Cabinet Backs National Dialogue as Catalyst for Unity and Inclusive Action

The country is now in final preparations for the first of two landmark National Dialogue conventions, which will take place from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria.

The South African Cabinet has declared its full commitment to the upcoming National Dialogue, describing it not simply as a forum for debate but as a “powerful mechanism for action” set to lay the foundation for a more inclusive, united, and forward-looking South Africa.

The country is now in final preparations for the first of two landmark National Dialogue conventions, which will take place from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria. This historic event aims to bring together citizens, civil society, and leaders from all walks of life to collectively shape a vision for South Africa’s next three decades.

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Turning Talk into Tangible Change

Briefing the media on the outcomes of recent Cabinet meetings held on 22 July and 6 August 2025, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni underscored the government’s intention for the National Dialogue to move well beyond rhetoric.

“This first convention is aimed at mobilising consensus on the focus areas for the National Dialogue—a process that will include South Africans from all walks of life coming together to define a vision for our country for the next 30 years,” said Ntshavheni.

She emphasized that the National Dialogue is designed to yield actionable outcomes and provide a practical framework for policy and social renewal, ensuring that the vision co-created by the people translates into measurable progress.

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Massive Grassroots Participation Planned

What sets this initiative apart is its ambitious scale and grassroots focus. The National Dialogue is not confined to conference halls; instead, it is set to cascade into communities nationwide:

• Over 13,400 ward-level dialogues are planned, ensuring that voices from even the smallest communities are heard and reflected in the national vision.

• In addition, more than 50,000 citizen-led engagements will be conducted across the country during the 12 months following the first convention.

• Already, there is tremendous interest: 737 organisations from over 30 sectors have registered, representing a wide spectrum of South African society—from business and labour to faith groups, youth organisations, traditional leaders, and rural communities.

This diverse participation underscores the strong desire among South Africans to actively shape their shared future rather than remain passive recipients of top-down decision-making.

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Building Consensus for the Next 30 Years

The first convention at UNISA is expected to focus on identifying and building consensus around the key focus areas for the National Dialogue. These will likely include:

• Economic inclusion and job creation

• Strengthening social cohesion and national identity

• Education and skills for a changing world

• Youth empowerment and intergenerational equity

• Addressing inequality and promoting justice

• Improving service delivery and government accountability

• Land, spatial justice, and sustainable development

By framing the agenda collaboratively, organisers aim to ensure that the Dialogue resonates with ordinary South Africans and produces a roadmap that guides the nation well into the mid-21st century.

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From Dialogue to Action: Next Steps

The Cabinet has pledged to closely monitor progress and ensure that the outcomes of the National Dialogue are not lost in bureaucracy or political inertia. Instead, government is positioning the process as a cornerstone of nation-building, where ideas are transformed into concrete action.

The convention and the wider dialogue process are expected to yield policy proposals, social charters, and partnership models that can be implemented by all spheres of government and society, supported by ongoing engagement and accountability mechanisms.

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A New Social Compact for South Africa

The National Dialogue is taking place against a backdrop of significant social and economic challenges, but also growing optimism about the power of collective action and inclusive democracy. As the Cabinet reaffirmed, this initiative is a unique opportunity to forge a new social compact—one built on unity, accountability, and shared responsibility.

With thousands of conversations set to unfold across the country, and robust participation from every sector, South Africa stands on the threshold of a renewed chapter—one in which all voices count and every citizen has a role in shaping the country’s destiny.