Seatavern

The Social Justice Summit (SJS), in its 7th iteration, hosted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) at Stellenbosch University and partners, will convene policymakers, legislators, political parties, judiciary, traditional and religious leaders, civil society and academia to foster high-level dialogue on food security as a cornerstone for social justice, equality and sustainable development. Scheduled for Friday, 17 October 2025 and under the theme “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace: Pathways to Equality, Solidarity, Sustainability and Climate Resilience”, the Summit leverages the country’s G20 leadership to champion the African agenda and global cooperation. The Summit will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 and builds on the legacies of Indonesia, India and Brazil, which prioritised sustainable development and poverty alleviation. The Summit aligns with the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) priorities, including mobilising finance for development, promoting social protection floors and addressing global public goods (GPGs) to enhance resilience. By integrating these priorities, the Summit aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The partners include Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency (DPME), United Nations South Africa, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Black Management Forum (BMF), Champion South Africa (Champion SA) and Ubuchule Resource Centre.

As a platform for intersectoral collaboration, the Summit will bridge constitutional commitments and policy outcomes, positioning food justice as a transformative driver of social cohesion, regional food security and global solidarity. This aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which similarly prioritises the elimination of poverty and reduction of inequality, with explicit commitments under Chapter 11 (Social Protection) and Chapter 6 (Inclusive Rural Economy) to address hunger and improve food systems.