SA’s national dialogue initiative enters its second phase this week, with community-level consultations and sectoral engagements taking place nationwide.
The process will be led by the newly formed eminent persons group, which includes Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, Bishop Engenas Lekganyane, unionist Bheki Ntshalintshali and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. The group has been tasked with guiding the dialogue and ensuring inclusive participation from youth, rural communities, religious leaders and civil society.
On Monday, minister of justice & constitutional development Mmamoloko Kubayi will conduct a spot visit to the Randburg magistrate’s court as part of Access to Justice Week, a Women’s Month initiative aimed at expanding legal services to disadvantaged communities.
The Congress of SA Students (Cosas) will hold a briefing on Monday to demand the removal of basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube. Cosas accuses the minister of failing to address systemic bullying, delays in implementing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, and broader dysfunction in the education system. The student movement is expected to escalate its campaign nationally, framing the issue as a crisis of leadership and accountability.
DA leader John Steenhuisen will visit businesses in the Matjhabeng municipality in the Free State to highlight the impact of municipal dysfunction under ANC governance. Steenhuisen will promote the DA’s six-point economic rescue plan, which includes infrastructure repair, reliable utilities and investment attraction.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi will brief the public on the party’s role in the government of national unity and Gauteng’s government of provincial unity. The briefing on Monday will outline Rise Mzansi’s preparations for the 2026 local government elections and its performance in parliament, including Zibi’s role as chair of the standing committee on public accounts.
The C20 SA media briefing will take place in Pretoria, where 14 civil society working groups will present the initial policy draft. The draft offers recommendations on global governance, food security, financial justice, cultural diversity, climate sustainability, education and health, aiming to influence the G20 agenda and elevate grassroots priorities in global policy forums.
The City of Ekurhuleni will on August 18-22 host the first Y20 summit in SA, welcoming between 300 and 400 youth leaders and policymakers from G20 member states. The summit will focus on solidarity, equality and sustainability, positioning Ekurhuleni as a strategic venue for international youth dialogue.
ActionSA has welcomed the confirmation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that it is investigating the party’s complaint against sports minister Gayton McKenzie’s social media posts. The SAHRC has issued a prima facie finding that the minister’s remarks violate provisions of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. ActionSA maintains that SA cannot have a sitting cabinet minister who has made such statements without being held to account.
Fallout continues from the unauthorised diplomatic visit to Iran involving the SA National Defence Force’s Gen Rudzani Maphwanya.
Civil society group Citizens for Integrity has called for the dismissal of Maphwanya and minister of defence Angie Motshekga, citing breaches of constitutional and diplomatic protocol. The presidency confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa was unaware of the trip, which reportedly included political statements made in Tehran without clearance from the department of international relations & co-operation.
The visit — described by critics as reckless and unconstitutional — has sparked outrage over the apparent disregard for executive accountability and foreign policy coherence. Citizens for Integrity has demanded a full report on the visit and the implementation of stricter foreign policy protocols.
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