South Africa on Friday began a two-day “national dialogue” in Pretoria aimed at uniting all sectors of society to confront the country’s most pressing challenges: from entrenched poverty and inequality to corruption and crime.
The initiative, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June after pressure from civil society, seeks to bring together political parties, civic organisations, and members of the public in both in-person and virtual discussions. It will roll out in phases across all nine provinces, with the possibility of a second national convention early next year.
Ramaphosa has appointed an Eminent Persons Group — drawn from sport, the arts, religion, labour, and civic life — to guide the process. Among its members are Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, acclaimed Black Panther actor John Kani, and former Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron.
“The national dialogue must be a place where everyone has a voice,” Ramaphosa said. “It will be a people-led, society-wide process to reflect on the state of our country in order for us to reimagine our future.”
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The exercise comes more than 30 years after the end of apartheid and South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, which brought Nelson Mandela to power. The country initially made strides in easing racial tensions, expanding economic opportunities, and extending services to millions of its poor Black majority. But in recent years, progress has faltered amid sluggish economic growth, high crime rates, and an unemployment rate exceeding 30% — one of the highest in the world.
The call for a collective reckoning intensified after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 election, forcing the formation of a coalition government.
However, the talks have already drawn scepticism. The Democratic Alliance (DA), the coalition’s second-largest party, has withdrawn from participation, citing a dispute over Ramaphosa’s dismissal of one of its deputy ministers and questioning the estimated $40 million cost. The DA has dismissed the exercise as a waste of public funds. The official opposition, the MK Party, has also refused to take part.
