Latest news with #NationalConventionoftheNationalDialogue
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Ramaphosa denies R740 million National Dialogue budget, saying costs will be cut
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he did not allow the R740 million budget to be coughed from taxpayers' money to fund the National Dialogue. President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that taxpayers will foot a R740 million bill to fund the National Dialogue, saying the event will be conducted at minimal cost and will be hosted at free venues such as community halls, schools and churches. Speaking at the launch of the inaugural National Convention of the National Dialogue at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on Thursday, Ramaphosa dismissed reports of extravagant spending. 'That amounts to R740 million to be utilised. We can have this dialogue much cheaper. Much lower costs must be the order of the day,' he said, addressing delegates at UNISA's ZK Matthews Hall. Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to UNISA Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula for offering the venue free of charge. 'We were very fortunate. The University of South Africa, the Vice-Chancellor - the good professor - immediately said, 'You know what? We'll cut off all those costs. We'll give you this beautiful venue for free.' Now, that is exactly what we are going to seek to do. We will be going around the country,' he said.
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
‘No voice is too small and no perspective is too inconvenient to be heard', says Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered this speech at the First National Convention of the National Dialogue at the University of South Africa in Pretoria on Friday, 15 August. Today marks the first sitting of the National Convention of the National Dialogue, a space where we confront our realities openly, respectfully and constructively. This is not a partisan platform. This is a national platform. Here, no voice is too small and no perspective is too inconvenient to be heard. We are gathered to listen to each other, to understand one another and to chart a common path forward for our country. We meet at a time of profound challenges: economic hardship, unemployment, inequality, growing poverty and a crisis of confidence in our institutions. We also meet at a time when the world is rapidly changing and our ability to adapt and renew ourselves will define the next generation. But history teaches us that nations are not defined solely by their difficulties; they are defined by how they respond to challenges they face. Our own struggle for freedom from the nightmare of apartheid proved that unity in diversity is not an abstract slogan. It is a powerful force for transformation. Gathered in this hall are people from all across our land, people from all walks of life, people of all races, all classes, all languages and cultures. Gathered here, at this National Convention, are farmers and informal traders, civic activists and policy makers, traditional leaders and waste pickers, industrial workers, unemployed men and women, unemployed young people, unemployed graduates, religious leaders, business people and public servants. There are young people and older persons, men and women, people from informal settlements and rural villages. There are people with disabilities. There are survivors of various forms of violence. There are artists, sports people and cultural activists. In this National Convention has gathered the rich diversity of the people of this country. Yet, although we are different in many ways, although we represent different experiences and hold different views, there is one thing we have in common. We are all South Africans. We are, each one of us, sons and daughters of the same soil. We share a common past. We share the same inheritance of division, of inequality and of injustice. We share the same pride at ending the crime of apartheid and establishing a constitutional democracy. We also share a common future. And that is why we have chosen to gather here today. Because each one of us, regardless of our differences, is committed to work together to build the future of which we all dream. We have chosen to be here because we believe in the power of dialogue and united action. We believe that if we share our concerns and fears, we can conquer them. If we understand the challenges we face, we can overcome them. If we know what hurts us, we can heal. If we know what divides us, we can unite. We gather here today, in all our diversity, to launch a National Dialogue. We are embarking on a process that will launch a million conversations. Across the length and breadth of South Africa (SA), people will and must meet to talk of what worries them, what gives them hope and how they think their lives and our country can be better. This initiative is about what all South Africans must do – together – to make our lives and country better. Through this process we want our people to meet in homes and community halls. We want them to meet in churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. Our people must meet in schools and lecture halls, in boardrooms and on the shopfloor, on the pathways of our villages and the streets of our townships and our cities. We will meet online. We will call into radio stations. We will debate on television. We will share our views and make our suggestions without hesitation. We will be direct and honest. We will need to have difficult conversations about many issues, including: Why do South African women have to live in fear of men? Why do so many people live in abject poverty and so few live lives of opulence? Why, after decades of democracy, are the prospects for a white child so much better than those of a black child? Why do women get paid less than men for the same work? Why, when we have a Bill of Rights, are LGBTQI+ people still discriminated against, stigmatised and harassed? Why do clinics run out of medicine? Why do taps run dry? These are some of the questions that we must be willing to ask and which we must be prepared to answer. But more than that. These are the challenges that we must be ready to do something about – as individuals, as organisations, as communities, as parents, as elected representatives, as public officials. The National Dialogue is a call to debate and to discuss. More importantly, the National Dialogue is a call to action. It is a call to all South Africans to seize this moment for change and progress. It is a call to build a society in which there is a place for everyone, where the country's wealth is shared by all. A SA that truly belongs to all who live in it. We have come together in this National Convention not to have the dialogue, but to start the dialogue. Gathered here are more than 1,000 people from over 200 organisations across all sectors of society. Our task is to prepare for the thousands of public dialogues that will happen in communities across the country over the next six to eight months. We are here to consider some of the themes that may arise in these discussions, understanding that it is ultimately the people of this country that will determine the issues that should be discussed. We are here to reflect on how we should approach these public dialogues, what methods we should use to ensure that everyone has a say and that the discussions take place in an environment that promotes understanding and that encourages healing. Through this National Convention we seek to equip delegates to be champions and enablers of these public dialogues. We seek to ensure that we give the space to South Africans to define the outcome of the National Dialogue process – so that these thousands of conversations can be drawn together into a clear vision for the country and an agreed programme of action into the future. Through the National Dialogue process, we hope to arrive at a social compact that will outline the role and responsibilities of all