said. "If we know why we do what we do, the impact will be guaranteed because the impact lies in the people."

Councillor Nasiphi Moya, Mayor of the City of Tshwane

Moya spoke about the opportunity presented by the fact that the G20 Summit will be held in South Africa this year. "If this cycle of the G20 can deliver results for Africa," she said, "I think that half of the problems we are dealing with will be resolved."

Addressing the delegates directly, she said: "I see an opportunity here. While you are in Africa, we want you to know who we are, so that you know for whom the solutions you come up with are. And I want you to imagine what the impact on the world will be if we get this right."

Moya recounted relevant experiences that she has had in the mayoral space and lessons learnt along the way, especially regarding the cardinal importance of transparency. "This world of ours," she said, "has been subjected to the evilest systems because a select few decided to make their decisions in dark corners. It is time that we reverse that system. What we do, we must do in the light for the betterment of a future that we may not even benefit from."

Concluding, Moya thanked the delegates for what she termed their labour of love. "The recommendations that you will be making," she said, "are meant to build the world. Only a loving person can think beyond themselves. I wish you very fruitful deliberations as you proceed."

The third presentation was a nuanced and incisive discussion by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, G20 Sous Sherpa, who offered his midterm reflections on the South African G20 presidency.

Over the course of a jam-packed two-day programme, expert panels will examine the following:

• Global inequality and the role of the G20
• Trade and investment
• Digital transformation
• Financing for sustainable development
• Solidarity for the achievement of the SDGs
• Climate action and just energy transition

Unisa’s co-hosting of this seminal conference is the institution’s third engagement this year related to the upcoming G20 Summit. It follows on the university’s successful hosting of the G20 Africa Investment Summit which featured the launch of the first-of-its-kind Academia-Public-Private-Diplomatic Corps Forum, and the launch, in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, of the G20 Presidency Community Engagement Town Hall Outreach Programme.

* By Philip van der Merwe, Department of Institutional Advancement