Edition August 2025

South Africa has come a long way since the dawn of democracy. Once a nation where human rights for all were not recognised, we have worked hard on our journey of transformation to appreciating the beauty and strength of our diversity in  upholding and protecting the rights of all citizens. This hard-won freedom came at a great cost, with many lives lost during the Struggle.   

One of the many heroic fights for freedom – embodying resilience and solidarity in the pursuit of equality – was the march by more than 20 000 women to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to protest the extension of Pass Laws to women. This month, we commemorate Women’s Month in their honour.

As we reflect on that legacy, we fully acknowledge the work that lies ahead of us. More than three decades since the dawn of democracy, government continues to advance freedom, strengthen democratic values and build a better life for all. Government recognises the need to confront the persistent challenges we face – inequality, unemployment, social divisions, gender-based violence and femicide, and a growing disconnect between citizens and public institutions.

To address these and other national challenges, President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an inclusive National Dialogue: a people-driven, society-wide process to reflect, reset and reimagine South Africa’s future. 

The official National Dialogue platform elaborates on this process which offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect and collectively envision the South Africa we want to build. It provides a platform to confront uncomfortable truths, hear diverse voices and co-create solutions grounded in the lived experiences of South Africans.

Dialogue is not new to us. The country’s democratic transition in the early 1990s was founded on negotiation, compromise and inclusive engagement. From the Convention for a Democratic South Africa to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africans have always turned to dialogue as a means to resolve conflict and forge a shared future.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa reminded us when announcing the dialogue:

“At every important moment in the history of our country, we have come together as a nation to confront our challenges and forge a path into the future in dialogue with one another. Through dialogue we were able to deal with the challenges that the apartheid system caused in our country and achieved peace and overcame violence”.

The process will formally begin with the First National Convention on 15 August 2025, bringing together representatives from government, civil society, labour, business, traditional leadership, youth and community organisations. This convention will mark the start of a multi-phase process that will continue through local and sectoral engagements, culminating in a second National Convention in early 2026.

In his State of the Nation Address in February 2025, President Ramaphosa called on all of us to participate in the National Dialogue to define a vision for our country for the next 30 years and find solutions that will build on what has been done since 1994 in ensuring continual improvement in the lives of people.

The dialogue will cover a wide range of themes, including:

• Economic transformation and job creation.
• Social cohesion and nation building.
• Governance, accountability, and participatory democracy.
• Land reform and food security.
• Safety and gender-based violence.
• Poverty, inequality and hunger.

The Dialogue will provide a platform for citizens to contribute to shaping a democratic and prosperous South Africa, giving credence to our commitment of ensuring a people-led, society-wide process of all stakeholders working together as a nation. This will enable the National Dialogue to forge a social compact to realise the aspirations of the country’s National Development Plan.

To support this complex process and ensure broad legitimacy, several support structures have been established, including:

• Eminent Persons Group: A panel of respected South Africans providing strategic guidance and oversight.
• Inter-Ministerial Committee: Chaired by the Deputy President, this committee coordinates government’s role in the process.
• Steering Committee: Oversees the programme of action and ensures inclusive participation.
• Preparatory Task Team: Facilitates logistics and stakeholder engagement until the Steering Committee is fully operational.
• Secretariat: Provides administrative and technical support to the entire process.

As public servants we carry a responsibility to ensure that participation in the dialogue is constructive, coordinated and responsive. This will be undertaken through use of  all our platforms, to keep South Africans informed and involved in this vital process. We have a responsibility to combat misinformation and disinformation by ensuring that accurate, empowering messages dominate public discourse with a view to further enrich the dialogue. 

Public servants are encourage to also participate and contribute in the dialogue in shaping the future of our country. The National Dialogue is not merely a platform for discussion, but a powerful mechanism for action – laying the foundation for a more inclusive and united South Africa.

