Latest news with #NationalDialogueEminentPersonsGroup
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Miss SA 2024 Mia le Roux's role at the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group meeting fuels social media debate
Mia le Roux's attendance at the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group meeting at the Union Buildings ignited a heated online debate regarding her participation as a beauty queen. Image: Instagram An online debate on X was sparked after Miss SA 2024, Mia le Roux, was spotted engaging in a conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa while attending the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group meeting. Le Roux attended the meeting, which took place on Friday, July 11, at the Union Building and was held by Ramaphosa as well as the Eminent Persons Group to address and find solutions to tackle issues that are happening in South Africa. The Eminent Persons Group is made up of leading figures in society with a proven commitment to advancing social cohesion and nation-building. The beauty queen was among prominent figures in SA, including legendary actor Dr John Kani, Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman, social activist Dr Brigalia Bam, among many others. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ After she was crowned Miss SA 2024, Le Roux shared with the nation that her advocacy was inclusivity and to create a sense of belonging for everyone, including those living with disabilities. During a brief interview shared on the Presidency's official X page, Le Roux explained her belief in the importance of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group Meeting for society. 'As someone who has often felt their voice went unheard, the National Dialogue provides that opportunity for my voice to be heard…' ~Mia le Roux Miss South Africa Member: Eminent Persons Group — The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 11, 2025 'I believe that this National Dialogue is important because, as someone who has always felt unheard, who never had a voice, this is an opportunity for you to have your voice heard. And you really do have an opportunity to have your say, and I'm here to ensure that there is credibility to the process,' she shared. Despite revealing the reason why she is a part of the dialogue, Le Roux faced criticism from some online users who claimed and questioned how she fits into the dialogue. X user @Jenna_original2 captioned her post: 'How does Mia le Roux fit into this dialogue? What does she know about the struggles of black South Africans?' How does Mia Le Roux fit into this dialogue. What does she know about the struggles of black South Africans? — 🍉 Jenna_🇿🇦 🇵🇸 🇷🇺 (@Jenna_original2) July 13, 2025 This post sparked a division among social media users as many advocated for her attendance and shared that she represents people living with disabilities. 'I think she's representing people with disabilities,' @Nelisiwe94 shared. I think she's representing people with disabilities. — Nelisiwe (@Nelisiwe94) July 13, 2025 While @Mantsi_ added: 'I guess she represents people living with disabilities, she is Miss South Africa and I guess the dialogue is about SOUTH AFRICANS.' I guess she represent people living with disabilities, she is MISS SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦 and I guess the dialogue is about SOUTH AFRICANS🇿🇦 🤔! — C.M Mathekga (@Mantsi_) July 14, 2025 Despite social media users questioning Le Roux's attendance, it is undeniable that the beauty queen has changed the stigma and the capabilities of people living with disabilities.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
A voice for the unheard: Miss SA Mia Le Roux joins National Dialogue to ‘ensure credibility'
Le Roux is among those invited by President Ramaphosa to join the Eminent Persons Group, appointed to guide the National Dialogue. Miss South Africa Mia le Roux said her participation at the National Dialogue is to ensure that there's credibility in the process. Picture: mialerouxx/Instagram Miss South Africa Mia le Roux said her participation in the National Dialogue is to ensure that the process is credible and to serve as a voice for the voiceless, advocating for those who often go unheard. 'I'm here to ensure that there is credibility to the process. We all are here to drive that credibility and to ensure that this will be a success,' said Le Roux. She was speaking at the inaugural meeting that President Cyril Ramaphosa had with members of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Friday. The president announced the appointment of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to guide and champion the National Dialogue, and Le Roux is among those invited. ALSO READ: 'We said yes to forever': Miss South Africa Mia le Roux is engaged! Le Roux, the advocate Le Roux was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was a year old and received her cochlear implant shortly after. She has since become an advocate for people living with disabilities, using her platform to raise awareness and promote inclusivity. 'I believe that this national dialogue is important because as someone who has always felt unheard, who never had a voice, this is an opportunity for you to have your voice,' Le Roux said. The 29-year-old recently announced that she has become engaged to her partner, Luke Tenoever. ALSO READ: More than 53 000 sign petition to remove Minnie Ntuli from radio and TV Dr Kani's thrill The EPG consists of prominent individuals in society with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building. The selected individuals are drawn from across the country and from many fields of endeavour in public life, according to the government. In the art and creative space, the president invited elders, including actor, playwright and director Dr John Kani and author and poet Gcina Mhlope. 'Since 1994, all of us had envisaged the future. All of us knew what was going to happen to our lives, what was going to be improved in our lives, and slowly that image gets blurred,' Kani said. 'And now, when the president said after the elections that we need a national dialogue, I was thrilled.' He said his excitement about the dialogue stems from the opportunity to reflect on the country's journey since the dawn of democracy in 1994, particularly in terms of citizen reflection. 'Maybe even speak to ourselves in our communities and say 'what can I do to improve the situation, to improve the lives of our people…what are my responsibilities in dealing with crime in my street',' said the actor. Kani highlighted other social ills the country faces, urging South Africans to reflect on their contributions to the country's welfare. ''Are you aware?' I'm asking myself, I'm not saying what the government is doing. I'm asking myself what am I doing. This then, for me, give us that push.' Speaking to The Citizen just after Ramaphosa announced the long list of EPG, celebrated singer-songwriter Thandiswa Mazwai said she didn't receive an invitation from the president. and that she would've accepted the invitation had it come. 'There is much to be legislated in our industry and much to be done to protect artist rights, livelihoods and dignity,' shared Thandiswa. Opinion on the National Dialogue is as divided as the country's election results last year. While some have seen it as an opportunity for South Africans to air their grievances about the country's progress or the lack thereof over the last 30 years, others view it as a waste of state funds by the government. NOW READ: Thandiswa Mazwai says she would've accepted invite to national dialogue had Ramaphosa sent it
