Ramaphosa cautions against those who may use national dialogue to ‘score political points'
President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned against misinformation, undue criticism and those who may want to hijack the national dialogue process to score political points.
Ramaphosa held his inaugural meeting with members of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings on Friday, where he outlined the expectations and mandate of the Eminent Persons Group
In his address, Ramaphosa highlighted the progress and challenges the country has been facing since 1994.
ALSO READ: 'What has gone wrong?' – Mbeki, Biko foundations call for national dialogue amid 'political crisis'
'We have made significant advances in expanding opportunities and access to housing, land, basic services, education and health care,' said Ramaphosa.
'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.
'Our economy has not been growing and the number of unemployed people has been rising.'
'Challenges'
He further bemoaned the deterioration in governance, the decline in service delivery and widespread corruption and waste of public resources.
This, he said, has resulted in an increasing disengagement among many people from national matters, as evidenced by the turnout in the May 2024 elections.
The national dialogue seeks to correct this.
'The National Dialogue is an opportunity to mobilise South Africans to address these challenges and restore our country to the path of transformation, development and progress,' he said.
'It is an opportunity to build on the achievements of the last three decades by defining a shared vision and a common programme to take the country forward.'
ALSO READ: National dialogue strife: DA and ANC fall out
He urged South Africans to utilise the diversity of cultures, languages, political traditions and viewpoints to their advantage, rather than allowing it to divide the country.
'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,' said Ramaphosa.
'The National Dialogue seeks to provide a platform for this richness of ideas to be brought to bear on the challenges we face.'
Hijackers of national dialogue
However, he further cautioned against those who may seek to use the national dialogue to push their own political agenda.
'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.
'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.'
ALSO READ: The real national dialogue has begun
He warned that the national dialogue may be contested and used to score political points or advance particular interests.
'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.
'We should not fear criticism. We should welcome it.'
ALSO READ: National dialogue is being used as the beating stick for ANC, DA
Calls for a dialogue came from the Thabo Mbeki and Steve Biko foundations in June after the elections failed to produce an outright majority.
At the time, the foundations said the dialogue would enable a conversation among citizens on shaping the country's future developmental path.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
21 minutes ago
- The Citizen
The commission of inquiry is a gamble
The president took the safest and perhaps the only way he knows how to govern: kick for touch, ruffle very few feathers and hope the crisis resolves itself. At the height of Jacob Zuma's rule, when President Cyril Ramaphosa was still merely the deputy president of the country, the single biggest criticism he faced was that he never said anything about the huge calamity that was state capture that was unfolding around him. Upright ministers who dared to stand up to the regime of the day were being fired or sidelined and only those individuals who met the approval of state-capture architects, the now-fugitive Gupta brothers, were appointed or promoted. Yet Ramaphosa remained quiet. There was some agreement that had he sounded the alarm bells he, too, would have been sidelined and therefore the most strategic thing he could do was keep mum and wait his turn. He eventually found his voice in the run-up to the 2017 ANC national elective conference at which he was to be elected ANC president for the first time. What was the very first thing he called for at the height of state capture when he finally found his voice? 'We need to act now to prevent any further damage. We need an independent judicial commission of inquiry… our law enforcement must act with speed and purpose to investigate all these allegations…' When South Africa faced its biggest crisis post-94, Ramaphosa's response was to call for a commission of inquiry. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa's response to Mkhwanazi falls flat as fatigue for commission of inquiry creeps in He was only a deputy president then and had limited powers. And now that the country faces its worst crisis besides the Covid pandemic since he took over as president what does he do? 'I am establishing a judicial commission of inquiry to be headed by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.' The president took the safest and perhaps the only way he knows how to govern: kick for touch, ruffle very few feathers and hope the crisis resolves itself. South Africa has had dozens of commissions of inquiry in its recent past. The one the president called for before he became president was the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture under then deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo. It was the biggest and most expensive commission this country has yet known. Also, perhaps the biggest waste of taxpayers' money by any commission based on the results it produced. There are few cases that it brought forward that ended up in a court of law with consequences for the accused. ALSO READ: 6 commissions of inquiry government has launched before, and for what The Daily Maverick estimated that up to R1.5 trillion was lost to state capture over a four-year period. Yet, no convictions are flowing from the Zondo commission. The president's response in establishing a commission of inquiry into KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's allegations of police leadership corruption up to ministerial level might turn out to be a masterstroke if it works. But it could also turn out to be as big a waste of money as state capture if it doesn't. The one thing the president has done successfully thus far is kick the can further down the road, for at least six more months. 'The rot in the police is so deep there is nothing else the president could have done except for a commission of inquiry,' is what some might argue. Maybe they are right, the president could not just fire a minister without testing Mkhwanazi's allegations. What if it turns out Mkhwanazi himself is not motivated by pure intentions? None of that matters. What will matter in the end is whether the findings and recommendations of the inquiry will be treated like those of the Zondo commission. One thing is clear though, the patience of the population is wearing thin with each passing scandal and one more failed commission might have catastrophic political consequences. NOW READ: Mchunu backs Ramaphosa's move to launch inquiry, steps aside 'with honour'
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
This is how much it's going to cost taxpayers
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on special leave but will continue earning his full salary. South African taxpayers are set to bear a heavier financial burden following the announcement that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on special leave, will continue to earn his full annual salary of R2.69 million. This decision comes in light of a presidential commission of inquiry announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which could take between three to six months to conclude. Despite being off duty, Mchunu will continue to earn his full annual salary of R2.69 million, which translates to approximately R224,166.67 per month. During the inquiry period, Professor Firoz Cachalia from Wits University has been appointed to act as the interim Minister of Police. While Cachalia's exact remuneration package has not been officially confirmed, it is expected that he will receive a ministerial-level salary during his acting term. If Cachalia serves as acting minister, he is expected to earn a monthly salary equivalent to that of a full Cabinet minister, approximately R224,166.67. This means he would receive around R672,500 over three months, and up to R1.35 million if the inquiry stretches to six months. This effectively means the Ministry of Police will cost the state nearly R1.35 million in salaries over three months, and up to R2.69 million if the inquiry extends to six months. It is currently not known how long Mchunu will be placed on leave, but he will be receiving his ministerial salary throughout this period. The Presidency last year gazetted a 2.5% salary increase for ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, and other public representatives, retroactive to 1 April 2024. Ministers in South Africa will now earn R2.69 million annually, up from their previous salary of R2.64 million, according to a report by IOL. A minister's total remuneration includes a basic salary component that is equal to 60% of the total package, which constitutes the pensionable salary. Each public servant is paid R120,000 per annum, including in their basic salary. The Presidency said that this amount is subject to the Income Tax Act. An employer's pension benefit contribution is equal to 22.5% of pensionable salary.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Mchunu on Leave, Acting Minister Appointed: Here's how much it will cost taxpayers
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on special leave but will continue earning his full salary. South African taxpayers are set to bear a heavier financial burden following the announcement that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on special leave, will continue to earn his full annual salary of R2.69 million. This decision comes in light of a presidential commission of inquiry announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which could take between three to six months to conclude. Despite being off duty, Mchunu will continue to earn his full annual salary of R2.69 million, which translates to approximately R224,166.67 per month. During the inquiry period, Professor Firoz Cachalia from Wits University has been appointed to act as the interim Minister of Police. While Cachalia's exact remuneration package has not been officially confirmed, it is expected that he will receive a ministerial-level salary during his acting term. If Cachalia serves as acting minister, he is expected to earn a monthly salary equivalent to that of a full Cabinet minister, approximately R224,166.67. This means he would receive around R672,500 over three months, and up to R1.35 million if the inquiry stretches to six months. This effectively means the Ministry of Police will cost the state nearly R1.35 million in salaries over three months, and up to R2.69 million if the inquiry extends to six months. It is currently not known how long Mchunu will be placed on leave, but he will be receiving his ministerial salary throughout this period. The Presidency last year gazetted a 2.5% salary increase for ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, and other public representatives, retroactive to 1 April 2024. Ministers in South Africa will now earn R2.69 million annually, up from their previous salary of R2.64 million, according to a report by IOL. A minister's total remuneration includes a basic salary component that is equal to 60% of the total package, which constitutes the pensionable salary. Each public servant is paid R120,000 per annum, including in their basic salary. The Presidency said that this amount is subject to the Income Tax Act. An employer's pension benefit contribution is equal to 22.5% of pensionable salary.
