A prominent South African journalist has raised concerns about the future of the country’s newly announced National Dialogue. Mondli Makhanya warned that the initiative must remain independent of President Cyril Ramaphosa to be seen as legitimate and avoid public skepticism.
The National Dialogue is intended to bring together various sectors of society to help bridge deep national divisions. However, Makhanya argued that if the public perceives it as being owned or controlled by President Ramaphosa, it will be dismissed as a political tactic. He cautioned that the dialogue should not be used to address the president’s declining approval ratings or internal party struggles.
The success of the dialogue, according to Makhanya, depends on it being a genuinely national effort led by credible community figures, scholars, and civic leaders—not politicians. He stated that for the process to be meaningful, ordinary South Africans must see themselves reflected in it.
While supporters hope the dialogue can help restore trust in the country’s institutions, critics worry it could become just a talking shop without real action. The central question is whether the initiative can rise above partisan politics to unite a divided nation.