President Cyril Ramaphosa has claimed that the National Dialogue would give ordinary South Africans a direct say in the country’s future.

The National Convention, which is the starting event for the broader National Dialogue, was held at UNISA in August and attended by more than 1 000 delegates from over 200 organisations, this according to Ramaphosa reportedly confirmed a strong appetite for a structured, citizen-driven process.

Ramaphosa stressed that a representative steering committee, now being finalised from 32 social sectors, will lead the dialogue, while government is reportedly to serve only as facilitator. The committee will work with an inter-ministerial team chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile to convene local meetings nationwide in the coming months.

The President argued that a grassroots social compact emerging from these discussions could boost economic growth, cut poverty, lower living costs, and build a capable state. “Citizens feel ownership over national decisions when they are directly involved in shaping them,” he said.