An ebullient and confident President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent an unequivocal message that the National Dialogue of South Africa is not a partisan platform, but a national one where no voice is too small and no perspective too inconvenient to be heard.

Ramaphosa was delivering the keynote address at the first National Convention of the National Dialogue, held at the Muckleneuk Campus of the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria on Friday 15 August 2025, under the theme Uniting Voices, Shaping the Nation.

The President, as the Convenor of the National Convention, also used the occasion to officially open the national dialogue process, which will unfold in various localities across the country after the convention, and culminate in a second national convention aimed at consolidating all the citizens’ inputs into workable solutions and implementation plans.     

He urged participants to ensure that the convention is not remembered for fine speeches alone, but also for the process it begins towards a new roadmap and framework for political stability, economic renewal, social cohesion and a capable, ethical state.

"We must aim to emerge from this process with a shared national vision: one that is bold enough to inspire, yet practical enough to implement," he said.

More than 1 000 people from over 200 organisations across all sectors of society are attending the National Convention

Ramaphosa emphasised that the task of the first National Convention, attended by more than 1 000 people from over 200 organisations across all sectors of society, was purely to prepare for the thousands of public dialogues set to take place across the country over the next six to eight months.

"We are here to reflect on how we should approach these public dialogues and what methods we should use to ensure that everyone has a say, and that the discussions take place in an environment that promotes understanding and encourages healing," he said.   

One of the key outcomes of the first convention will be the constitution of a broad-based Steering Committee to oversee and guide the national dialogue itself.    

Ramaphosa’s message, by and large, echoed the sentiments expressed by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, who had delivered the welcoming address earlier.  

In her address, LenkaBula described the convention as a process that will culminate in a comprehensive national dialogue in which all South Africans can remake the South Africa of their dreams, a dialogue that will build sufficient consensus on the vision, plans and outcomes that they want to see, and help to reclaim citizens’ futures in respect of peace, human dignity and happiness for all.

She reminded the audience that South Africans come from a past characterised by struggle, suffering and pain, but have managed to overcome the setbacks and challenges.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, delivering the welcoming address

"Today," she continued, "we are confronting a reality of national hopelessness, restlessness and stagnation, including real declines in many important indicators of human development. In the land of plenty and boundless talent, we should be able to arrest this dangerous national situation. We have done it before when we emerged out of the darkest days of apartheid to build a new South Africa. This National Dialogue process, which begins today, gives us a grand opportunity to find our true north again."     

LenkaBula said that Unisa was honoured and excited to be chosen as the seat of the first National Convention of the National Dialogue of South Africa, which seeks to rebuild, reconnect and reclaim the South African promise. "Unisa," she said, "accepted the challenge to host this important and historic event in the life of South Africa. This is also one of the ways in which the university realises its vision of being a truly African university shaping futures in the service of humanity."    

The first National Convention is taking place at Unisa from Friday 15 August to Saturday 16 August 2025. Delegates have now dispersed to breakaway sessions that will deliberate on the following themes:

1. A dynamic, inclusive economy, jobs and livelihoods   
2. Crime and corruption
3. Winning the future through education and a healthy nation
4. Fixing the state and making the Constitution work
5. Building South African values and culture, and strengthening our social fabric
6. Gender and GBVF
7. Dealing with intergenerational trauma and healing
8. Land, spatial equality and environmental justice
9. Poverty and inequality  

Day one will conclude with sectoral consultations on Steering Committee nominations and dialogue commitments by all delegates.

This is a developing story.        

 * By Martin Ramotshela, Head of Communication in the Directorate: Communication, Marketing and Events, Department of Institutional Advancement  

** Photography by Mduduzi Khathamzi, Unisa Multimedia Centre