Ramaphosa says National Dialogue not 'just about talking', expects it to 'produce real results'
Ramaphosa kicked off his budget vote address in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon by invoking the memory of the country's first president, Nelson Mandela, whose birthday will be celebrated through various civil society efforts on Friday.
Despite the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s plans to boycott the National Dialogue, which is set to start in August, Ramaphosa said that the initiative was widely supported across society.
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The president said that the National Dialogue was being convened in response to calls made by leaders and eminent persons across society.
In an apparent reminder to coalition partners, Ramaphosa said the dialogue was endorsed by the Government of National Unity (GNU) when it was formed a year ago.
He said it was not intended to displace democratic processes nor divert from the electoral mandate given to Parliament.
"The National Dialogue is not just about talking, like with Codesa, like with National Peace Accord, through the consultation process we all went through when we drafted our Constitution, the National Dialogue is expected to produce real results that have a tangible impact on the lives of our people."
Ramaphosa said that the dialogue should also be used to foster development, transformation, progress, national cohesion and national unity.
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