Bishops welcome ‘national dialogue’ to address South Africa’s challenges

‘It is becoming increasingly clear that no single political party, sector, or race has the capacity to address these issues alone.’

South African bishops welcomed the convening a national dialogue to address the problems facing the country.

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) said the event – a citizens’ convention planned for mid-August, representing all sectors of society – offered an opportunity to embrace the principles of Catholic social teaching that emphasise the common good.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 10 June that “given the challenges our country is facing at the moment, we should convene the National Dialogue”. 

The announcement came amid growing agitation over poor social services, high unemployment, widespread crime and corruption.

“This dialogue is a crucial step toward confronting the multifaceted challenges we face, including crime, unemployment, food inflation, economic stagnation, and corruption,” said Bishop Thulani Mbuyisa of Kokstad, chair of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission, in a statement on 12 June.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that no single political party, sector, or race has the capacity to address these issues alone. We need collaboration, or what Catholic Social Teaching refers to as encounter, fraternity, and the common good.”

The African National Congress, in power since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, failed to win an absolute majority during last year’s national elections, forcing the party to enter into an uneasy government of national unity with other political parties.

President Ramaphosa noted in his announcement that the “National Dialogue is a chance for all South Africans, from all walks of life, to come together and help shape the next chapter of our democracy”.

“We urge all people of goodwill to actively participate in the National Dialogue, committing to the nation’s common good. Political parties and corporations should refrain from exploiting the dialogue for narrow interests. This is a time for unity, not partisan politics or populism,” Bishop Mbuyisa said. 

Immigration is among the topics expected to feature in the dialogue, as growing numbers of people arrive from other southern African countries in search of work.

At a Pentecost Mass on 8 June, Cardinal Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg assured Zimbabwean immigrants of the Church’s welcome despite cultural, linguistic and national divides between communities.

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