UP student uses youth struggles to reshape G20 narrative

Lerai stands at the forefront of a new revolution

- By Nkululeko Ncana

As South Africa commemorates Youth Day, the revolutionary spirit of 1976 pulses through a new generation of change-makers.

But today's young activists aren't just marching in the streets - they're commanding boardrooms, global summits, and policy tables that shape the future of nations.

Lerai Rakoditsoe is one of those young people standing at the forefront of this revolution.

She has just been appointed co-chair of the Y20 South Africa 2025 - the official youth summit that will feed directly into this year's G20 meetings.

As one of the few young Africans shaping G20-level policy, the 22-year-old University of Pretoria student leads global negotiations on “Meaningful Youth Engagement & Reforming Multilateralism”, positioning herself as a bridge between Global South youth and world leaders.

“The youth of 1976 didn’t wait for permission. They saw injustice and moved.

“That same fire lives in us, but it shows up differently,” Rakoditsoe reflects.