National Dialogue, no one's talking anymore

WHAT was meant to be a turning point for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s image has become a quiet failure.

- SIFISO MAHLANGU [e-mail]

The national dialogue he launched earlier this year has lost momentum, raising serious questions about its future and purpose.

The dialogue was introduced as a platform for all South Africans to come together and talk openly about the country’s challenges. It was meant to bring unity, build trust, and find solutions. But today, the conversation has stalled - and barely anyone is talking.

At the centre of the problem is money. The government allocated R700 million to fund the dialogue. The amount shocked many and sparked fierce debate. Critics said it was far too much, especially given the country’s struggling economy and urgent service delivery issues.