We should approach this moment with humility and hope. Let us listen more than we speak, and engage not to defend, but to understand. And let us remember that the strength of our democracy lies not in the perfection of our institutions but in the willingness of the people to come together in pursuit of a better future.Re-imagining South Africa together through the National Dialogue

South Africa has come a long way since the dawn of democracy. Once a nation where human rights for all were not recognised, we have worked hard on our journey of transformation to appreciating the beauty and strength of our diversity in  upholding and protecting the rights of all citizens. This hard-won freedom came at a great cost, with many lives lost during the Struggle.   

One of the many heroic fights for freedom – embodying resilience and solidarity in the pursuit of equality – was the march by more than 20 000 women to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to protest the extension of Pass Laws to women. This month, we commemorate Women’s Month in their honour.

As we reflect on that legacy, we fully acknowledge the work that lies ahead of us. More than three decades since the dawn of democracy, government continues to advance freedom, strengthen democratic values and build a better life for all. Government recognises the need to confront the persistent challenges we face – inequality, unemployment, social divisions, gender-based violence and femicide, and a growing disconnect between citizens and public institutions.

To address these and other national challenges, President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an inclusive National Dialogue: a people-driven, society-wide process to reflect, reset and reimagine South Africa’s future. 

The official National Dialogue platform elaborates on this process which offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect and collectively envision the South Africa we want to build. It provides a platform to confront uncomfortable truths, hear diverse voices and co-create solutions grounded in the lived experiences of South Africans.

Dialogue is not new to us. The country’s democratic transition in the early 1990s was founded on negotiation, compromise and inclusive engagement. From the Convention for a Democratic South Africa to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africans have always turned to dialogue as a means to resolve conflict and forge a shared future.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa reminded us when announcing the dialogue:

“At every important moment in the history of our country, we have come together as a nation to confront our challenges and forge a path into the future in dialogue with one another. Through dialogue we were able to deal with the challenges that the apartheid system caused in our country and achieved peace and overcame violence”.

The process will formally begin with the First National Convention on 15 August 2025, bringing together representatives from government, civil society, labour, business, traditional leadership, youth and community organisations. This convention will mark the start of a multi-phase process that will continue through local and sectoral engagements, culminating in a second National Convention in early 2026.

In his State of the Nation Address in February 2025, President Ramaphosa called on all of us to participate in the National Dialogue to define a vision for our country for the next 30 years and find solutions that will build on what has been done since 1994 in ensuring continual improvement in the lives of people.

The dialogue will cover a wide range of themes, including:

• Economic transformation and job creation.
• Social cohesion and nation building.
• Governance, accountability, and participatory democracy.
• Land reform and food security.
• Safety and gender-based violence.
• Poverty, inequality and hunger.

The Dialogue will provide a platform for citizens to contribute to shaping a democratic and prosperous South Africa, giving credence to our commitment of ensuring a people-led, society-wide process of all stakeholders working together as a nation. This will enable the National Dialogue to forge a social compact to realise the aspirations of the country’s National Development Plan.

To support this complex process and ensure broad legitimacy, several support structures have been established, including:

• Eminent Persons Group: A panel of respected South Africans providing strategic guidance and oversight.
• Inter-Ministerial Committee: Chaired by the Deputy President, this committee coordinates government’s role in the process.
• Steering Committee: Oversees the programme of action and ensures inclusive participation.
• Preparatory Task Team: Facilitates logistics and stakeholder engagement until the Steering Committee is fully operational.
• Secretariat: Provides administrative and technical support to the entire process.

As public servants we carry a responsibility to ensure that participation in the dialogue is constructive, coordinated and responsive. This will be undertaken through use of  all our platforms, to keep South Africans informed and involved in this vital process. We have a responsibility to combat misinformation and disinformation by ensuring that accurate, empowering messages dominate public discourse with a view to further enrich the dialogue. 

Public servants are encourage to also participate and contribute in the dialogue in shaping the future of our country. The National Dialogue is not merely a platform for discussion, but a powerful mechanism for action – laying the foundation for a more inclusive and united South Africa.

We should approach this moment with humility and hope. Let us listen more than we speak, and engage not to defend, but to understand. And let us remember that the strength of our democracy lies not in the perfection of our institutions but in the willingness of the people to come together in pursuit of a better future.

For more information, visit: 
www.stateofthenation.gov.za/national-dialogue