Former President Thabo Mbeki has urged South Africans to launch a renewed collective effort to tackle the country’s worsening poverty, inequality, and unemployment, warning that the nation currently lacks the strong leadership and unified strategy required to overcome these critical challenges.
Speaking at the CSI Indaba 2026 in Johannesburg, Mbeki lamented that South Africa has moved away from the spirit of collaboration that defined its transition to democracy.
He noted that government, business, labour, and civil society are no longer working effectively together, resulting in the absence of a clear national plan to address economic and social hardships.
Mbeki also addressed the proposed national dialogue, explaining that the original vision was to create an independent forum where South Africans from all walks of life — including business, labour, youth, women, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders — could come together to discuss the country’s future and develop real solutions.
However, he claimed the initiative was later hijacked when the government announced its own national convention without proper consultation with the participating organisations. This move, according to Mbeki, prompted several foundations to pull out, as they felt the process had lost its independence and original purpose.
The former president emphasised that South Africa’s problems cannot be solved by government alone. He called on all sectors of society to rebuild trust and form genuine partnerships aimed at creating jobs, reducing inequality, and improving the lives of millions of citizens.
Mbeki stressed that only through true collaboration and shared leadership can the country find the direction and momentum needed to overcome its most pressing challenges.