Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially announced the launch of a landmark National Dialogue, a people-led process aimed at addressing South Africa’s most pressing challenges and reimagining the country’s future. The announcement, delivered during a televised address to the nation, marks a pivotal step towards renewed unity and national purpose.

Set to begin with a National Convention on 15 August 2025, the initiative has already gained widespread support from various sectors of society, including political parties, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, religious groups, and labour unions.

“This initiative has been gathering great support and enthusiasm since it was proposed last year,” said President Ramaphosa. “There is broad agreement that given the challenges our country is facing at the moment, we should convene the National Dialogue.”

Drawing from South Africa’s history of transformative negotiation and conversation—especially during the transition from apartheid to democracy—the President underscored the nation’s proven ability to come together during times of crisis.

“We achieved all this because we came together in dialogue to discuss our difficulties, our concerns, our hopes and our aspirations as a people,” he added.

The Dialogue will focus on a range of critical issues plaguing the country: poverty, unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, corruption, and crime. It will be an open and inclusive process, designed to give a voice to all South Africans—young and old, men and women, the LGBTQI+ community, people with disabilities, and those from both urban and rural areas.

The goal is to create a new national ethos, shared vision, and social compact for development. The process will unfold in multiple phases, beginning with local consultations and sectoral engagements, and building towards provincial and national gatherings.

“The National Dialogue will not be a single event. It will be a participatory process that unfolds in phases,” Ramaphosa said.

The President emphasised that the Convention and subsequent dialogue will support South Africa’s Vision 2030, anchoring the next phase of the National Development Plan.

“This is a chance for all South Africans, from all walks of life, to come together and help shape the next chapter of our democracy,” he concluded.

The National Convention in August will set the framework and agenda for ongoing dialogue across the country, marking what many hope will be a turning point in South Africa’s democratic journey.