Issued by Ezra Mendel on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation:
On 27 and 28 February 2025, the South African Institute of International Affairs (“SAIIA”) hosted a pivotal conference aimed at empowering young leaders to engage with the priorities of the G20 and to familiarise themselves with the Youth 20 (“Y20”) agenda. This gathering underscored a significant shift in global governance, which includes increased recognition of the youth as essential contributors to policy discussions that shape our collective future.
With young people making up the largest portion of the South African population (with an estimated 17,84 million people between the ages of 18 and 35 as of 2019), it is essential to examine the role of the Y20 in ensuring their voices are heard. The Y20 provides a structured platform for youth engagement in international decision-making, offering a space where young leaders can influence policies that will shape their future. Understanding the Y20’s mechanisms and impact is key to fostering a governance system that is inclusive, forward-thinking and responsive to the concerns of younger generations.
So the question then is, what is the Y20? The Y20 serves as an official engagement group of the G20, providing a platform for young leaders from member countries to deliberate on pressing global challenges and propose policy recommendations. These recommendations are compiled into a communiqué, which is presented to G20 leaders for consideration during their summits. This process ensures that the perspectives and insights of the younger generation are integrated into high-level policy discussions, reflecting a commitment to inclusive and forward-thinking governance.
However, the effectiveness of this engagement will depend on the relevance and resonance of the themes chosen by the Y20. It is crucial that these themes not only reflect the global challenges faced by young people, but also align with…
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Lindiwe Sisulu: {2001 – 2004} Lindiwe Sisulu was the Minister of Land Affairs from 2001 to 2004. She played a significant role in advancing land reform initiatives and addressing the challenges faced by previously disadvantaged communities in accessing land.
Moon Peaches
Diary of an Englishman after he moves to South Africa….
**August 1**: Just got transferred with work from London, UK to our new home in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa. Now this is a town that knows how to live! Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. I watched the sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. It was beautiful. I’ve finally found my new home. I love it here.
**September 1:** Really heating up now. It got to 31 today. No problem though. Living in air-conditioned home, driving air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I’m turning into a sun-worshipper – no blasted rain like back in London! Had the back yard landscaped with tropical plants today. Lots of palms and rocks. No more mowing lawns for me! Another scorcher today, but I love it here. It’s Paradise !
**October 1:** The temperature hasn’t been below 35 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least today it’s windy though. Keeps the flies off a bit. Acclimatizing is taking longer than we expected. Fell asleep by the pool yesterday. Got third degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed three days off work. What a dumb thing to do. Got to respect the old sun in a climate like this!
**October 25:** This wind is a bastard. It feels like a giant fucking blow dryer. And it’s hot as hell! The home air conditioner is on the blink and the repair man charged R200 just to drive over and tell me he needs to order parts from @#$# Johannesburg. The wife & the kids are complaining.
**October 30:** The temperature’s up around 40 and the parts still haven’t arrived for the fucking air conditioner. House is an oven so we’ve all been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights now. Bleeding R4 million house and we can’t even go inside. Why the hell did I ever come here?
**November 4:** Finally got the fucking air-conditioner fixed. It cost R1,500 and gets the temperature down to around 35 degrees. Stupid repairman. Fucking thief. If one more smart bastard says ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to fucking throttle him. Fucking heat! By the time I get to work, the car radiator is boiling over, my fucking clothes are soaking fucking wet and I smell like baked cat. Fucking place is the end of the Earth.
**November 9:** Tried to run some errands after work, wore shorts, and sat on the black leather upholstery in my car. I thought my fucking backside was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh, all the hair on the backs of my legs and off my fucking behind. Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried bum and baked cat. The Weather report might as well be a fucking recording – hot and sunny. Hot and sunny, Hot and fucking sunny. It’s been too hot to do anything for 2 bleeding months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Fuck!!
**November 15:** Doesn’t it ever rain in this darn place? Water restrictions will be next, so my R5,000 worth of palms might just dry up and blow into the fucking pool. The only things that thrive in this hell-hole are the fucking flies. You don’t dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a dozen of the little buzzards!
**November 20:** Welcome to HELL! It got to 45 degrees today. Now the air conditioner is gone in my car. The repair man came to fix it and said, ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I wanted to shove the car up his backside. Anyway, had to spend the R2,500 of the mortgage payment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the stupid fool. Fucking PHALABORWA! What kind of sick, demented idiot would want to live here!
**December 1:** WHAT!!!! The FIRST day of Summer!!!!
You are fucking kidding me, right?
Liferobber
Fun South African Fact: South Africa hosts the world’s largest bicycle race.