South Africa’s National Dialogue
By Thabo Mosia
In a bold step toward addressing South Africa’s deep-rooted challenges, the preparatory committee for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s National Dialogue has estimated the initiative will cost at least R700 million. Announced by the president earlier this week, the dialogue will kick off with a National Convention on 15 August 2025, followed by extensive community engagements across the country. Led by a dedicated task team, the process aims to unite diverse voices and create a 30-year action plan to tackle issues like unemployment, inequality, and poor service delivery. However, the hefty price tag has sparked fierce opposition from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who call it a wasteful “talk shop” amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
A National Dialogue to Shape South Africa’s Future
The National Dialogue is set to be a landmark event in South Africa’s democratic journey, with President Cyril Ramaphosa framing it as a chance to forge a new path for the nation. The process will begin with the National Convention on 15 August 2025, where up to 1,000 representatives from all walks of life—government, political parties, civil society, business, labour unions, traditional leaders, religious groups, women, youth, and more—will gather to set the agenda. This will be followed by six to nine months of public engagements across all 257 municipalities, ensuring that even the most marginalised communities have a say.
Lindiwe Gadd, deputy chair of the National Dialogue preparatory task team, shared the vision during a media briefing in Johannesburg. “Success looks like an actionable comprehensive plan that actually changes the lives of South Africans and the quality of life of South Africans,” she said. Gadd stressed that this plan will involve government, business, and civil society working together to set South Africa on course to become a thriving 21st-century nation.
The dialogue comes 30 years after the dawn of democracy, a milestone that has left many South Africans disillusioned. “After 30 years of democracy, I don’t think there’s anyone who could really say that this is what the hope of 1994 was,” Gadd admitted, acknowledging public skepticism about yet another consultation process. To counter these doubts, she pointed to the government’s firm commitment, noting that President Ramaphosa has promised a binding plan that will hold all stakeholders accountable.
How the Dialogue Will Work
The “true heart” of the National Dialogue, according to Gadd, lies in its public engagement phase. Over six to nine months, the task team will roll out community dialogues nationwide, using both in-person and virtual platforms like webinars and social media to reach as many people as possible. “We want to make sure that the homeless are represented, that the youth are represented,” Gadd said, underlining the inclusive approach. The task team is also encouraging sectors to organise their own discussions, ensuring grassroots voices feed into the final plan.
The end goal is a 30-year action plan that is not just a wish list but a practical, funded roadmap for change. Gadd drew inspiration from the Gulf States, which transformed their economies through clear plans and national mobilisation. “We need to mobilise South Africa to move out of the quagmire that we find ourselves in,” she said. “We cannot continue to do things the way that we have done them and hope that the outcomes will be different.”
The preparatory task team, active for the past 12 months, has already partnered with 50 community-based and non-governmental organisations, engaging another 150 in the process. Gadd assured transparency in funding and operations, with the committee set to submit a draft budget to the government soon. Any organisation wanting to join the effort can contact the secretariat, keeping the process open and collaborative.
Champions of Change: The Eminent Persons Group
To rally the nation behind the dialogue, an Eminent Persons Group has been appointed, featuring prominent South Africans like rugby captain Siya Kolisi and Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC). These figures will act as ambassadors, using their influence to boost participation. “If [Bishop Lekganyane] puts his weight behind a process like this, his church members are very likely to want to participate,” Gadd explained, noting the ZCC’s seven to nine million followers. Similarly, Kolisi’s leadership in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, watched by 11 million South Africans, makes him a powerful voice to inspire hope and unity.
The group’s role is to bridge the gap between grassroots realities and the dialogue’s high-level goals, ensuring the process resonates with ordinary citizens. With 11 million eligible voters sitting out the last election, their ability to mobilise people could be a game-changer.
EFF Slams R700 Million Price Tag
Not everyone is cheering the National Dialogue. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo, have slammed the R700 million cost as “outrageous and wasteful.” In a scathing statement, Thambo called it an “insult to millions of South Africans” battling food insecurity, load shedding, broken healthcare, and unaffordable education. “South Africa does not need dialogue, it needs action on job creation, land reform, free education, safety, free public healthcare, and economic growth,” he argued.
The EFF’s criticism comes amid a tough economic climate, with rising fuel levies, unadjusted tax brackets, and proposed VAT hikes hitting the poor hardest. Thambo accused the government of pushing austerity while splashing out on an “elite talk shop” that benefits cronies and failed politicians. The party has demanded full budget transparency and threatened legal action to stop what they see as a “reckless allocation of public funds.”
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