Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement in June 2025, South Africa will convene the First National Convention which begins a process of hosting a countrywide, people-led National Dialogue process. The Convention will take place from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the ZK Matthews Hall, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria.
This historic gathering brings together representatives of all sectors of the South African society including government, political parties, civil society, traditional leaders, youth, religious groups, business, labour, academia, and government to reflect on the state of the nation and begin reimagining the future of our democracy.
The National Convention serves as the launchpad for an inclusive and people-led dialogue process aimed at carving a shared vision for the country. It is expected to come up with a clear roadmap to facilitate participation and ensure that citizens have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Dialogue process.
The National Dialogue presents an opportunity to forge a new social compact that drives progress towards Vision 2030 and lays the foundation for South Africa’s next National Development Plan.
The National Dialogue will cover many important issues, including some of the key challenges listed below.
• Poverty, Inequality and Hunger
• Economic Transformation and Job creation
• Social Cohesion and Nation building
• Gender-based violence and Safety
• Governance, Accountability and Participatory democracy
• Land reform, Food and Security
The process is guided by an Eminent Persons Group, drawn from across all sectors of society, whose mandate is to develop a concrete strategy to ensure that the National Dialogue is inclusive, transparent, and truly reflective of the voices of all South Africans. The Dialogue will unfold in phases – from local consultations and sectoral engagements to national conventions. The National Dialogue will continue in phases after the Convention through local conversations, public engagements, and further conventions until a lasting democratic renewal is achieved.
This initiative comes out of the realisation that the complex challenges faced by South Africans need a lasting solution which is informed by the collective wisdom of the people of this country.