President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to guard against misinformation, undue criticism, and political opportunism as the country embarks on a crucial national dialogue process.
Speaking during his first meeting with the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings on Friday, Ramaphosa outlined the group’s role in steering the dialogue towards a citizen-led process focused on national transformation.
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“It cannot be partisan and cannot favour one group or perspective over any other. It needs to be citizen-led and the outcomes need to reflect the collective views of the South African people,” he said.
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He emphasized that members of the Eminent Persons Group are not there to represent specific organisations but to champion a unified dialogue that reflects South Africa’s diversity.
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“As eminent persons, you are not being asked to represent any particular constituency or organisation. We are asking you, eminent persons, to be champions of the National Dialogue, not cheerleaders.”
Reflecting on Progress, Confronting Persistent Challenges
Ramaphosa acknowledged the progress South Africa has made since the dawn of democracy, particularly in expanding access to essential services like housing, education, healthcare, and land. However, he was candid about the enduring struggles.
“There can be no doubt that we have begun to transform our society and our economy. And yet, the vestiges of our apartheid past remain. Inequality, poverty, unemployment, violence and social discord affect the lives of millions of South Africans and hold back our country’s progress,” he said.
The President also pointed to the deteriorating state of governance, declining service delivery, and pervasive corruption as factors that have contributed to public disengagement—evident in the low voter turnout during the May 2024 elections.
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He warned that this disengagement undermines the democratic process and called for a reinvigorated national commitment to reform.
Harnessing Diversity to Shape South Africa’s Future
Ramaphosa framed the national dialogue as a timely opportunity to realign the country’s path toward development, unity, and inclusive growth. He stressed that South Africa’s diversity should be seen as a strength rather than a dividing force.
“While this diversity makes for robust and often noisy debate, it does mean that we have a wealth of experiences and perspectives on which to draw,” he said. “The National Dialogue seeks to provide a platform for this richness of ideas to be brought to bear on the challenges we face.”
Ramaphosa acknowledged that there may be scepticism and attempts to derail the process, but he called on the public and leaders alike to remain focused and resilient.
“We should not be surprised if there is scepticism or disinterest from some quarters. We have already been confronted by the challenge of misinformation and misrepresentation, whether on the cost of the National Dialogue or who is running it.
“But that should not distract us from the work we have to do to give a platform to the millions of voices in our country so that they may be heard and may be counted,” he said.
The call for a national dialogue originally came from the Thabo Mbeki and Steve Biko foundations in June, following a general election that failed to produce an outright majority.
According to the foundations, the dialogue is intended to facilitate a constructive conversation among citizens about South Africa’s future.
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