Pretoria, South Africa: When history books recount the tale of Africa’s rise, may they not overlook the quiet, potent moments of resolve – like the one recently witnessed at the University of South Africa (UNISA). The Republic of South Africa, as the first African nation to host the G20 Summit, finds itself standing not just at the crossroads of global diplomacy, but also at a critical juncture of self-reflection and ambition. This is no small feat. This is a continental moment.
The event, held at the UNISA Muckleneuk campus in Pretoria on 25 April 2025, masterfully programme directed by the ever-eloquent Dr Sindiswa Mzamo (Global President at Circle of Global Business Women), brought together a constellation of voices – from vice chancellors and government ministers to kings, entrepreneurs and industry stalwarts – all gathered to shape what is possible for the Africa we want.
In her opening, UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor (P&VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula, set the tone. She spoke not as one observing from a distance, but as a leader charting the course. Her message was sharp: innovation must be the currency with which Africa trades in the new global economic order – one that increasingly weaponises tariffs and nationalism to protect narrow interests. “Collaboration is currency,” she reminded us, urging that we build strategic alliances if we are to claim our space on the global stage. We cannot play solo and expect to be heard in the orchestra of global trade. The session was also graced by the presence of UNISA Chancellor, former President Thabo Mbeki, who joined the session online.
Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, UNISA’s Vice Principal for Research (and the incoming Vice Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga), issued a heartfelt call to all present: we must not only engage in dialogues around the G20; we must build, from the ground up, a Pan-African ecosystem of transformation. She reminded us of a brutal statistic – intra-African trade sits at a paltry 6%. Six percent. That is a crisis. If we are to make Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) a lived reality, we must embrace knowledge – in the words of Kofi Annan – as both power and liberator. Knowledge must become praxis.
Mr George Sebula of Subvest Holdings brought the private sector voice with much-needed clarity. Universities, he argued, must not remain ivory towers. Institutions like UNISA must embed themselves into the very bloodstream of the economy – especially through technology. Agritech, fintech, and renewable energy are not abstract buzzwords; they are engines of economic transformation. He made a bold call: the private sector of Africa must have a seat at the G20 table, not as spectators but as co-creators of solutions. For that, researchers must rise. Accurate data, he said, is the backbone of sound policy.
From the North West Province came MEC Bitsa Lenkopane, who emphasised that this moment cannot be owned solely by Gauteng. Each province – including the often-overlooked North West – is ripe with potential. But, she warned, we cannot unlock the promise of the AfCFTA if the guns are still blazing across parts of our continent. We must silence the guns to give peace – and trade – a chance.
Ms Lerato Okeyo of Thuto Trust added another layer – one we often sidestep: literacy. She reminded us that illiteracy remains a giant wall blocking access to further education for many Africans. It continues to perpetuate exclusion. In her words, innovation must not only be about technology; it must also be about access, inclusion, and breaking generational cycles of ignorance.
Advocate Thembelihle Mapitsa, representing the Moses Kotane Research Institute, offered tangible examples of regional programmes geared toward inclusivity. Her words were affirming: the institute stands ready to walk the path with UNISA and others in co-developing solutions.
The first panel, steered by UNISA Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support, Prof Eunice Seekoe and anchored by P&VC Prof LenkaBula, was a robust and engaging space. There were tough questions from the floor: How do we ensure that the G20 engagements translate into action and are not reduced to another round of polished talk? MEC Lenkopane (MEC in the North West Province) responded with refreshing candour: her department has ringfenced funds to support some of the collaborative initiatives that emerge from such dialogues. This wasn’t just a soundbite. It was a promise written into policy intention.
Even Lesotho’s Prime Minister’s Office weighed in. The future of Africa, they argued, rests on the ingenuity of its youth. We must stop designing solutions for young people without young people. They must lead. And this leadership must be transboundary, Pan-African, and collaborative.
The second black female chartered accountant in South Africa, Ms Sindiswa Zilwa brought her voice to the fore. She is not just an accountant but an entrepreneur who holds a “PhD from the School of Hard Knocks” and policymaker who has weathered over three decades in business. Her message was direct: entrepreneurship does not thrive in a vacuum. Ecosystems matter. We kill businesses – especially Black businesses – when we fail to support them with coherent, sustainable environments. Her words rang true for many of us who have seen promising enterprises wither due to systemic neglect.
In a moment of candid reflection, Sello Mphaga (Head of International Relations in the City of Tshwane, and Liaison for the U20 and G20 ) turned the spotlight on one of Africa’s most pressing concerns – service delivery. He made a compelling case for cities and state entities to place this issue at the very top of their agendas. For Mphaga, it is not just a matter of infrastructure or logistics; it is a litmus test of leadership.
He didn’t mince his words when he pointed to the glaring leadership vacuum across the continent – an absence that continues to hold back meaningful progress, especially in meeting the needs of our youth. Mphaga reminded us that Africa’s young people are not just the future; they are the now, and they require bold, accountable leadership that is ready to rise to the occasion.
What stood out most in his address was a call for collaboration across sectors. He highlighted the potential of high-level platforms like the G20 Summit – not as distant diplomatic exercises, but as opportunities to bring together academia, the private sector, and public institutions in pursuit of real, workable solutions to the challenges confronting Africa today.
His message was clear: if we are serious about change, we must break silos, tap into collective expertise, and put service to people – especially the youth – at the heart of governance and leadership.
But of course, as I sat listening to these powerful voices, one lingering question echoed in my mind: What legacy projects will the G20 Summit leave behind for South Africa? And, more importantly, for Africa?
While the AfCFTA and Agenda 2063 were rightly celebrated, one element was noticeably missing from the conversation: the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). As someone who straddles the worlds of law and aviation, I must point out that true integration in Africa will never be achieved if we do not unlock the skies. SAATM is more than a policy document; it is the infrastructure for the movement of goods, services, people, and ideas across our continent. If we ignore it, we risk clipping our own wings before the flight of African prosperity can take off.
In conclusion, this event was not just a meeting – it was a marker of what is possible. If we treat this moment with the seriousness it deserves, if we honour the voices that rose in the UNISA halls, we may just look back and say: this was the day Africa began to turn the tide.
But the work must continue. From words to policy. From promise to implementation, and from exclusion to inclusion.
Let us fly.
Prof Angelo Dube is a Professor of International Law, Director of the School of Law at UNISA, and Chief Executive Officer at Flying Jurist, and founder of the General Aviation Indaba. He writes here in his personal capacity.
