Former President Thabo Mbeki called on the government to conduct a comprehensive national dialogue.
Mr Mbeki was speaking at the South African Communist Party (SACP) conference in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, on Saturday.
Mr Mbeki said the country was suffering from massive unemployment, poverty and illegality.
He added that South Africans should intervene to decide their own fate.
“This year we have an additional mission. The additional mission is very important because it's about people deciding where their country should go. It's no longer Codosa. Whatever it was when I was in Codosa, it was a political 'formation, and this time it's that political formation and the people. ”
SACP Conference | Changing lives for all – Solly Mapaila:
Meanwhile, SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said participation in the 2026 local government elections was not a self-enrichment program.
Mr Mapaila was delivering the closing remarks at the SACP's fifth special national conference, which concluded yesterday in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
For the past four days, delegates have been troubled by the SACP's decision to contest future elections independent of its traditional ally the ANC.
Mapaila says he wants to serve the people, not for personal gain.
“Our election platform is not a self-help program. We will be humble towards the people. We will serve the people, we will serve the revolution, we will serve the party. In this regard, we will We will identify and dispose of all opportunists and will never use the party for personal gain.”
