Mbeki Launches National Dialogue at NWU to Bridge South Africa’s Divides
- Karen Scheepers
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
Former President Thabo Mbeki kicked off South Africa’s inaugural National Dialogue outreach session at North-West University (NWU) on Saturday, 5 July. Hosted in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and the Strategic Dialogue Group (SDG), the event convened diverse stakeholders to reflect on the persistent social and economic divides holding back the country’s democracy.
Speaking to a packed auditorium at NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, Mbeki and other leaders urged South Africans to engage in frank discussions on issues like high unemployment, poverty, and inequality, which were squarely in the spotlight newssite.co.za. The gathering’s theme, “Reimagining the North West Province” , underscored a focus on inclusive development in the region as part of a larger nationwide initiative addressing critical issues facing the country.
In his welcome remarks, NWU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bismark Tyobeka emphasized that the university was proud to host this seminal dialogue as an extension of its commitment to social justice and community engagement bizcommunity.com. The National Dialogue, he noted, provides an “inclusive platform for reflection, dialogue, and collective problem-solving” in line with democratic values.
Organizers stressed that the forum is non-partisan and independent of any single political party, a point highlighted to dispel concerns that the dialogue might advance the ruling party’s agenda. “It must not be confused with the ANC’s conferences at Nasrec, it is a people’s convention,” said Max Boqwana, CEO of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, at the event citizen.co.za. Boqwana, who sits on the National Dialogue’s organizing task team, reiterated that the process belongs to the people of South Africa rather than any political faction.
Revisiting Freedom Charter Ideals 70 Years On
A recurring reference throughout the discussions was the Freedom Charter of 1955, a foundational document in South Africa’s democracy that laid out a vision of equality and shared prosperity. With 2025 marking the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, speakers invoked its ideals as a moral compass for the dialogue.
Boqwana compared the current initiative to the historic 1955 Congress of the People in Soweto, where activists from all walks of life crafted a collective vision for a just society citizen.co.za. “That [Freedom Charter] process not only designed a clear vision for a liberated South Africa, but it also sponsored the type of leadership that took responsibility for that struggle,” Boqwana explained. He suggested that a similar inclusive process is now needed to address contemporary challenges, lamenting that the “wheels that are pushing the country forward are loose or have fallen”.
Revisiting the Freedom Charter’s vision served as a timely reminder of unfinished business in realizing its promises. Attendees reflected on how far South Africa still has to go to fulfill the charter’s principles, from “The People Shall Share in the Country’s Wealth” to “There Shall be Work and Security.” Despite progress since 1994, poverty and inequality remain “deep wounds” in the nation’s social fabric biznews.com.
Many communities still feel left behind economically, and these persistent divides were identified as barriers to the united, inclusive society that the Freedom Charter envisioned. By recalling this legacy, the dialogue sought to inspire new models of inclusive development and ethical governance that can translate past ideals into present-day action. Proposals ranged from strengthening education and entrepreneurship in townships and rural areas, to improving transparency and accountability in government, all aimed at building a society that truly “leaves no one behind.”
Inequality, Unemployment and Ethical Governance in Focus
Throughout the event, participants bluntly confronted the socio-economic crises undermining South Africa’s post-apartheid gains. Unemployment, especially among youth, and widespread poverty were cited as urgent problems that require collective action. “The number of employed youth is 5.7 million, [while] the number of unemployed youth is 4.8 million… it’s an indication of a time bomb that this country is possibly facing,” Boqwana warned, pointing to alarmingly high youth joblessness citizen.co.za.
Such statistics underscored the consensus that economic inequality and lack of opportunities are fueling desperation. Speakers noted that these conditions contribute to other social ills, crime, substance abuse, even risks of instability, if not addressed. “South Africa is a country of inequalities… all of us are in the same boat, and if it sinks it sinks with all of us,” Boqwana said, urging a collective effort to tackle these issues. The dialogue thus spotlighted calls for inclusive growth that can create jobs and uplift marginalized communities, as well as the importance of education and skills development in bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Equally, the forum did not shy away from the topic of governance and public trust. There were frank discussions about corruption and erosion of ethical leadership, which have exacerbated service delivery failures and public frustration. Ensuring ethical governance was identified as a key component of any solution, meaning leaders in government and business must be held accountable to higher standards of integrity. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his recent announcement of the National Dialogue initiative, acknowledged that corruption and poor governance are pervasive challenges that South Africans must confront together biznews.com.
