As South Africa (SA) marks 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa has reflected on the country’s strong tradition of public participation, describing it as a defining feature of the constitutional order and a key factor in its development.

In a letter released on Monday, Ramaphosa highlighted the inclusive and participatory process that shaped the Constitution, noting that it continues to underpin SA’s democratic framework.

His remarks come as the country prepares to convene the National Dialogue, a citizen-led, society-wide initiative launched to address deep rooted socio-economic challenges and to co-create a shared vision for the next three decades.

Ramaphosa expressed hope that, much like the generation of 1994 played a direct role in shaping the foundation of democratic SA, today’s citizens will similarly engage meaningfully in the National Dialogue process.

The pilot phase of the National Dialogue is scheduled to run from June to August 2026.