National Dialogue Steering Committee to Be Inducted at Unisa This Weekend

A central outcome of the induction will be the development of a practical implementation roadmap and phased plan for rolling out dialogues across the country.

The induction of the National Dialogue’s newly appointed Steering Committee will take place this weekend at the University of South Africa’s (Unisa) Muckleneuk main campus in Pretoria.

The National Dialogue, announced last year by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing South Africa’s deep-seated social, economic and governance challenges through broad-based citizen engagement.

In December, President Ramaphosa confirmed the 99 nominees who will serve on the Steering Committee. The members have been drawn from all sectors of society, reflecting a wide spectrum of expertise, experience and community representation.

Role of the Steering Committee

According to a statement issued by the National Dialogue, the Steering Committee’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the integrity of the dialogue process and ensure that participation is meaningful, inclusive and accessible.

“The Steering Committee’s role is to steward the integrity of the process, ensure that participation is meaningful and accessible, and oversee a phased roll-out of dialogues across communities, sectors, and provinces,” the statement said.

“It is not a substitute for elected government, and it is not a platform for party-political campaigning.”

Focus of the Induction

The induction programme will focus on key governance and accountability issues, including:

• Governance and ethical standards

• Decision-making protocols

• Public accountability mechanisms

• Rebuilding public trust amid widespread scepticism about consultative processes

“The Steering Committee induction will focus on governance, ethics, decision-making protocols, public accountability, and the realities of rebuilding trust in a context where many South Africans are understandably sceptical of consultative processes that do not lead to change,” the statement noted.

Laying the Groundwork for Nationwide Dialogues

A central outcome of the induction will be the development of a practical implementation roadmap and phased plan for rolling out dialogues across the country. This includes:

• A public participation guide, with offline engagement options for communities with limited digital access

• An accessibility and translation pathway to support participation across languages and disability contexts

• A clear reporting and feedback framework so communities can track outcomes after dialogues

• Weekly process updates and a public log documenting priority issues raised and their status

The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to openness and independence throughout the process.

“The National Dialogue Steering Committee would like to reiterate its position that it remains committed to a transparent, inclusive, and non-partisan process which is citizen-led,” the statement said.

The induction marks a critical step in operationalising the National Dialogue and setting the foundation for sustained, nationwide public engagement.