Latest news with #NationalDialogue2025
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Echo chamber: National Convention is big on talk, but no action
Despite the withdrawal of some political parties and 'eminent persons' from the National Convention, a packed Unisa nevertheless allowed strong airing of the cacophony of legitimate grievances felt by the nation. Whether there will be anything done about them, or whether this was an expert exercise in placation, remains to be seen. Unisa's main campus, which overlooks Pretoria, shaped like an odd spaceship of education, was the setting for the two-day National Convention on 15 and 16 August. The university has probably not seen such a security presence in ages, with guards stationed every few metres, including around the large neon sign on the side of the 'University of the Hill' proclaiming 'National Dialogue 2025'. Despite all of the parties that pulled out of the event, attendance was strong, as the plethora of VIP vehicles and overrun parking showed. Unisa's ZK Matthews Great Hall was packed during the opening proceedings. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Not yet five minutes into the introductory speech by the programme director – as she uttered 'the daily rehearsal of democracy that once bound our communities together…' – proceedings were interrupted by the collapse of an attendee, who required medical intervention. 'Rehearsal is not repetition, it is preparation for transformation, and today, as part of that ongoing rehearsal…' she trailed off. Such a portent – if one believes in such – was reinforced during the delay as paramedics evacuated the medically distressed delegate. Many others broke into song: Alisoze Laphel'amandla ('we won't tire') Yet, one can't help but wonder when the daily rehearsal of democracy will end, and the final act – the real, the tangible – will land. Because, as Daily Maverick observed in many plenaries, people are in fact very, very tired. An experiment in consensus The National Convention, or National Dialogue (the official name is still under discussion) is described as an attempt to set citizen-led themes, structure and a path towards another such meeting in 2026. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Ostensibly a platform for the public to air their grievances, the run-up was marked by fits and starts, including the not unexpected pullout of the DA, which said there was 'no further point in wasting our breath in endless talk shops with the ANC'. Ironic, given that it is part of the Government of National Unity but also many foundations, such as the Thabo Mbeki and Desmond Tutu foundations, which jointly said that 'we cannot lend our names to a gathering that does not allow for genuine dialogue', citing the rushed timeline and logistics and limited interaction. Even more concerns were raised about cost transparency, with a widely cited estimate of R740-million for the dialogue debunked, while the actual cost to the cash-strapped fiscus remains unclear. While the Presidency said the spend will follow the Public Finance Management Act and Unisa will provide its facilities free of charge, there is no clarity on the price tag. What to expect when you're expecting President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived an hour late for the keynote address, which, depending on where you stand, might indicate strong commitment or apathy. Greeted by spirited song and cheering, Ramaphosa began his address by thanking all attendees before emphasising a broad church of involvement. 'This is not a partisan platform… here, no voice is too small, no perspective is too inconvenient to be heard… to chart a common path forward for our country,' the President said, citing the multitude of challenges the country faces – inequality and crime to South Africa's unstable geopolitical situation – as showing the need for such a dialogue. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'There is one thing that we have in common. We are South Africans' – but whether that 'common past and common destiny' will mean results remains uncertain. The lion(s) in the room The crux of the convention was a series of nine themed plenary sessions with titles that read like a litany of South Africa's challenges, including 'Crime and Corruption', 'Fixing the State and making the Constitution Work' and 'Poverty and Inequality'. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Daily Maverick attended all sessions, though none in full since they were all taking place at once. Each followed a similar format – chaired by a relevant person, policy experts providing analysis, with each attendee – from the public, civil society, the state and other bodies – given an opportunity to lend their voice to the room. The challenges raised wouldn't surprise any South African, from any background or demographic: the lack of jobs and economic growth, the very real fear for our lives due to rampant crime, and the challenges state institutions fear, and whether these can be turned around. What was somewhat striking, however, was one recurring theme across all plenaries: the failure of the state to deal with crime and corruption in our institutions. As one attendee from the 'Land, Spatial Equality and Environmental Justice' session succinctly put it, 'my dream is a peaceful, prosperous country, free of poverty, violence, crime… we are getting to a mafia state, it must be stopped.' While the National Dialogue emphasises citizen-led processes, the state seemed to miss a key point: South Africa is already largely citizen-led, with civil society repairing roads, agricultural collectives supporting each other, and community policing forums taking personal risks. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads These range from civil society organisations stepping in to repair infrastructure for roads, to agricultural collectives providing financial and advisory support to one another – or as one attendee, a woman activist working closely with community policing forums in the Western Cape, said, 'people in the community [are] having to put their lives on the line when there is no other solution and the police aren't doing anything'. The South African populace already bears the cost and responsibility of the state's failures – and having an opportunity to raise these concerns does not mean there will be any improvement. Indeed, the one key absence was clarity on next steps, beyond another dialogue next year. 'Trying to buy our silence' A few key incidents occurred where listening – or the illusion of listening – was frayed. In one, a male delegate erupted with anger after not being recognised to speak ahead of a young woman, and proceeded to level expletives and insults. There was more conflict when, before Ramaphosa's speech, an argument broke out between delegates on stage, resulting in security escorting attendees on stage. Most illustrative was when Sihle Sibisi, a civil society activist, stood and spoke with the frustration of a nation, listing what is on all of our minds: 'Before we talk, talk, talk… What are we saying about the elephant in the room.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Before listing the litany of challenges South Africa faces, he said: 'We are the ones on the ground… it's sad that you are here because 2026 elections are coming, so you are trying to buy our silence.' 