President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to once again come together and participate in crafting a new vision for the country through the National Dialogue - just as they did three decades ago when the country’s democratic Constitution was born.
The President made the rallying call in his weekly newsletter published on Monday.
“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa reflected on the political culture the country has built over the past three decades.
He described the political culture as “robust, participatory, continuously evolving and firmly anchored in the democratic values we hold dear”.
“We are fortunate to live in a society with a vibrant public space and deeply engaged citizens who know that they have a voice, and more importantly, that their voice matters. It is this active participation by the people of South Africa that continues to give life, meaning and resilience to our constitutional democracy.
“Civil society in our country remains vibrant and resilient. Our Constitution safeguards freedom of conscience, thought and expression, whilst firmly entrenching media freedom as one of the cornerstones of democracy. Political contestation takes place openly and freely, reflecting the strength and maturity of our democratic order,” he said.
Furthermore, the courts “continue to serve as institutions that our people trust”, and provide “recourse for ordinary South Africans, political actors and organisations”.
“In our country, no one is above the law and scrutiny - and no individual or institution is beyond accountability. It is this commitment to constitutionalism, transparency and the rule of law that sustains public confidence in our democracy.
“These are all a credit to the constitutional order we have worked to build over the last three decades,” President Ramaphosa added.
For the people, by the people
The President – who himself is credited as one of the key architects of the Constitution – noted that at the time of drafting, “we wanted a People’s Constitution, where every South African would be able to put his or her own brick towards building the new South Africa”.
“For nearly a year and a half, we criss-crossed the length and breadth of the country to get people’s inputs on the type of constitution they wanted to see as the supreme law of the land. Citizens of all races, ages and classes participated. We facilitated community meetings and engaged with people at their places of work and study.
“I remember taking part in radio shows, where listeners would call in with their ideas on what should be in the constitution. The callers had a deep understanding of why human rights mattered, which was born out of their own personal experiences with injustice.
“What some of them related about their own harrowing experiences of apartheid oppression was a painful reminder of why we needed this Constitution. They spoke of unfair dismissals by employers, of being denied access to beaches, of land being taken from them and of unfair treatment at the hands of public officials,” President Ramaphosa reflected.
Thousands of submissions were received on a variety of issues with the outcome a “homegrown constitution that reflects the aspirations” of the South Africans who helped to craft it.
Writing a new story
Looking ahead, the President announced that the next phase of the National Dialogue process will soon “commence in earnest.
“We are determined that the National Dialogue should fully reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural, social, economic and geographic diversity.
“Just as the 1994 generation played a direct role in the production of the birth certificate of the new South Africa, so too does today’s generation carry a responsibility to participate meaningfully in the National Dialogue.
“This is particularly important for the young people who will live with the impact of the decisions we make today,” President Ramaphosa.
South Africans are urged to fully engage in the 195 pilot dialogues expected to be held between June and August throughout the country.
“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