At the NWU session, delegates echoed that sentiment, arguing that transparent and accountable leadership is critical to implement the policies and reforms needed to reduce inequality. Restoring trust in public institutions through ethical conduct and citizen oversight emerged as a priority, with the understanding that without good governance, economic and social interventions are likely to falter. By promoting a culture of responsibility and ethics, from local municipalities up to national government, South Africa can better deliver on the promises of its democracy, speakers contended.
A People-Driven Dialogue for Unity and Solutions
One of the strongest messages from the day was that the National Dialogue must be truly people-driven and inclusive in order to succeed. Organizers outlined a process designed to solicit input from ordinary citizens across all provinces, not just experts or politicians in elite settings. “This conversation is not going to be the conversation of the normal noisy minority… it must involve the normal silenced majority of our country,”
Boqwana emphasized, noting that every community and ward will have a chance to be heard citizen.co.za. The NWU outreach session itself embodied this ethos by bringing together students, academics, civil society activists, traditional leaders, and local officials in the same forum. Attendees engaged in open floor discussions and Q&A sessions, ensuring a range of voices, including youth and grassroots representatives, could air their perspectives on what kind of South Africa they want for the future.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s role in convening the dialogue was highlighted as part of its mission to foster informed civic engagement. The foundation’s team encouraged universities like NWU to contribute research and discussion papers to inform the debate, and even to help with translation services so that participants can express themselves in their mother tongues. By lowering practical barriers to participation, the dialogue aims to be as accessible as possible. “When we stop engaging, we start shooting one another,”
Boqwana cautioned, invoking a stark lesson from conflicts elsewhere in Africa when political discourse breaks down. This initiative, he argued, is a proactive step to foster national unity and avoid violence by giving people a voice in shaping solutions. The ultimate goal is to channel public frustration into constructive dialogue and consensus-building, rather than letting anger fester on the streets. As one speaker noted, South Africans from all backgrounds share a common fate and the dialogue is premised on the idea that solutions must come from the collective will of the people, not top-down directives.
Looking Ahead: From Dialogue to Action
The National Dialogue at NWU was not a one-off event, but rather the first in a series of engagements leading up to a larger convention. President Ramaphosa has stressed that the dialogue process will unfold in stages, from local discussions like this one to provincial and national gatherings enca.com.
In fact, the First National Convention is scheduled for 15 August 2025, where delegates from across society will convene to distill these discussions into a concrete agenda for change enca.com. Insights and proposals generated at the NWU session and other outreach sessions around the country, are expected to feed into that August convention, helping set priorities for reform in areas such as economic policy, education, governance, and social cohesion. Organizing committee members indicated that a final roadmap or charter would likely emerge from the dialogue process, which could then be presented to Parliament and the nation as a guiding vision.
While the National Dialogue has drawn some skepticism, critics have questioned its cost and whether it duplicates existing forums, the atmosphere at the NWU gathering was one of cautious optimism and determination. Many participants expressed hope that this inclusive conversation can reinvigorate the country’s sense of common purpose at a time of deepening social fault lines.
As the event drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of shared responsibility among those present. The consensus was that no single institution or leader can solve South Africa’s challenges alone, it will take collective effort from government, business, academia, civil society, and ordinary citizens alike. “It’s a matter of all of us being in the same boat,” Boqwana reminded, “and if it sinks, it sinks with all of us”citizen.co.za.
Watch full Youtube Video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/XFls6jIN4nk
In a brief closing address, former President Mbeki thanked attendees for adding their voices to the conversation and urged them to continue the work in their own communities. The inaugural National Dialogue session at NWU thus ended not with final answers, but with a renewed commitment to ongoing engagement and action.
As South Africa heads toward the National Dialogue Convention in August, the Potchefstroom discussions set an example of the frank, inclusive and forward-looking discourse that many hope will guide the country to a more united, equitable future, one where the ideals of the Freedom Charter are brought closer to reality for all.
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