By AGISANANG SCUFF
18 August 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) said the foundation laid by the first National Convention inspire hope that the National Dialogue will deliver a Social Compact that will reset the country’s development agenda and address challenges facing the country. SAUCIC said that the completion of nomination of a national steering committee that is representative of sectors will pave the way for work to start in earnest.
SAUCIC president, Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole said though unrealistic expectations and suspicion characterised engagements with representatives in the National Convention held over the weekend, they are confident that these were part of the birthing process to usher a new chapter for our maturing democracy. Shole ascribed this to multiple factors that include social distance that had developed mistrust, self-interest and lack of effective communication that had left stakeholders and most communities behind.
“The National Dialogue processes that are to unfold will afford ordinary citizens the opportunity to reclaim their voices for an active citizenry that will come up with a comprehensive plan for radical change as well as a rapid response to rebuild the nation.
“For this to be achieved, trust must be reestablished and stronger partnerships entrenched because South Africans have achieved a lot through dialogue in the past, from adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955, CODESA in 1991& 1992 and adoption of the country’s democratic constitution in 1996,” he said.
Shole further said it is not late for unpatriotic pessimists to also come on board because failure is not an option. He added that they owe it to future generations to reclaim their deferred dream of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, peaceful and prosperous nation characterized by economic development, shared growth including social cohesion.
“SAUCIC as part of the faith-based sector is encouraged that National Dialogue values, its principles as well as the citizen-led roadmap has eliminated exclusion as well as elitism by bringing ordinary citizens to be architects of their own destinies through an inclusive process that will take into account our people’s lived experiences.
“We commend the adopted engagement modalities for public participation, diverse platforms such as community, sector dialogues, digital engagements, use of mobile Dialogue units to reach all remote rural communities including youth labs and mass media, i.e. Radio, TV, social media for reach and feedback,” said Shole.
He said they are confident that person-to-person engagements, including community meetings in their churches, schools, traditional councils (kgotlas), social clubs and digital platforms including the involvement of youth and children will allow for maximum reach to exceed the targeted 10 million citizens. Shole said that the national effort will among others contribute towards addressing rising youth unemployment, moral decay characterized by corruption, escalating violent crime, migration of illegal foreign nationals, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) as well as deepening poverty and inequality.
The Guardian 