Planned National Dialogue “crucial step” to tackle Corruption, Crime in South Africa: Catholic Bishops’ Commission

The National Dialogue is expected to bring together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, women, youth, and community voices to find common ground and new solutions for the Southern African country.

The Dialogue also presents an opportunity to forge a new social compact that drives progress towards Vision 2030 and lays the foundation for South Africa's next National Development Plan.

In his June 12 statement, Bishop Mbuyisa lauds the initiative, saying, “It is encouraging that in recent years, we have witnessed the country embrace a spirit of collaboration, which we must cherish and protect.”

He adds, “We have seen this in the efforts to build social compacts between government, labour, and business, and in the way political parties and civil society worked together to influence budget revisions.”

“While coalition governments at both national and municipal levels have had their challenges, sometimes prioritizing party interests over the public's, they nonetheless reflect a budding spirit of collaboration that we should celebrate,” he further says.

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The South African member of the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries (CMM) expresses hope that the upcoming National Dialogue is a chance to further strengthen the spirit of collaboration in the country.

The goal of the National Dialogue, Bishop Mbuyisa says, “should be to establish a shared vision and social contract necessary to resolve crime, corruption, unemployment, and economic stagnation, all within the framework of our constitution.”

In the two-page June 12 statement, the South African Catholic Bishop, who has been at the helm of Kokstad Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in June 2022, urges “all people of goodwill to actively participate in the National Dialogue” to maintain the collaborative spirit.

He also cautions Political parties and corporations to refrain from exploiting the dialogue for what he terms “narrow interests”, emphasizing that “this is a time for unity, not partisan politics or populism.”

Bishop Mbuyisa urges the organizers to “ensure inclusivity in the dialogue, ensuring that the voices of the poor and minority groups are heard, particularly on crucial topics like property rights and economic transformation.”

“The dialogue should build on the successes of CODESA, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and other inquiries since 1994, focusing on implementing recommendations from these, especially the Zondo Commission and the Presidential Panel on land reforms,” the Catholic Church leader says in reference to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), a series of negotiations that ended South Africa’s apartheid.

He invites “all people of goodwill to approach the National Dialogue with a spirit of hope, not pessimism, aware that miracles can happen, similar to what happened in the 1990s.

The South African Catholic Bishop  also invites all people of faith to “keep the National Dialogue in their prayers, asking for divine guidance throughout the process so that the National Dialogue becomes a moment of grace.”

“Our prayer is that through the National Dialogue, the Spirit of the Lord will ignite a sense of hope in our hearts, trusting that, like during the time of Prophet Ezekiel, God will breathe life into the dry bones of our nation,” Bishop Mbuyisa implored in the June 12 statement.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.