By Palesa Nguqu
Chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and former international relations minister, Naledi Pandor, has urged women to build on three decades of progress in gender equality.
She was speaking at the Women20 (W20) SA Summit 2025, held on Monday at the Vivari Hotel and Spa in Johannesburg.
The W20 SA Summit, themed, Women in Solidarity towards a Just Future, aims to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment by bringing together global leaders, researchers, policymakers, and civil society representatives.
The three-day event was attended by delegates from over 20 countries, including, among others, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria and Lesotho.
Pandor said it was important to strengthen bonds of cooperation that translate into practical action to advance women’s empowerment.
“This is a good time to agree on such a goal,” she noted, adding that this year marks 30 years since the Beijing Global Conference on Women.
“The W20 is a reminder of what women have achieved,” Pandor said, reflecting on how the forum, which began in 2014, has evolved into a vital engagement group within the G20 framework.
She acknowledged that many new institutions, NGOs, academics, and researchers have contributed to positive progress in advancing the gender agenda worldwide.
Pandor also emphasised the need for new moral values and interests to drive the global economy, saying: “The dominance of one country dictating everything cannot continue. We must argue for multipolarity and strengthen our commitment to multilateralism.”
She called on women to actively participate in leading organisations such as BRICS, the African Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement, to promote progressive internationalism and development priorities.
Pandor noted that in South Africa, constitutional protection of the right to equality has opened up vast opportunities for women.
“For example, girls in our country now have broad access to education — they outnumber boys in secondary schools, universities, and colleges,” she said.
“More women are entering previously male-dominated sectors such as mining, financial services, technology, communications, and health sciences. These were unheard of in South Africa decades ago.”
She added that while progress has been significant, there remains a need for more practical collaboration among women-led organisations.
“Sometimes I worry that we have too many organisations, but not enough practical action,” she cautioned.
Pandor said women’s participation in global affairs must also extend to issues of peace and security, particularly in light of conflicts around the world.
“We all know that from Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine, the impact of war on women is catastrophic,” she said.
“War crimes such as rape, genocidal violence, and the targeting of healthcare workers exacerbate women’s suffering and reverse hard-won gains in empowerment.”
She urged the W20 to become advocates for the reconstruction of Gaza, freedom for Palestine, and security for Israel, through active participation in global decision-making forums.
“As we engage with BRICS, we must champion modern ideas such as equal pay for equal work, and integrate these principles into the agendas of BRICS, the African Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement,” Pandor said.
She concluded with a call for greater global solidarity among women, saying:
“We should focus our collective efforts on world peace and cooperation. Such collaboration will build a powerful global influence of women activists and leaders.”
The W20 SA Summit concluded on Tuesday with a strong call to action for G20 leaders to prioritise key areas that impact the lives of women and girls globally.
The summit’s communiqué outlined critical recommendations for G20 leaders to address pressing issues, such as: entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, the care economy, education, STEM, and the digital divide, climate justice, health equity, and violence against women and girls.
The communiqué also urged G20 leaders to take concrete actions to address the systemic inequalities and challenges faced by women and girls.
“We call on G20 leaders to prioritise the empowerment of women and girls by implementing policies and programmes that promote entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to education and healthcare,” said Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller, W20 SA Head of Delegation.
The communiqué was handed over to the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembisile Simelane, who is expected to submit it to the Department of International Relations, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, and the Presidency for transmission to G20 leaders.
Speaking after receiving the communiqué, Simelane said, as the only African country that is a permanent member of the G20, South Africa carries a unique and special responsibility.
“We are the fourth in a powerful cycle of Global South presidencies, following Indonesia, India, and Brazil. This moment offers us the opportunity to bring the African Agenda, together with the priorities of the Global South, into the heart of global governance. Within the framework of the G20 Social Summit, we hold the Women Twenty in high regard,” said Simelane.
“The receiving of this declaration is a testament to the power of collective voice and the urgency of coordinated action. It reflects the values we hold dear, equity, dignity, and solidarity, and it challenges us to move beyond rhetoric to measurable impact.”
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