Call for national dialogue ‘to protect democracy’
Prominent organisations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, and Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, have jointly called for a national dialogue.
They believe it will shape a shared vision and bolster South Africa's democratic foundations.
At a joint media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, the foundations emphasised the need for collective action to address what they are describing as the country's debilitating stagnation and paralysis across social, political, and governance spheres.
Nkosinathi Biko, CEO of the Steve Biko Foundation, delivered a collective statement on behalf of the organisations.
"There exists a palpable sense of despair, hopelessness and general despondency. This feeling in society has been on the rise for more than a decade and threatens to reverse the gains of our hard-fought democracy."
Biko said last month's general election had highlighted the ever-deepening fissures that exist in South Africa.
"The current parlous of our economic growth, coupled with widespread corruption, crime, poverty, gross inequality and intractable unemployment, have earned our nation a dishonourable place on many global indices."
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