Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

Maverick News

Maverick News

Ramaphosa announces 2025 national dialogue at Reconciliation Day event, for ‘inclusive solutions’

Ramaphosa announces 2025 national dialogue at Reconciliation Day event, for ‘inclusive solutions’
Tamsin Metelerkamp
By Tamsin Metelerkamp
16 Dec 2024
Facebook
11
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Reconciliation Day address in Vredendal, Western Cape, touched on everything from the GNU to the G20 to plans for an upcoming ‘national dialogue’. Across it all, his central message appeared to remain the same – we’re all in this together.

In a Reconciliation Day address that leaned heavily on themes of unity and inclusivity, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a national dialogue would be held in South Africa in 2025 – a process that would allow people to “define the path” the nation takes as it moves forward.

The vision for the national dialogue includes an extensive public consultation process, led by an intersectoral steering committee made up of leaders from government, labour, business and communities, according to Ramaphosa.

“We would like to see the people of South Africa united in everything that they do, all of them, putting their views forward together… Through our various actions, we are reigniting our collective vision and shared passion to create a South Africa that works for all its people. We are confronting our challenges with the courage and determination displayed during the darkest day of the struggle against apartheid,” he said.

“We will want the national dialogue to strengthen and consolidate the process of social compacting, where we come together as different sectors and communities to find common solutions, like we have always found in the past.”

Ramaphosa first introduced the idea of a national dialogue during his inauguration address in June 2024 in response to calls from civil society groups. Consultations about how to manage the process have since been held with civil society groups and other sectors.

Read more: It is unclear whether the National Dialogue will be either national or a dialogue (Part Four)

“All the necessary structures and processes of the dialogue will be in place early in the new year so that preparations can commence in earnest… We expect that the national dialogue will reach agreement on the critical issues that are facing our nation,” said Ramaphosa.

The national dialogue is intended to address an ambitious array of issues, including unemployment, poor governance, slow land reform, poverty and hunger, gender-based violence and social fragmentation. 

On the GNU and G20


Ramaphosa had nothing but praise for the government of national unity (GNU) during his address, lauding its “spirit of inclusivity” and commitment to meeting people’s needs.

“The government of national unity brings together diverse parties – 10 parties altogether – with different policies, different histories, different perspectives, and people who look different and who have different backgrounds, yet we are united by a commitment to build a better South Africa for all its people,” he said.

“Reconciliation itself is not a symbolic act. It requires a fundamental transformation of society to create a fair and just nation. The programme of the government of national unity has therefore prioritised inclusive growth, job creation and more transformation. We have prioritised the fight against poverty and building a capable and developmental state.”

The task for South Africans was to build the nation, rather than break it, said Ramaphosa. He made a point to warn against people who made “statements that almost contribute to breaking our nation”.

“We must refuse, as South Africans, that our unity be broken. We must refuse to give those people space who rely on hatred, who rely on lies, and want to separate us as South Africans. We have learnt from the past 30 years that reconciliation means fostering cultural understanding and promoting social cohesion and social justice in our post-apartheid South Africa,” he said.

His words echoed comments made by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson at the same event. When welcoming Ramaphosa to the stage, Macpherson noted that it was the first Reconciliation Day under the GNU, adding, “And while some people’s sole job, their stated intention for South Africa is to show division and hate, your government, under your leadership, wants to bring about unity and prosperity.”

Towards the close of his address, Ramaphosa touched on South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidency. The country is set to take over the leading role at the international forum in 2025. He advocated again for unity, but this time on a global scale.

Read more: SA takes G20 helm amid global political instability and shifting world order

“We as South Africans have outlined an ambitious agenda for our G20 presidency,” he said.

“We have decided that as they work with us for the whole year, we want to advance the theme of solidarity… so that when one part of the world suffers and struggles, those that can must pledge solidarity. We also want the world to unite in fostering equality… The poorer peoples in the world must be uplifted, the people who are suffering must be assisted.”

While acknowledging the road ahead for South Africa was not easy, Ramaphosa encouraged people to reflect on how far the country had come.

“We must reflect on our achievements and remember that, as South Africans, we are stronger when we are united,” he said. DM

Categories:

Tags: