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(Graphic: John McCann)

National Dialogue gains inclusion as activists step in after foundations exit

The special project manager at the Thabo Mbeki Foundation said legacy foundations were talking to civil society on how to take the project back from the government and political…

Political: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a decision aimed
at unity rather than imprisoning thousands of white people. Photo: File

National Dialogue: South Africa’s elusive search for a social compact

Critics wondered whether the convention would follow through with local ward talks and implement recommendations

Looking to the future: Nkosinathi Biko (left) heads the committee that will steer the National Dialogue. He and Samora Biko (right) are the sons of Steve Biko. Photo: GCIS

‘National Dialogue is no talk shop,’ organisers say

But the Democratic Alliance has said it will boycott the dialogue that will take place over nine months, calling it a waste of time and money

President Cyril Ramaphosa.(@PresidencyZA/X)

The President and the Pulpit: What does a social compact even mean?

What constitutes national identity has to be understood against the ways that the social compact in South Africa contrasts with that of Western political theory

Vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, Adam Habib, outside the university’s Great Hall (Waldo Swiegers/Gallo)

Social pact needed for Marikana renewal – Adam Habib

That pact needs to be engineered by civilians, not government, says the former Wits vice-chancellor

Cosatu details plans for next week’s cost of living strike

The trade union federation is using protest to demand urgent action from the government to avoid an ‘economic collapse’

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana.(Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Can harsh fiscal trade-offs still improve agency and social cohesion for South Africans?

This year’s budget will be a balancing act, but the treasury needs to prioritise restoring South Africans economic agency

An ill wind: An engineer works on a wind turbine at the Sere Wind farm, close to Vredendal, about six years ago. A number of local wind-tower and solar manufacturing plants have been shut down in recent years because of delays in procurement. (Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images)

South Africa must design an energy transition that creates jobs and growth

Appropriate policy, supported by a social compact by labour, business, communities and the government, can maximise the opportunities of the just transition

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Sona 2022: ‘Don’t tear our democracy apart’, says Ramaphosa

The president promised that the state will act on the findings of the Zondo commission and vowed to cut red tape to facilitate job creation

Youth unemployment rose to 43.8% among 15-to-34-year-olds in Q4 2025, even as the headline rate fell. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

A social compact is key to fighting rising unemployment and low growth

At its core, the social compact approach calls for increased co-operation and trust between business, labour, community and the government for the betterment of South Africa

Avoiding Day Zero: The Enkangala-Drakensbeg Strategic Water Source Area supplies Gauteng among other provinces. The authors argue that a proposed coal mine in Mabola in Mpumalanga will endanger critical water supplies. (Roger de la Harpe/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

The lie of limitless economic progress

We need alternatives because unrestrained development is not compatible with life

Former president Thabo Mbeki. (David Harrison/M&G)

Mbeki: Social compact the answer to promises made in ANC election manifesto

Former president Thabo Mbeki urged business and government and society to work together to tackle issues such as poverty, unemployment and poor services and infrastructure

The treasury’s relaxation of procurement rules will allow the state utility to attend to its ageing power stations far quicker (Paul Botes/M&G)

Social partners at Nedlac agree to help to turn Eskom around

The government’s partners at Nedlac have signed a social impact agreement to support the power utility, with a particularly focus on assisting it in accessing new capital to…