Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
With the country today hosting the first National Convention that will lay the groundwork and set the agenda for the National Dialogue, South Africans are being urged to make use of the “historic” opportunity it provides. “It is my hope that South Africans will grab the opportunity to make the National Dialogue as inclusive, as radical, as thoroughgoing as possible so that we do not miss this historic opportunity,” Deputy Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Professor Tinyiko Maluleke told SAnews ahead of the first day of the convention taking place at the University of South Africa (UNISA) Main Campus in Pretoria.
The NPC is an independent advisory body and think tank appointed by the President. The Commission is the custodian of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP): Vision 2030. The two-day convention, which will conclude on Saturday, 16 August, is being held under the theme: “Uniting Voices, Shaping the Nation.” The views, concerns and proposals that will emerge from the conversation will be brought together at a second National Convention that will be held at a later stage with the expectation being that the second convention will finalise a compact that outlines a new social compact for the development of our country.
In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to guide and “champion” the dialogue with Professor Maluleke being one of two co-chairs of the group of 31 which President Ramaphosa described as “leading figures in our society, reflecting the great diversity of our nation, with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building.” In an interview with SAnews, Professor Maluleke said the country is at a crossroad with challenges such as unemployment and gender-based violence.
“We have had an elections process last year that has sent back the political parties ruling or non-ruling back to the drawing board. We have a high unemployment rate; we have problems of gender-based violence. The levels of trust in government and in formal structures have gone very low and people are cynical about everything. We have reached a point where we doubt whether the democratic instruments we have are still fit for purpose to carry us forward as a country and that’s why we need a National Dialogue,” said Maluleke.
Speaking ahead of the group’s inaugural meeting last month, the President said the convention would be a representative gathering bringing together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, sports organisations, women, youth and community voices, among others. Maluleke said he was cognisant that some South Africans are of the view that dialogue is not a necessity.
“I’ve heard people who say why talk because we know what the problems are. I think that is very presumptuous half the time, because this idea that we know the problems of our people is the idea that has brought us to this moment of a conundrum where a select elite group of people, whether politicians, leaders of different types of organisations presume that they know that they alone can speak on behalf of people,” he explained. “It is a kind of disdain for people; it says don’t talk to the people, talk to us. But how can you know what it feels like to live in a house where sewage is running inside your living room?” he remarked.
“This presumption that we know and therefore we should just move on is actually dangerous and in some ways disdainful of the people of South Africa. I think that the people of South Africa want to dialogue because they want to be heard and they want to be part of the solutions to the problems that we face,” he explained. He further added that the EPG is made up of individuals dedicated to serving South Africa inc. “The group is of course a group of volunteers. None of whom and all of whom are not on the payroll of government or anyone. We all have our jobs; we simply are volunteering to serve our country,” he said.
Asked about what it is like to be a part of the EPG, Maluleke said it was an honour and privilege. This as the inaugural meeting between President Ramaphosa and members of the EPG was held on 11 July 2025. Maluleke co-chairs the group alongside former Minister and constitutional negotiator, Roelf Meyer, with the two deputy-chairs being former Member of Parliament (MP) Lindiwe Mazibuko and award-winning rocket scientist, Siyabulela Xuza.
“I am hugely surprised and honoured to be standing next to your Brigalia Bam’ s (former Electoral Commission Chairperson); your John Kani’s (award-winning actor); your Barbara Masekela (poet, educator and stalwart) and dynamic younger South Africans like Lindiwe Mazibuko and Nompendulo Mkhatshwa (student activist and former MP). Meanwhile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile this week convened the National Dialogue Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to receive a report on the state of readiness ahead of the first convention.” The Deputy President chairs the IMC, which comprises government departments to coordinate the government’s contribution towards the National Convention and the National Dialogue.
The report, which was presented by the Chairperson of the Convention Organising Committee, Boichoko Ditlhake, and National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) Executive Director, Makhukhu Mampuru, provided a comprehensive update on the work done and assured the Deputy President that all is on track for the convention.
“The IMC noted the decision by some Foundations to pull out of the preparations for the National Convention and requested that the Deputy President engage these Foundations in the process towards this inclusive dialogue.” said the Presidency in a statement on Thursday. Earlier this week, Ditlhake said the convention would be a citizen-led process while adding that provision has been made for 1000 delegates at the sessions.
This first National Convention is the kick-off of the process and spirit of the 12-month National Dialogue. President Ramaphosa is set to deliver the keynote address today and a session on the setting of expectations and a plenary panel is expected to be held. According to a draft programme, the second day of the convention is expected to include a plenary involving the consolidation of a report from dialogue labs.
