
Task forces target G20 policy influence
JOHANNESBURG - As South Africa prepares to host Heads of State in November for the main G20 Summit, the B20 has been doing the business.
WATCH: Discussion | Business 20 | South Africa hosts B20
The B20 or Business 20 connects the business community with G20 governments.
It includes hundreds of business leaders from G20 counties who prepare policy recommendations for the political delegates.
The B20 South Africa Summit will take place from 18-20 November in Johannesburg.

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TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Urban 20 Africa mayors gather in Tshwane to help shape G20 agenda
African mayors are gathered at the Urban 20 meeting in Tshwane to discuss how their cities can take centre stage in shaping the narrative at the Sherpa meeting. The Urban 20 (U20) was launched in 2017 to bring together mayors from major G20 cities to inform the discussions of national leaders at the G20. Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya, who is hosting the first leg of the U20 cycle alongside Johannesburg, said it was opportune that the two cities were collaborating to advance their shared goals. According to the mayor of the capital, this was a signal that Africa was no longer waiting for a place in the global conversation, but was claiming its position with 'clarity, purpose and urgency'. 'This urban transition brings with it great potential. Our cities are becoming centres of innovation, climate action and economic activity. They are where the future of Africa is being shaped. But this future is not guaranteed. Urban 20 gives us a vital megaphone within the G20. It is our opportunity to inject African priorities into global policy, and to ensure that local voices shape global decisions,' said Moya. She presented the assembly's four themes, calling each one a lever for transformation. 'Inclusive economic growth is the first theme, highlighting the African continental free trade agreement as a 'vision for a collaborative future.' It is one of shared markets, cross-border industries, and cities connected by commerce, not conflict. But visions must rest on strong foundations. 'Are our cities ready to support this vision? Do we have the roads, the regulations, the ports, and the digital rails to make trade flow? We know that we are still far from achieving truly inclusive economic growth. But we also know that cities must be at the centre of this effort — because without inclusive cities, there can be no inclusive continent.' Moya said financing the urban future is the second pillar, calling a vision without funding an illusion. 'Too many African cities are shut out of global capital markets. We face barriers of creditworthiness, limited financial access and outdated legal frameworks that make investment difficult. If we are serious about building smart, green and resilient cities, we must rethink how we finance them. That means developing innovative funding instruments, creating tailored public-private partnerships, reforming our legal environments, and forging stronger alliances with those who believe in the potential of African cities,' she said. Third, Moya said, social inclusion and equity was paramount, adding that a city that grows without justice becomes a 'city of walls'. 'As mayor of the capital city in one of the most unequal countries in the world, I see the deep divide between the haves and the have-nots every day. Access to opportunity is not equal. Talent does not always meet support. Hard work does not always lead to progress. 'We cannot build thriving cities while leaving behind the homeless, the informal traders, or the youth with potential but no clear path forward. Cities must be built for dignity. That requires inclusive planning, targeted investment and policies that close the gap, not widen it.' The mayor urged African cities to work smarter, highlighting innovation as playing a key role in solving service delivery challenges. 'Technology will not solve everything, but it can help us deliver more with less. From digital permitting and e-governance to smart water meters and AI-enabled waste systems, innovation offers us practical tools to improve services and reach more people — faster and more efficiently. 'For a continent with the youngest population in the world, we cannot afford to be left behind as the rest of the world advances. Innovation must not be a luxury. It must be a tool for inclusion, equity, and delivery.' Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero described the co-chairship as symbolic, marking a practical demonstration of the power of intercity collaboration. He said it must be unity of purpose that defines the metropolitan agenda, as well as the leadership role African cities are called upon to play in the global discourse in urban transformation that must take centre stage. 'When we assumed the U20 chairship from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro last November, we made a decision to bring the voices of African cities into the centre of G20 deliberations — not as peripheral observers, but as strategic contributors to the global future. 'Let us be unapologetic in asserting that cities are not junior partners in development. We are the engines of innovation, the custodians of resilience, and the closest point of contact between government and the people.' Johannesburg is expected to host its leg of the event, the U20 mayoral summit, in September. It is at this meeting that they are scheduled to finalise their communique and hand it over to the national leadership to ensure that urban priorities are integrated into the G20.


The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
Entrepreneurship thrives when youth gain vocational skills early
TVET improvements focus on practical assessments and relevant math and science to prepare youth for trades and entrepreneurship. Economist Dawie Roodt set the cat among the pigeons recently when he said many public universities should be converted into colleges that produce skills the economy needs. Only 10% of young people should go to university, he said, adding that the greater economic need is for artisans. It can easily be argued that in some respects technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is failing young South Africans, just as it would be correct to say academic education is the wrong choice for others. Stigma One of apartheid's many indignities was inferior technical and vocational training for black South Africans. Ironically, the reason the stigma needs to be broken is to break the economic shackles that bind young people, and it's been done elsewhere in Africa: Many Mauritians have technical and vocational qualifications and the government invests heavily in this sector. Economic growth in Mauritius was 4.7% last year. Kenya has numerous TVET institutions, with a growing emphasis on public-private partnerships and the recognition of informal prior learning. Economic growth was 4.7% last year. Ghana has reformed its TVET sector and prioritised competency-based training in key skills needed in the large informal sector. Economic growth was 5.7% last year. Rwanda has linked its TVET system to the needs of the informal economy and seen a significant increase in TVET enrolment. Economic growth was 6.9% last year. ALSO READ: Higher Education and Nsfas vow action amid Durban student protests In South Africa, where economic growth was 0.6% last year, moves to improve the impact of TVET include the introduction of qualifications that place greater emphasis on practical skills. Vijayen Naidoo, CEO of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, told a recent X Space discussion, hosted by Kagiso Trust, that instead of writing four theoretical exams at each level, students would have an assessment that tests their theoretical and practical skills. Importantly, only the 'appropriate level' of maths and science to practise a trade would be required, not a matric pass. Key steps Panellist Rodney Mokoena studied entrepreneurship at a TVET college, then launched the Global Application Office, which supports students as they apply for university and TVET places. He said those with skills were well placed to find employment. It's a sentiment that was high on the agenda at an event flowing from SA's 2025 presidency of the G20: the Future of Jobs Summit in Joburg last month. ALSO READ: Frustration mounts as higher education websites remain offline for days The person named at the summit as the 2025 Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year was someone whose business was built on vocational skills. As a schoolboy, Sheldon Tatchell started cutting hair on a stoep in Eldorado Park. All he had was clippers and a chair. Today, he has more than 70 Legends barber shops in five African countries. Speaking recently at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Tatchell highlighted the power of vocational education. In October, delegates at last month's summit will table their Future of Job Creation Report with the Presidency, parliament, and the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities. There is no doubt TVET will emerge as a prominent part of their strategy, making the report a milestone in giving vocational training the status it deserves.


eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Task forces target G20 policy influence
JOHANNESBURG - As South Africa prepares to host Heads of State in November for the main G20 Summit, the B20 has been doing the business. WATCH: Discussion | Business 20 | South Africa hosts B20 The B20 or Business 20 connects the business community with G20 governments. It includes hundreds of business leaders from G20 counties who prepare policy recommendations for the political delegates. The B20 South Africa Summit will take place from 18-20 November in Johannesburg.