President Cyril Ramaphosa says the outcomes of the National Dialogue will not be dictated by government but shaped by the people of South Africa themselves.
“The outcomes of the National Dialogue will be determined by the citizens of this country,” the President told Members of Parliament on Tuesday.
He was responding to a question from George Michalakis of the Democratic Alliance, who
asked whether the National Dialogue was intended to support government priorities, such as economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, lowering the cost of living, and building a capable state.The President said the National Dialogue should be understood as a structured process that brings together citizens, political actors, civil society, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the country.
“The National Dialogue is aimed at giving ordinary South Africans a voice to articulate precisely the South Africa they want and how they can participate in crafting the solutions of our country,” he said.
The President highlighted that the first National Convention, held in August at UNISA in Tshwane, brought together more than 1 000 delegates from over 200 organisations spanning around 30 sectors of society.
These included business, labour, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, women, youth, students, academics, military veterans, persons with disabilities, unemployed persons, as well as organisations in media, sport, culture, democracy and human rights.
The convention endorsed the need for a National Dialogue and identified nine broad themes, including building an inclusive economy, tackling crime and corruption, strengthening education and health, fixing the state, advancing gender equality, ending gender-based violence, addressing intergenerational trauma, promoting environmental justice, and advancing land and mineral rights.
Delegates also supported the establishment of a representative Steering Committee to drive the process, which will work with the Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Deputy President and under the guidance of an Eminent Persons Group.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that the process would be “citizen-led” while government would act as a facilitator.
“Let us be clear. The Steering Committee will be led by the citizens of our country, giving credence to our intention that this must be a citizen-led process, while government’s role is that of a facilitator,” he said.
The President added that for the government, the dialogue will be “hands off” except for financial injection, where it is necessary.
“Let me make it very clear, it will be South Africans who will be talking to each other, meeting at ward level where even our voters, the people who voted for us, are represented. So they will be talking and they will not even be cajoled not to talk. They will opt to go to those meetings and participate. So it is to the detriment of us who are sitting here to say no, we are not going to participate,” the President said.
The President said the dialogue is expected to culminate in a social compact that defines the roles and responsibilities of all sectors in addressing the country’s challenges and building the South African nation.
While citizens will have the final say, the President said the process is anticipated to make a a significant contribution to economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, lowering the cost of living and building a capable State.
“Citizens feel ownership over national decisions when they are directly involved in shaping them, complementing the important role that is played by elected representatives. Involving the people directly enhances the process of developing a shared vision for the future of our country,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
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