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The Citizen
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Is the national dialogue a futile exercise?
Ramaphosa's 'national dialogue' looks more like a monologue, guided by carefully curated allies. What do you think President Cyril Ramaphosa and colleagues mean when they talk about 'our people'? Do you feel included? Many don't. There is reason for scepticism over Ramaphosa's plans for an inclusive national dialogue. His approach throughout his presidency has not been inclusive. 'Our people' usually means ANC. Inclusivity is not evident in the list of 'eminent persons' whom he has named to guide 'a people-led, society-wide process to reflect on the state of our country in order for us to reimagine our future'. People-led? Yet he chooses the leaders of the process. One example is Roelf Meyer, Ramaphosa's supposed adversary in the Codesa talks which preceded this country's first democratic elections. Meyer may have taught Ramaphosa fly-fishing, but the National Party minister fell hook, line and sinker for ANC tricks. ALSO READ: 'Bring all to dialogue': Experts insist national dialogue must be people-driven His capitulation was so complete that the ANC in Soweto nominated Comrade Roelf for its parliamentary list in 1994. Meyer declined but in 2004, he voted ANC and joined that party in 2006. Ja, nee. By choosing Meyer, Ramaphosa will have alienated quite a few Afrikaners who won't feel included. Why do we need a government-orchestrated national dialogue? The nation is continually in dialogue. We have regular elections and opinions are continually freely expressed across multiple platforms. Public participation is mandatory in many issues at all levels of government, even if this is often a tick-box exercise. ALSO READ: Codesa 2 has many agendas to fill South Africa is oversupplied with talk shops whose practical outcomes are negligible. We don't need more of that. And we can't afford it. With economic growth at a low 0.8% in 2024 and unemployment now officially at 32.9%, it is reckless to splurge at least R700 million on this nebulous exercise. After contestation over the national budget, you'd think Ramaphosa would be more circumspect about wasting money. Big spenders of other people's money have no qualms about stretching price tags. Starting at R700 million, the proposed national dialogue could easily end up costing more than the R1 billion spent on the Zondo inquiry into state capture. And what did we get for that? Zero significant prosecutions. In practical terms, this dialogue will yield even less. This national dialogue is an attempt to shore up the ANC's political fortunes and boost Ramaphosa's legacy. If, as expected, the process takes about a year, it will segue into the local government elections. ALSO READ: Thandiswa Mazwai says she would've accepted invite to national dialogue had Ramaphosa sent it Ramaphosa's personally selected 'eminent persons' will have ample opportunity to sway opinions without appearing to be on the campaign trail. From this perspective, cashstrapped taxpayers could be funding the ANC's next local government election campaign. Genuine dialogue requires a two-way exchange of ideas. Yet Ramaphosa and the ANC are implacably wedded to broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) in all its forms. He recently defended it against arguments that B-BBEE stifles economic growth. A national dialogue would be beneficial if the ANC was able to listen, and to change course on B-BBEE. A monologue or dialogue of the deaf won't help. The aims of the national dialogue are to increase inclusivity, boost economic growth and create employment opportunities. The best way to do that is to scrap B-BBEE laws that are, by definition, exclusive. Reimagine a future without race laws. Now you're talking. NOW READ: Ramaphosa announces 'Eminent Persons Group' to guide national dialogue – These are the people appointed
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Codesa 2 has many agendas to fill
The original Codesa achieved its aim of shepherding the country to democracy, but it definitely left unfinished business. The list of 'eminent persons' who will 'champion and guide' President Cyril Ramaphosa's national dialogue reads like a 'Who's Who' of this country's 'nice people'. Lest that sound a little cynical, we will acknowledge that the delegates to this 'national convention' do seem the types who can put petty party politics aside and make the future of the country their priority. They come from across the spectrum of South African life, from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, to Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and will, presumably, bring a broad range of opinions to the debate. What we're not getting are loudmouth politicians like Julius Malema, who have quickly dismissed Ramaphosa's idea as a form of political theatre. Now that can be good – because the extremist views will be absent or at least muted – or bad – because, like it or not, populist politicians who like to sound radical or revolutionary do have appeal for a mass market. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa announces 'Eminent Persons Group' to guide national dialogue – These are the people appointed Some are billing the gathering – in both positive and negative senses – as 'Codesa 2' in reference to the original Codesa (the Convention for a Democratic South Africa), which helped steer the country to democracy after long and arduous talks in the 1990s. The original Codesa achieved its aim of shepherding the country to democracy, but it definitely left unfinished business – such as the issue of land – which have returned to haunt South Africa. If this Codesa 2 is to succeed, however, it must, this time around, give more attention to the hopes and fears of the black majority, rather than reassuring whites that everything will be fine in the future. As it was in the 1990s, right-wingers are the fly in the ointment, with their revved-up aims to achieve 'de-centralisation' and 'self-government'. The national convention has to satisfy multiple different constituencies. And that won't be easy. NOW READ: Ramaphosa urges caution as floods claims lives in Eastern Cape
