Talk, Without Action, is Betrayal - The Dialogue Distraction

Dear OUTA Supporters,

As citizens, we long for peace, prosperity, and the space to build a better future. Yet, globally and locally, we are witnessing a troubling trend - an escalation of division, conflict, and failure of leadership. It’s baffling that, despite centuries of human advancement, we seem hellbent on repeating destructive cycles driven by egos, ideology, and unchecked power.

Here at home, in a country bursting with diversity, natural beauty, talent, and resources, South Africa is slipping further into dysfunction and poverty. Every day, more people slip below the poverty threshold than out of it. And like many of the world’s crises, our problems also stem from concentrated power in the hands of a few, who seem more interested in preserving political control and amassing their own wealth, than serving the people.

Our Government’s credibility is collapsing under the weight of broken promises, failed implementation, and poor leadership. Into this mess, President Ramaphosa seeks to introduce a new distraction: the so-called National Dialogue.

The National Dialogue Charade​

Yes, dialogue can be powerful, when it’s grounded in trust, focused on problem-solving, and used to overcome polarisation. But South Africa doesn’t need a national conversation to understand what’s wrong. The problems are glaring: collapsing infrastructure, rampant corruption, a broken justice system, a stagnant economy, and rising inequality. They also know the underlying causes of these challenges, which culminates in a lack of political will, unprofessional and unethical appointments and little to zero accountability or transparency throughout most areas and levels or Government.

This initiative isn’t about solutions. It’s a deflection, a multi-million-rand talk shop to buy time and try to salvage political fortunes ahead of the 2026 elections. Like other recent initiatives - Presidential “working committees,” Joburg’s “Metro Bomb Squad” - it looks busy without doing the hard work of governing. 

Whatever Happened to Vision 2030?

Remember the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 launched in August 2012? It promised to:

      • Eradicate poverty by 2030

      • Reduce inequality (Gini coefficient) from 0.69 to 0.60

      • Achieve 6% GDP growth and halve unemployment

Thirteen years later, we’re nowhere close to these targets. Instead of reducing poverty, we’re expanding it. Unemployment remains devastatingly high. The economy limps along with virtually zero growth, and inequality is entrenched - not easing. The NDP’s failure was predictable, not because the goals were too ambitious, but because the ANC lacked the will, skill, and integrity to deliver.

Each year, the President speaks to the nation in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), conveying scenes of hopeful futures, as if merely saying it makes it so. He seems to imagine that job creation and economic growth, health and education sector revival will be implemented because he wills it to be, giving no indication or substance to how this will all be implemented. Ramaphosa fails to comprehend the physical work, the strategic planning and the application of intellectual capacity required for the implementation of these much-needed developments. He fails to understand that plans are simply ideas, until they are implemented. Dialogue won’t fix this.

We’re not divided as a nation – certainly not to the extent that politicians make us out to be.

Our politicians make out South Africans are deeply divided, as if unity can be restored through national conversations. Research shows that South africans express a clear desire to be a united nation, and that they retain belief in our democratic processes, with a strong attachment to national identity. And we see national unity in action when the Springboks or Bafana Bafana win. We celebrate together. The real divide is between the people and a Government that has long lost their trust. The social compact is strained and it is not because of the people’s doing. It’s Government’s doing. 

No dialogue will rebuild that trust, unless there is a strong belief that Government is entering the dialogue with a sincere and meaningful intention to address their shortcomings and to change their ways. I’m afraid that will not be the case. 

Ignoring the Lessons of the Past

Do we really believe this Government will act on feedback from a National Dialogue, when it has ignored the State Capture Commission’s recommendations for three years and shows no intention of introducing them? Judge Zondo’s work exposed widespread looting and proposed reforms, yet the dust on those files is now thicker than the promises made shortly after they were published.

It’s like the abusive partner who promises to change, but never seeks help or makes real effort. Talk, without action, is betrayal.

What Needs to Be Done Is No Mystery

We don’t need another report to tell us what needs to be done. Every credible study and citizen survey points to the same key interventions:

      • Restore the rule of law and fix the criminal justice system

      • Build a capable and ethical state

      • Stimulate growth through investment-friendly policy reform

      • Fix education and skills development

      • Address healthcare, food security, and collapsing municipalities

Government knows this. We all do. The question comes down to - why can’t they take action and implement what they promise to do?

Civil society must continue to push

The Government of National Unity (GNU) appears to be holding out and this is a good thing, which gives us hope that political change is starting to take shape. Not fast enough though, but the direction is improving. The fact that the ANC could not behave in their same abusive manner and push through  2% VAT hike budget, is testament to that. While political change remains slow and uncertain, civil society must work harder than ever. That’s why OUTA continues to work hard at exposing corruption, challenge abuse of power, and push for accountability across many fronts within government.

We recently filed court papers to challenge the City of Joburg’s irrational CCTV bylaw, which seeks to apply an irrational regulation and restriction on private security cameras monitoring public spaces. Property owners, security companies and residents are outraged, and rightly so. The bylaw is an overreach of municipal powers and undermines public safety and OUTA will do what it can to fight this. 

We remain on the front foot in the Driving Licence debacle, pushing for a 10-year licence renewal cycle and the clearing of bureaucratic backlogs. In addition, we have seen a significant uptake by the SIU and others on our report and exposure of corruption and gross maladministration at Vehicle Testing Stations. 

We’re also ramping up investigations into the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). What we’re uncovering is alarming - a cesspool of systemic corruption, enabled by weak oversight and politically connected looting. Whistleblowers continue to come forward, and we are preparing further action. The new Minister of Higher Education, Ms Nobuhle Nkabane, is being encouraged to urgently address this rot, yet questions have recently arisen about her recent handling of the appointment of SETA board Chairperson. 

OUTA Rolling On

OUTA has over 40 active projects - from governance issues on electricity matters, to student funding abuse, SETA corruption and procurement manipulations. Every issue we tackle is rooted in the same problems related to: a lack of transparency; weak accountability; and leadership or oversight failures.

We remain committed to holding the line, challenging waste, corruption, and restoring the principles of ethical governance. Our work is made possible through the backing of thousands of South Africans and businesses who believe that change is not just possible, it is essential.

Until meaningful and consistent change happens, we will continue to fight for transparency, push back on maladministration, and amplify the voice of civil society.

Enough with the talk about talks and dialogue. It’s time for action.

Yours in accountability,

Wayne Duvenage

CEO, OUTA