An economics lecturer and two third-year students from Stellenbosch University (SU) will be representing South Africa at this year’s G20 Youth Summit in Russia.

Lecturer Kholekile Malindi and students Emma Johannes and Sandy Majola will be joining 150 to 200 of the best students and young experts in the field of international relations, economics, finance and law at the summit, which will be held in St Petersburg from 17 to 21 April.

The G20 Youth Summit is a global forum that emulates the mainstream Group of Twenty (G20) summits. It brings young leaders from G20 member nations together to discuss innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, which are then shared with G20 policy makers. South Africa is the only African member of the G20.

Kholekile joined the Department of Economics at SU last year and recently completed his master’s degree at the same department.

Johannes and Majola are studying for a BA Humanities and a BA International Studies degree respectively. They are looking forward to interacting with participants from across the globe.

In his congratulatory message, SU Rector Prof Russel Botman said that he is very proud of the three. “Representing South Africa is indeed a huge honour – not only for them but for our institution and the calibre of our lecturers and mentors. We wish them well in Russia and are confident that they will fly the flag high for South Africa.”

•             More information on the 2013 G20 Youth Summit is available at: www.g20youthforum.org