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The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA), hosted a G20 Townhall Community Engagement session in Lusikisiki on 11 November. The event forms part of South Africa’s build-up programs for the 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit, set to take place from 22 to 23 November 2025.
What Happened
The engagement created a vital platform for stakeholders to share ideas and strengthen community participation in national and global discussions.
The Mayor of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality P.N. Pepping, officially opened the session, delivering a strong message to DIRCO and its partners. He called on UNISA to consider establishing a satellite campus in the Mpondoland area, particularly at Ingquza Hill, to reduce the need for young people and adults to travel long distances for higher education.
Pepping encouraged attendees to keep participating in development dialogues, saying, “We can all contribute to changing the perception of the great Mpondoland.”
Chief Mdutshane, representing the AmaMpondo Kingdom, echoed a message of unity, stressing that cooperation among the people is essential for peace and progress.
Official Response
The session later transitioned into a dialogue featuring a panel of experts from UNISA, the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, O.R. Tambo District Municipality, and the Department of Economic Development. The discussion focused on Climate Change, Agriculture, Tourism, and Infrastructure, highlighting Ingquza Hill’s untapped potential.
Speakers emphasized that the region’s coastline and natural attractions including Mbotyi, Mkambathi, Msikaba beaches, Magwa Falls, Fraser Falls, and the Msikaba Bridge could become powerful tourism magnets if supported by improved infrastructure.
They also noted strong agricultural prospects, with fertile soil suitable for diverse crops, including cannabis a key local product that presents major opportunities for economic growth. Panelists urged government departments to empower farmers through access to information, tools, and training to maximize these benefits.
Community Impact
The discussions underlined a clear message: Ingquza Hill must move from potential to progress. Community members, traditional leaders, farmers, and local business owners attended, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable growth and local empowerment.
Insights gathered from the Lusikisiki session will contribute to South Africa’s broader G20 deliberations when the country hosts the G20 World Summit in November 2025.
As Councillor Pepping noted, progress in Mpondoland depends on collaboration: when communities unite, local voices can influence global agendas.
