Democratic South Africa, at 31, is critically ill. The National Dialogue is a flawed ‘cure’ for deep-seated issues that need to be solved by reform and accountability

It promises people’s voices will be heard through ward-level conversations and submissions on a digital app, but South Africa has not bridged the digital divide

It should serve as a catalyst for meaningful change, galvanising stakeholders across sectors to address such problems

The special project manager at the Thabo Mbeki Foundation said legacy foundations were talking to civil society on how to take the project back from the government and political parties

President Cyril Ramaphosa put a brave face on Friday to legacy foundations and opposition parties boycotting a convention to kick off a National Dialogue on how to resolve South Africa’s numerous problems, saying similar walkouts had occurred during the difficult transition to democracy. “We are embarking on a process that will launch a million conversations. […]

Critics wondered whether the convention would follow through with local ward talks and implement recommendations

The DA claims it was proven right to boycott the dialogue after Deputy President Paul Mashatile instructed ministers to attend the convention virtually

Building the country we want isn’t the government’s sole responsibility. People need to act and use the abilities they have to effect change

Several prominent foundations have withdrawn from the national dialogue citing poor planning and questionable spending

Far from a talkshop for the elite, the dialogue is a people-led, civil society-driven process to address socio-economic injustice and shape the nation’s future

The planned National Dialogue should aim to achieve a resurgence of people’s power so evident in the 1980s resistance to apartheid

The National Dialogue has not even begun and has already become irrevocably politically tainted

But the Democratic Alliance has said it will boycott the dialogue that will take place over nine months, calling it a waste of time and money

We don’t have a problem of dialogue in South Africa. We have a delivery problem. And no level of polite discussion will fix that

Democratic leader John Steenhuisen however said the party would withdraw from a national dialogue due later this year, calling it a waste of time and money and a distraction from the failures of the ANC

We all have the obligation to participate publicly because it is our collective responsibility to advance South Africa Inc.

It will also try to ease dealings with its partners in the government of national unity (GNU), in particular the DA, ahead of local government election campaigning

While lauded internationally, our social rights documents have yet to become a reality for many South Africans but remain mere words outlining our aspirations

The Strategic Dialogue Group and foundations named after the country’s leaders believe that South Africa can move beyond the paralysis in social, economic, political and governance spheres and national despair

The national dialogue is more than a discussion, it is our chance to forge a path towards a more just, equitable and democratic South Africa