15 July 2025 | 12:30 CAT
2-minute read

Image source: The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

The National Dialogue, set to begin in August this year, promises unity and opportunity for regrowth, but its R700 million price tag has sparked backlash from civil society groups, academics, political parties and trade unions.

The project will be guided by an Eminent Persons Group, including former Cosatu General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, who joined Radio Islam International for a discussion about the issue and highlighted the importance of ensuring that citizens’ concerns are adequately addressed.

The Presidency has highlighted that the citizen-led dialogue will be free of government administration to ensure that citizens can freely express their views, allow for a wide range of perspectives from various sectors of society, and foster trust from citizens, with President Ramaphosa emphasising that it is a chance for all South Africans to “reimagine our future”.

“In the processes we need to address that scepticism and ensure that it is a success. But the mere fact that it is people-driven rather than state-driven gives confidence,” Ntshalintshali said.

This vision of a grassroots-led dialogue comes amid growing public frustration. South Africans are grappling with record youth unemployment, spiralling crime, weakened state institutions, and the enduring scars of apartheid-era spatial and economic inequality. Many argue that the problems are already well-documented—what’s lacking is political will and coherent implementation.

Ntshalintshali countered this narrative, explaining that the dialogue isn’t about re-identifying problems, but about determining how to fix them. “In many of these issues, the issue has been left to government. Government will do this, government will do that. The question of GBV… is not going to be solved by police. It happens in our homes when the police are not there.”

This shift in emphasis—from state intervention to societal accountability—is at the heart of the dialogue’s methodology. Yet, the cost remains a point of contention. Critics have questioned the transparency and necessity of such a high price tag, especially during an economic crisis.

Ntshalintshali acknowledged the concerns but argued that dialogue infrastructure costs money. Venues, logistics, media platforms, and travel subsidies for community participants all require funding. “Of course, people should be worried about the question of so much money,” he said. “But every process is expensive… and it has to help people to come to this meeting, to be able to communicate their views.”

The dialogue is currently in its preparatory phase. According to Ntshalintshali, the Eminent Persons Group was formally briefed just last week and will meet again on Wednesday to evaluate progress. Over 50 organisations have reportedly signed on, and that number is “growing by the day.” Their role, he emphasised, is to ensure that the process remains inclusive, transparent, and free from political interference.

In many ways, the new dialogue echoes the 1991 National Peace Accord, which brought rival factions together in the midst of political violence in the early ’90s and laid the groundwork for South Africa’s democratic transition.

“While it is true that many of this kind of dialogue has not had some fruit, there’s one that stands out for me—that was the Peace Accord,” Ntshalintshali reflected.

The dialogue’s success will hinge on how well it listens to the marginalised—and whether it can turn words into action. If it succeeds, it could rebuild the social fabric. If not, it risks becoming yet another expensive symbol of missed opportunity.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.