Values20 South Africa is mounting an ambitious campaign this year to embed ubuntu and other key values into the G20’s policy framework, as the continent prepares to host the global economic forum for only the second time.
V20 will present its policy recommendations at its Summit in Cape Town on 16-17 October 2025, (coinciding with World Values Day) bringing together global business leaders, policymakers, and social activists ahead of the main G20 Leaders’ Summit later this year. The V20 Summit will be held both in person and online.
Dr Preeya Daya, chair of V20 South Africa, has outlined five core aspirational values that the group believes should underpin international cooperation: dignity, ubuntu, agency and accountability, integrity and ethical governance, all anchored by values-based leadership. These principles, she argues, provide both “a moral compass for our society and a practical framework for action”.
The initiative represents a significant departure from traditional economic-focused G20 engagement, instead advocating for what Dr Daya describes as an African values lens in global discourse. South Africa has adopted the overarching G20 theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, and V20 South Africa positions its work as enabling these broader objectives through conscious value integration.
V20 South Africa’s strategy extends well beyond the 2025 presidency. The organisation has mapped out a four-year trajectory: creating values awareness in 2025, fostering collective responsibility in 2026, embedding values into policies and institutions in 2027, and achieving sustainable institutionalisation by 2028.
Central to this long-term vision is the development of a National Values Charter, designed in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Centre for Social Justice. This charter aims to anchor values within South African legislation and civic life, potentially serving as a model for other nations.
V20’s research teams are developing innovative measurement tools, including a “VCorp Scorecard” to assess how effectively organisations integrate values, and an “Aspirational Values Scorecard” to track progress from low values awareness to high values consciousness.
Please register for the V20 Summit here , whether you want to attend it in person or online.
V20 SOUTH AFRICA PROGRAMME FOR DAY TWO: 17TH OCTOBER:
VALUES POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN PRACTICE: IN CONVERSATION WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS – Parallel Sessions
Venue: Nedbank Clocktower V&A Waterfront and Online
Please note: all times below are BST (UTC/GMT+1)
08.00
Lecture Theatre 6 | Values-based Leadership in Organisations
Convenors: Ruwayne Kock, Wendy Mahoney and Monde Ndlovu
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 7 | Values in Technology and AI
Convenor: Dr Mark Nasila, Dr Ruwayne Kock
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 3 | Countering Corruption and Building an Inclusive Economy
Convenor: Koogan Pillay and Dr Shamim Bodhanya
Plenary including Strategic partners
09.30 Tea
10.00
Lecture Theatre 6 | Values in Basic Education
Convenor: Shweta Kapur, Dr Ruwayne Kock, Dr Njeri Mwagiru
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 7 | Environmental and Social Sustainability
Convenor: Thabani Mlilo, Charles Perry and Dr Shamim Bodhanya
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 3 | Towards Ethical Governance
Convenor: Alex Motshwanetsi Mathole, Dr Shamim Bodhanya
Plenary including Strategic partners
11.30 Light lunch
12.00
GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONFLICT AND PEACE
Convenor: Global V20 Team
Hybrid and streamed across all three venues
13.00
Lecture Theatre 6 | Values in Health
Convenor: Dr Bettina Baubeng-Baidoo, Dr Njeri Magiru, Dr Ruwayne Kock
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 7 | Ubuntu: A Decolonial Framework for Sustainability
Convenors: Dr Shamim Bodhanya, Dr Maseeha Ansermeah, Dr Ashiel Jumman, Dr Rudi Kimmie, Alex Motshwanetsi Matole
Plenary including Strategic partners
Lecture Theatre 3 | Driving Youth Equality and Solidarity through ‘Living Values’
Convenors: Senamile Zungu, Nyeleti Magadze, Dr Ruwayne Kock
Plenary including Strategic partners
14.30 Summit Close
