Club de Madrid convened the National Influencer Code Summit 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa, bringing together young people, influencers and digital creators, political leaders, civil society, academia and democratic institutions to explore how digital influence can contribute to meaningful democratic participation.
As South Africa prepares for its 2026 Local Government Elections, discussions addressed some of the most pressing challenges shaping democracy online: ethical influence, electoral integrity, misinformation and disinformation, online safety, public trust and youth participation.
A particular highlight was the participation of Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women, who reflected on the role of young people, civic participation and responsible influence in strengthening democratic societies.
The Summit also featured contributions from WYDE Women Leadership Network Members Joanah Mamombe, Yvonne Wamucii and Asanda Luwaca, who shared their perspectives to the conversation, bringing women’s leadership and diverse experiences into the debate on how digital spaces can strengthen democratic participation.
Convened by Club de Madrid in partnership with Women of Firsts by Asanda Luwaca, the Summit formed part of “The Influence Code: Youth Shaping Democracy in the Digital Age”, within the Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) programme, supported by the European Union.
The message from Pretoria was clear: digital influence comes with responsibility — and young people must not only participate in democracy, but help shape how it evolves.
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