The Steve Biko Foundation has expressed concern that discussions on forming the seventh government are focused on positions rather than the issues of South Africans.
This was revealed at a gathering of a foundation named after a prominent South African figure, which aims to pave the way towards realising the country's deferred dreams amidst many uncertainties three decades into democracy.
Civil society groups say now is the time for all citizens to work together to define a clear vision and a unified plan that will give new hope to the people.
Decades ago, on 26 June 1955, with the struggle for freedom intensifying, the ANC thought it appropriate to formulate a clear statement for the future of South Africa and called on the entire nation to follow its call.
This resulted in the Freedom Charter, which expressed the demands for constitutional realization of the People's Assembly.
Today, three decades into democracy, amid concerns that the country is in a state of crisis, a similar call has been made for citizens to formulate a common vision for strengthening democracy in the country.
“South Africa is currently in a political crisis. For the first time in 30 years, voters have decided not to give any party a majority of the vote. This is an opportunity for our citizens, communities and everyone to look back and focus on what has gone wrong and how we can fix it. The outcome of the 2024 elections asks us all to think about the future and the South Africa we want for our children,” said Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, chair of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.
The Foundation believes that urgent and comprehensive citizen-led state intervention in the form of dialogue is needed to restore legitimacy, credibility and strengthening of South Africa's democratic project.
“The time has come for all South Africans to take part in forging a new way forward. We call on all South Africans to be involved in establishing a unified plan that will define a clear vision and inspire a new national aspirations,” said Nkosinathi Biko, executive director of the Steve Biko Foundation.
The call comes at a time of uncertainty in the country as people wait to see what the formation of the seventh government will look like – a process that has raised concerns from the Steve Biko Foundation.
“From the Steve Biko Foundation's perspective, it is very worrying that all the discussions that have taken place so far have been about power. In our view, we have not yet received the message that there are concerns about things that go beyond power,” Biko added.
The Foundation hopes that the National Dialogue will produce a national agreement that will provide common guidance for realizing the nation's aspirations.
Video: National Dialogue – Concerns over the situation in South Africa