On Friday, 13 June 2025, A Seat At The Table (SATT) will host its second annual Connect Youth in Dialogue Summit at Standard Bank’s head office in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Under the theme Voices of Change: Shaping Our Future Together, this landmark gathering will bring together over 130 young leaders, decision-makers, creatives, and corporate allies to tackle some of the most pressing questions shaping South Africa’s future—from equity and mental health to sustainability, inclusive leadership, and intergenerational co-creation.
This is no ordinary summit. It is a platform designed for young South Africans to lead conversations they are too often excluded from, with a full-day programme running from 08:00 to 18:00. From the keynote address by the National Empowerment Fund CEO, Mziwabantu Dayimani, to strategic dialogues on infrastructure, entrepreneurship, education, and social transformation, the day is set to be a living blueprint of what inclusive, youth-driven nation-building can look like.
Anchoring the day’s agenda is the highly anticipated panel Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Dialogue for Sustainable Change, featuring a powerhouse lineup of speakers: Thando Dhaza, Phelisa Nkomo, Imram Makama, Lerato Mangope, and Boitumelo Lekoko. Their discussion will unpack how young people and seasoned professionals can collaborate authentically, moving beyond tokenism and into meaningful, mutual exchange rooted in trust, co-leadership, and respect.
For Mothathe Sewelo, Chairperson of SATT, the summit represents a turning point in how South Africa listens to and values its young citizens.
“This summit is not a symbolic gesture, it’s a commitment. A commitment to young people who are not waiting to lead tomorrow; they are already leading today,” says Sewelo. “We created this platform because we believe that transformation happens when youth are treated not as future participants, but as current partners in shaping South Africa’s future.”
Adding to that call for action, Vuyelwa Diniso, Deputy Chairperson of SATT, describes the summit as more than a forum, it’s a national intervention:
“This summit is not just a platform for dialogue, it’s a catalyst for action. At a time when youth unemployment, mental health, and exclusion from decision-making threaten our country’s progress, this gathering is a strategic intervention. We are not here to merely exchange ideas—we are here to design solutions, forge partnerships, and activate a new era of youth-led impact. The future belongs to those who build it, and through this summit, we are building with urgency, clarity, and purpose.”
SATT’s footprint stretches beyond the borders of South Africa, with growing engagement from youth leaders in the UK and across the African diaspora. The organisation’s model prioritises dialogue, mentorship, and leadership development with a firm belief that young people deserve more than just a seat, they deserve influence, partnership, and power.
The day will close with an artist performance and networking session, grounding the summit in joy, culture, and connection, reminding all who attend that sustainable change requires both strategy and soul.
