National Dialogue 2025: Ramaphosa Calls for Women’s Voices to Lead the Conversation

The upcoming National Dialogue is not just another political event. For President Cyril Ramaphosa, it is an opportunity to put women’s voices front and centre in shaping South Africa’s future.

On 15 August, the first National Convention will bring together 200 organisations from 33 sectors. It marks the start of a dialogue process that will unfold across communities, workplaces, and civic spaces nationwide. The aim: to give every part of society a platform in deciding the country’s path forward.

Why women must be heard

Ramaphosa says the story of South Africa cannot be told without its women. From the 1956 Women’s March against pass laws to more recent protests against gender-based violence, women have been at the forefront of change. They make up more than half the population, and every crisis, whether it is unemployment, crime, or climate change, affects them directly.

“Recognising that the lives of women are bound up with the future of the nation as a whole, we are counting on women’s groups and organisations to mobilise around the National Dialogue process,” he said in his weekly address.

Not all struggles are the same

The president stressed that women’s experiences are not uniform. Rural and urban realities differ. Women with disabilities face unique challenges. Cultural and linguistic diversity shapes how women engage with society. For the Dialogue to be credible, it must reflect this range, from young activists to veteran organisers, from LGBTQI+ communities to women leading businesses or grassroots movements.

A legacy worth honouring

Women’s Month is a reminder of the 1956 march on the Union Buildings, a protest not only against apartheid’s pass laws but also an assertion of agency and equality. Ramaphosa believes that ensuring women’s full participation in the National Dialogue would be the most powerful tribute to the pioneers of that march.

The road ahead

Public dialogues will be hosted in towns, cities, and villages, giving people the chance to contribute directly. While political divisions and withdrawals by some legacy organisations have challenged the process, the government insists the convention will go ahead. For many, this is a chance to prove that South Africa’s democratic ideals work best when the voices often pushed to the margins are brought to the centre.

Also read: Is Gayton McKenzie’s Political Future at Risk After Controversial Racial Slur Resurfaces?

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Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: EWN