By FG Tsibani: (From the University of Johannesburg, writing in his personal capacity)
The National Dialogue, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 10 June 2025, represents a critical moment in South Africa’s Nation Building Plan (Tsibani, 2020), aligned with Section 83(c) of the RSA Constitution. This all-inclusive, people-led, and society-wide process seeks to reconstruct, redevelop, review, reconsider, rethink, and reimagine the country’s future, forging a new national ethos and common value system.
Through the National Dialogue, utilising Integrated Rural and Urban Infrastructure Investment Programmes (IR&UIIP), South Africans will come together to develop a new social compact driven by soft power. Soft power, as defined by Gallarotti (2011) and supported by Nye (2017), refers to the strategy of influencing and persuading others through all-inclusive dialogue, characterised by integrity, honesty, trust, and the promotion of non-racialism and non-sexism in democratic post-apartheid administration systems for the public good at all levels.
Soft power is a vital component of the National Dialogue, as it enables South Africans to engage in constructive and respectful discussions, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation. By leveraging soft power, the National Dialogue aims to create a conducive environment for meaningful engagement, reconciliation, and nation-building.
The National Dialogue will drive progress towards Vision 2050 and lay the foundation for the next phase of the country’s National Development Plan. This process will be aligned with the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Africa Green Hydrogen Roadmap 2050, and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063.
In line with the Nation Building Plan between 2025 and 2063 (Tsibani, 2020), the National Dialogue will unfold in phases, from local consultations and sectoral engagements to provincial and national gatherings. As President Ramaphosa announced, the National Convention, scheduled for 15 August 2025, will represent the diversity of the South African nation, bringing together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, sports organisations, women, youth, and community voices.
As he put it, through this participatory process, South Africans will define their nation’s path into the future, guided by the principles of reconciliation, socio-economic cohesion, and inclusive development. The National Dialogue represents a unique opportunity for South Africa to confront its complex legacy, address the inequities of the past, and build a more just, equitable, and prosperous society for all.
The national dialogue in South Africa must be informed by the country’s complex legacy and the need for meaningful land distribution and restitution. This process must be guided by the principles of reconciliation and socio-economic cohesion, as enshrined in Section 83(C) of the Republic of South Africa’s Constitution and the spirit of the Bill of Rights.
The Nation Building Plan, a critical component of socio-economic cohesion, must take into account local and global developments, as well as related enablers. South Africa’s regional and international non-alignment policy and related strategies must support unity in diversity, acknowledging the country’s post-apartheid status and the impact of dual political, economic, socio-cultural, technical, legal, and environmental developments.
To address the inequities of the past, South Africa requires a pro-economic growth policy discourse embedded in a mixed economy. Tsibani (2020) has aligned the national dialogue to the 21st century, emphasizing the need for South African organs of state to focus on restoration of PRIDE (production, reindustrialisation, innovation, domestication, and enterprise) through WEALTH (water, energy, agriculture, land optimisation, technology, and health) creation.
*References:*
1. Gallarotti, G. (2011). Soft Power: What it is, why it’s important, and the conditions for its effective use—Journal of Political Power.
2. President Cyril Matamela. (2025). Announcement of National Dialogue. Pretoria: Government Printers.
3. Nye, J. S. (2017). Soft power: the origins and political progress of a concept. Palgrave Communications.
4. Tsibani, F. G. (2020). The Nation Building Plan between 2020 and 2064: Creating Paradise Cities. Urlink. – @NewsSA_Online
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