'Thank you so much, let's give that lady a hand,' the chair responded placatingly. It turns out, listening, like democracy, is loud and up close and occasionally confrontational. What comes next On paper, the roadmap is straightforward: six to eight months of ward and sector dialogues, a steering committee to standardise processes and publish summaries, and a second convention in early 2026 to consolidate outcomes. The promise is that the venues will be modest – school halls, churches, community centres – and the process citizen- rather than podium-led. The measure will be in what is counted and made public, not what is proclaimed from the lectern. In the end, the university spaceship on the hill dimmed its neon sign, the songs faded and convoys of blue lights skulked back into Pretoria's night. What remains isn't the choreography of listening but the ledger of doing. South Africa has rehearsed its democratic voice hoarse; the chorus is tight, the crowd can harmonise on command, and the stage directions remain laminated. The question that remains is almost insulting in its simplicity: who is going to move a chair, fix the lights and open the doors to let in a better life for all. If this National Convention is to mean anything beyond its lanyards, the proof will be painfully prosaic – names and CVs for a genuinely independent steering committee; a public, line-by-line-item cost; lab summaries posted within a week; funded pilot projects with owners, start dates and money attached. Without results, this daily rehearsal of democracy remains just that – yet another dress run where we never get an opening night, with the patience of an anticipatory audience wearing thinner by the day. DM
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Ntsikelelo Breakfast comments on the National Dialogue
People sit next to a sign reading National Dialogue 2025 during the first National Convention at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on August 15, 2025.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Critics accuse government of not listening
People sit next to a sign reading National Dialogue 2025 during the first National Convention at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on August 15, 2025. PRETORIA - Day 2 of the National Convention has begun on Saturday, with the dust from a chaotic opening still settling. Technical glitches, a medical emergency, and tense scenes marked day one. Some delegates walked out after the keynote, accusing organisers of talking at them rather than listening. President Cyril Ramaphosa started the event, urging all South Africans to join the dialogue. He called for frank conversations on gender-based violence, poverty, inequality and service delivery failures. Today's focus is on finalising the rollout of the dialogues and securing contributions to support citizen-led discussions. eNCA anchor Andrew Barnes discussed the initiative with Mpumelelo Mseleku. The #NationalDialogue is a citizen-led platform to collectively carve a better future. Our presence represents the aspirations of millions of South Africans. The People Shall Govern! — ANC - African National Congress (@MYANC) August 16, 2025 The #NationalDialogue is not a single event; it is a long-term, participatory process that seeks to impact on and involve every part of our country, unleashing the energies and buy-in of every citizen and every sector. It, therefore, cannot be a 'talk-shop', as it aims to produce… — The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 15, 2025 Several grassroots civil society organisations and movements have issued a statement explaining why they are participating in the #NationalDialogue. 'The National Dialogue is flawed and may unrealistic… but it's a radical departure from past government-led engagements' — Mbekezeli (@MbekezeliMB) August 15, 2025 Day 2 of #ZANatDialogue, Unisa open doors for further engagement through the #NationalDialogue a platform to discuss, collaborate, and act on the issues that matter most to South Africa. Together, we will uphold our democratic values and meet the needs of our communities. Follow… — Unisa (@unisa) August 16, 2025
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Leaders comment on National Dialogue opening
People sit next to a sign reading National Dialogue 2025 during the first National Convention at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on August 15, 2025.
eNCA
4 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Ramaphosa urges dialogue, unity to fix 'broken' South Africa
People sit next to a sign reading National Dialogue 2025 during the first National Convention at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on August 15, 2025. PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africans to come together to find solutions to the country's many problems, launching on Friday a months-long "national dialogue" dismissed by critics as a costly talk shop. The nationwide public consultation comes with Africa's most industrialised nation still grappling with massive poverty and inequality 30 years after the end of apartheid. "We all agree that there are many things that are broken in our country," Ramaphosa told a convention of more than 1,000 people that will draw up a roadmap for local-level meetings across the country over six to nine months. "By getting together, talking to each other, we should be able to find solutions on how we can put many of the things that are broken in our country together," he said. Among the problems Ramaphosa cited were unemployment that has passed 33 percent and inequality, among the starkest in the world. Priorities listed by organisers included high crime and land reform, with most farmland still in the hands of the white minority. Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) is touting the dialogue as a "conversation among South Africans" to chart a brighter future, but it has been met with scepticism by critics. The Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in the rocky year-old government of national unity, labelled the process as "meaningless" and an "obscene waste" of money and said it would not take part. The two-day convention was snubbed by key backers of the dialogue, including former president Thabo Mbeki, after complaints that it had been rushed and concerns about the budget. 'Bold', 'practical' Amid reports that it will cost taxpayers several hundred million rand, the presidency has said everything would be done to reduce costs, with some venues and transport to be provided for free. Ramaphosa called on people from across the diverse nation of 63 million to take part. "We also need to ask ourselves, why do so many people live in abject poverty, and so few live lives of opulence?" he said. "Why, after decades of democracy, are the prospects of the white child so much better than those of a black child?" he said. "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," Ramaphosa said. Around 30 eminent South Africans have been named as ambassadors of the process, including award-winning actor John Kani and Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, who were both at the launch. "We are a group of people who are very keen, have interest and experience," said Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers humanitarian group and another ambassador. "If you listen to the dialogue within ourselves, it is not a rubber-stamp organisation -- everyone challenges each other," he told AFP.