of us – as citizens, as the arms of the state, as business, labour, traditional leaders, religious bodies, civil society, activist and civic organisations. This National Dialogue must be about citizens taking responsibility for their future. Through the dialogues, people must be able to attend to the challenges where they live or work or study. They must be able to hold their public representatives accountable and ensure that all public institutions fulfil their responsibilities. This National Convention is the moment at which the people of SA take over the National Dialogue. For more than a year, various formations of civil society have been working to conceptualise and champion the National Dialogue. Central to this effort have been a number of legacy foundations established by and named for stalwarts of our liberation struggle. We express our gratitude and appreciation for the work of these Foundations in giving life to the National Dialogue. We also thank all those from civil society, government departments, provincial governments, state-owned enterprises and business who have worked tirelessly to bring this National Convention together. We are extremely grateful to the Vice Chancellor, leadership and staff of UNISA for hosting this National Convention and providing the facilities and services that have made it possible. I wish to thank the members of the Eminent Persons Group, all of whom graciously and enthusiastically accepted my invitation to serve as the champions and guarantors of the National Dialogue. These esteemed South Africans are: Dr Brigalia Bam, former Independent Electoral Commission Chairperson, Mr Robbie Brozin, entrepreneur and business person, Judge Edwin Cameron, former Constitutional Court judge, Mr Manne Dipico, former Northern Cape Premier, Dr Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana coach and football legend, Ms Ela Gandhi, peace activist and stalwart, Ms Nomboniso Gasa, researcher and rural activist, Mr Bobby Godsell, business leader, Dr John Kani, award-winning actor, Mr Siya Kolisi, Springbok captain and world champion, Ms Mia le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, His Grace Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, leader of the Zion Christian Church, His Grace Bishop Engenas Lekganyane, leader of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church, The Most Reverend Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dr Barbara Masekela, poet, educator and stalwart, Ms Lindiwe Mazibuko, former Member of Parliament, Mr Roelf Meyer, former minister and constitutional negotiator, Ms Gcina Mhlope, storyteller, writer and actor, Ms Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, former Member of Parliament, Ms Kgothatso Montjane, Grand Slam tennis champion, Prof Harry Ranwedzi Nengwekhulu, former activist and educationist, Mr Bheki Ntshalintshali, unionist and former COSATU General Secretary, Hosi Phylia Nwamitwa, traditional leader, Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo, chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Dr Gloria Serobe, business leader, Bishop Sithembile Sipuka, President of the South African Council of Churches, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers, Prof Derrick Swartz, academic, Ms Lorato Trok, author and early literacy expert, Mr Sibusiso Vilane, mountaineer and adventurer, Mr Siyabulela Xuza, award-winning scientist and entrepreneur. Since their appointment, they have provided valuable guidance and support to me and to all those involved in this work. Lastly, I wish to thank all of the delegates of the National Convention and everyone who is following these proceedings around the country. You have taken upon your shoulders a historic task. You have taken upon your shoulders the responsibility to launch a conversation among South Africans that will reach every corner of our country and that will determine the future of our nation. Let this National Convention be a call to every South African to participate, to be heard and to be counted. This Convention should not be remembered for fine speeches alone, but for the process it begins towards a new roadmap – a framework for political stability, economic renewal, social cohesion and a capable, ethical state. We must aim to emerge from this process with a shared national vision: one that is bold enough to inspire, yet practical enough to implement Let us speak with courage, listen with humility and negotiate with goodwill. Let us be reminded that our disagreements are small compared to the magnitude of what we can achieve together. In the words of the Freedom Charter, 'The people shall govern'. That governance starts here, with a dialogue that belongs to the nation. I declare the first National Convention of the National Dialogue of South Africa officially open. May our work here be guided by wisdom, grounded in truth and blessed with the spirit of ubuntu – for ourselves and for generations to comef. DM
The Citizen
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
National Dialogue must be place for ‘women to raise their voices', Ramaphosa says
The president said the reality is that women's struggles are not all the same and 'we should not assume they are.' Now that the National Convention of the National Dialogue is going ahead on 15 August, despite divisions and the withdrawal of several legacy foundations, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Dialogue must be a place for 'women to raise their voices.' The first National Convention will bring together 200 organisations from 33 different sectors and kickstart the National Dialogue process. Women's struggles It will take the form of public dialogues in localities and within various sectors across the country. Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said given the history of women's struggles in South Africa, women will once again come to the fore and participate actively National Dialogue process. 'Women make up more than half of our country's population. Women are affected by every political, social and economic issue in the country. Likewise, every crisis, whether it is unemployment, crime or climate change, affects women equally and, in some instances, more than men. 'Recognising that the lives of women are bound up with the future of the nation as a whole, we are counting on women's groups and organisations to mobilise around the National Dialogue process,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa warns SA must adapt fast as Trump tariffs loom Equal representation Ramaphosa added that the government is working in partnership with the various stakeholders to ensure women are equally represented across the structures supporting and guiding the process. 'If we are to remain true to our objective of giving all sectors of society a voice as we build the South Africa we want, we have to ensure that all women are represented. This means a concerted effort to mobilise young and old, urban and rural dwellers, women from different ethnic and linguistic communities, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people.' The president said the reality is that women's struggles are not all the same and 'we should not assume they are.' 'From the protests against the pass laws, to the so-called beer-hall protests of 1959, to the rent boycotts of the 1980s, to the contemporary protest movements against gender-based violence, South African women have a proud history of standing up and being counted.' Women participation Ramaphosa has called on all sectors of society to come together to ensure the full participation of all women in the National Dialogue. 'This would be the most fitting and powerful tribute to the legacy of the pioneers of 1956,' Ramaphosa said. On 9 August each year, the country celebrates Women's Day, commemorating the 1956 Women's March on the Union Buildings. The march was a political protest against the apartheid-era pass laws, but it was also a powerful assertion of women's agency. ALSO READ: Mr President, delay National Dialogue
