Media Statements

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the convening of a National Dialogue, including the National Convention to be held on 15 August 2025 and the appointment of a broad-based Eminent Persons Group. This initiative marks an important national effort to forge unity, rebuild trust, and renew the country’s collective commitment to social and economic transformation through inclusive dialogue.

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955 at the Congress of the People in Kliptown. The Freedom Charter remains the cornerstone of the ANC’s vision for a united, democratic, and just society. Its powerful declaration that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white” continues to inspire our pursuit of equality, dignity, and shared prosperity. It is fitting that, in this milestone year, our nation recommits to the Charter’s democratic spirit by launching a people-led National Dialogue.

The ANC has always placed dialogue at the centre of our struggle for liberation and nation-building. From our engagements in exile to the negotiations that brought an end to apartheid, it is through dialogue that we have overcome division and built consensus. We therefore welcome the inclusive character of this dialogue process and the calibre of individuals appointed to guide it. The participation of all sectors of society will ensure that the Dialogue reflects the hopes, frustrations, and aspirations of the South African people.

The ANC calls on its members, alliance partners, mass democratic formations, and all South Africans to actively participate in this National Dialogue. It is through open, principled engagement that we will define a renewed national vision and construct a new social compact anchored in shared responsibility. As we mark seven decades of the Freedom Charter, we recommit ourselves to its vision and values, and to working with all South Africans to build a future founded on freedom, dignity, and unity in diversity.

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