Issued by Ismail Joosub on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation on 15/04/2025

On Friday, 11 April 2025, the FW de Klerk Foundation took part in a landmark engagement with the Pan African Leaders Network Forum at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (“JSE”), where the Foundation was invited to present on the National Dialogue process. Representing the Foundation was Ismail Joosub, Manager of the Constitutional Advancement Programme and Co-Chairperson of the Public Mobilisation Subcommittee of the National Dialogue.

The presentation, delivered alongside National Dialogue Preparatory Committee members Ntombenhle Shezi and Lindiwe Gadd, gave attendees a comprehensive overview of the Dialogue’s progress, vision and structure. The event brought together high-level leaders from the public and private sectors, civil society and diplomatic corps to explore how South Africans can collectively shape a new national consensus through a people-led process.

“Our country is at a critical juncture. We are 30 years into democracy, but are still grappling with deep social fractures and disillusionment,” Joosub noted. “The National Dialogue is not just a platform for discussion, it’s a vehicle for a generational reset, one that seeks to create a binding compact for the next 30 years.”

The Foundation’s presentation traced the evolution of the Dialogue from its roots in June 2024 when a collective of Foundations, including the FW de Klerk Foundation, called for urgent national reflection, through to the February 2025 SONA announcement by the President which endorsed the process. Attendees were walked through key deliverables, including the thematic guidelines, the organisational structure and the roadmap to the First National Convention.

A key focus of the presentation was the call for broader public involvement. “The strength of this process lies in its inclusivity,” Joosub said. “Every South African should see themselves in the National Compact. That begins by participating whether in a district town hall, a sectoral dialogue, or a community WhatsApp group.”

The Foundation remains committed to working with all sectors of society to advance a shared vision of justice, prosperity and accountable democracy. The event at the JSE forms part of ongoing stakeholder engagement efforts to ensure that the Dialogue belongs to the people of South Africa.