Run on numbers: Is South Africa facing a crisis? Examining the National Dialogue and its implications

In June 2025, President Ramaphosa announced the concept of having a national Dialogue. He stated that the National Dialogue is a chance for all South Africans, from all walks of life, to come together and help shape the next chapter of our democracy. Dialogue: It can also refer to formal talks aimed at reaching an agreement.

He stated that the objective was to seek a shared vision of what it means to be a South African and develop a new national ethos and common value system. This exercise would be an opportunity to forge a new social compact for the development of our country, a compact that will unite all South Africans, with clear responsibilities for different stakeholders, government, business, labour, civil society, men and women, communities, and citizens.

1. 1. In South Africa, approximately 25 million people are not working. Yasmine Jacobs of Independent News published an article on unemployment and stated: “Of the working-age population, the 25 million people who are not working, represent approximately 59.8% of the entire working-age population in South Africa during Q2:2025.” The president must know that there is nothing these people can tell him that is not already known to the government.

The sceptics were quick to point out that the process should be led by and for the benefit of the citizens, not the politicians. No political party must seize the opportunity to be misused for political convenience prior to next year’s local government elections. Various have pulled out of the National Dialogue.

The foundations include the Steve Biko Foundation, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, the Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, and in addition, the FW de Klerk Foundation has also withdrawn. Due to uncertainty regarding the budget for the process, “This raises real risks of a poorly organised and unaccountable process.”  “ActionSA remains unconvinced that any of the concerns raised by key stakeholders, organisers, and the broader public have been addressed. 

1. 2. There is an insistence on forging ahead despite serious, unresolved questions, particularly regarding the lawful appropriation of the budget, a matter on which no parliamentary committee has been duly engaged. Citizens are already totally exhausted from witnessing poor governance. Hardly a day goes by that someone is commenting that South Africa is close to or is already a failed state, and that is not all coming from opposition politicians, but also business and ordinary citizens alike. 

Economist Dawie Roodt states: “The president is a weak president. Ramaphosa is not a decision-maker. He is a consensus-seeker, which prevents him from taking important decisions”. To spend R700m on dialogue is not what the people want. They need answers from the elected government relating to questions that the government is aware of. 

1. Here are some burning questions that need government action and decisions, not dialogue or discussion: 

• The current debt of Municipalities to Eskom has reached R100bn and is growing by the day. Some experts expect this number to grow to R200bn by 2028. We have a structural problem; Nersa keeps approving tariffs at triple inflation rates as if that can solve the problem. Nersa is fundamentally flawed, and it adds no value; instead, it prolongs and validates a non-workable solution. 
• The quality of education is a major obstacle to getting South Africans out of poverty. The lack of mother tongue education at primary schools and the lack of properly educated teachers, and the lack of sufficient infrastructure will prolong the disadvantage of most of our children. 
• We need the government to implement a clear and strict foreign policy. The immigration issues are not a unique South African problem. Illegal immigrants occupy government buildings, but our people do not have housing.

• Department of Trade and Industries: It is inconceivable that South Africa does not have an ambassador and or a trade representative of the highest calibre in the USA, our second largest trade partner. China: China is South Africa's largest trading partner, with a significant trade deficit for South Africa. In January 2025, South Africa exported approximately R17.4 billion to China while importing R37.9 bn, resulting in a trade deficit of R20.5 bn. United States: The U.S. is another major partner, with South Africa exporting around R9.6 bn and importing R11.9 bn in January 2025. The government should explain to the citizens what they do to promote equal trade with countries such as China.

1. 4. The government need not have any further dialogue with anyone regarding crime. Our President defended the high murder and crime rate among farmers by stating that it is prevalent at all levels of society. No dialogue can contribute as much as action against crime and murder. It is a basic right enshrined in the Constitution. It is often quoted that a fish rots from its head down. There are many parliamentarians accused of bribery and corruption. We have had commission after commission, and it is little wonder that citizens are calling for action, not words. The senior parliamentarians move around with multiple security guards and travel in large blue light convoys, but the ordinary citizen does not feel safe and is not safe. Our defence force was humiliated in the DRC, some of our police are corrupt, our navy is on dry land, and the air force is parked in their hangars. Our trains are not available and capable of transporting workers. 
2. Workers and non-workers want the government to curtail its spending on a bloated government, on excessive salaries and perks to government employees, and to insist on competent employment practices and a more efficient government at all levels. Thereafter, we can have a dialogue as to whether attorneys should charge R3,500 per hour and advocates R40,000 per day, and doctors and specialists should charge a young couple R3,500 for a 15-minute consultation to see their baby.

We look like a failed state, or should we have a dialogue over the definition thereof?

* * Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Independent Newspapers.

** Kruger is an independent analyst.

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