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Civil Society must have a voice in the National Dialogue
President Cyril Ramaphosa, supported by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Cabinet Ministers convened the first inaugural meeting with members of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday. Image: The Presidency Siphamandla Zondi PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has finally confirmed the start of the national dialogue in South Africa in mid-August. He has explained that it will be a people-centred dialogue and in an open letter the former President Thabo Mbeki has called it a citizen-led exercise. Both are noble ways of thinking about it but several realities will have to be tackled to realise these ideals. This opinion piece is inspired by initial discussions within the Devoted Citizen NGO preparing for this opportunity. Academics like myself who are committed to research through community engagement are duty-bound to assist drive active citizenship based on evidence. First, it is important to note that the need for South Africans to engage about the current state of the country and what must be done to fix it, has long been talked about. Civil society activists have decried the state of our country, the manner in which its economy functions, in particular the fact that it breeds more poverty than shared prosperity, the fact that its public infrastructure is in disarray, and social services including education and health are also falling apart. Activists have said none of these crises are natural in any way but they result from leadership and governance failures. They know that therefore these problems can be reversed when collective will is used to say no further. We cannot allow our country to be run down, our cities to become infested with preventable problems and our villages and townships to become unliveable. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Activists have long pointed out that we need change in leadership, both in persons and in form. So, there must not just be new leaders but there must be new leaders with a renewed sense of purpose, leaders with a new attitude to their task, leaders with greater desire to leave a lasting social legacy. We need a new type of leading, one that includes all, one that organises the best of talent and skills we have to tackle mammoth problems. Activists have said we have to rethink how we see ourselves. We cannot allow what we see around us to become the way of life. We must reject the idea that when Africans take over, things fall into pieces, they say. These agents of change believe we have to believe that we can build a country of our dreams. But we know exactly what dreams we have for this country. It is clear that such a dream must be repeated to leave behind a country far greater, far more excellent, far more functional, and far more prosperous than the one we inherit. Activists have long said maybe we need a CODESA Two but one that is sharply focused on real outcomes. Some of those are to end the era of deadwood running at public institutions. It must end the error of corruption. It must completely reject incompetence in any public office. It must reject nepotism that robs this country of the benefit of the best skills it already has. It must reject narrow party political agendas and embarrass an inclusive forward-looking agenda. Parties have to transcend their narrow focus on what is in the interest of their party, their ideology or their constituencies only, and focus on what South Africa needs. A citizen-led national dialogue should not be political party driven. We should therefore be concerned about the DA-ANC contests at the moment as they signal a fight for the control of the national conversation. Together they constitute only about 60% of the voting public which in itself is not a whole public. Political parties must be encouraged to focus on parliament where they are mandated to pursue positive change. They have not been that successful in doing it. They must let the dialogue take place on the basis of open persuasions and inputs from all who wish too. Organisations like Citizens Coalition, Devoted Citizen NGO, Abahlali BaseMjondolo, etc must be encouraged to drive the process of garnering views that may be silenced by the nature of process and limited time available or even lack of information. Faith-based NGOs such Devoted Citizen, Economic Justice Network, AFRODAD, People Matter Foundation, and so forth have a duty to serve, a responsibility to contribute to building a better country. Since they are driven by hope, they ought to translate that hope into reality working with others to build the country we want. Civil society is a diverse body of people, divided by ideas and ideology, by constituencies and styles of engagement, attitude and passions. But it is the beauty of that diversity joined by a shared commitment to place the country's destiny in the hands of citizens that make them the ideal participants in the national dialogue. Civil society formations must in their individual and collective forms prepare ways of garnering views to represent at the National Dialogue. Professor Zondi is a Volunteer Convenor at Devoted Citizen NGO.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
National Dialogue figures say government must be ready to answer tough questions on police corruption
JOHANNESBURG - Some of the figures involved in the National Dialogue say government must prepare to answer questions on corruption, particularly within the police sector. This follows recent explosive allegations by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of a corrupt syndicate within the top brass of the country's security cluster. The allegations were once again the topic on Friday as President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group. READ: Ramaphosa asks National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group to be critical in its work This is a group of high-profile South Africans who have been tasked with promoting the dialogue. One of the members, former Democratic Alliance (DA) member of parliament, Lindiwe Mazibuko, said all matters must be on the table. 'There is no situation which we can shy away from the real issues, including criminal justice system so yes we talked about everything and I do think it's going to form an important part of the discussion, but we wait to hear from the President on Sunday.' Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman said he met with Mkhwanazi today to give him his support. 'One of the things I was going to raise, - we can't do that in the first meeting of the national dialogue - is these are the kind of matters as members of the eminent persons group we can bring up to government and say, you need to deal fairly with this policeman, are you listening to him. The call I made is for the president to call him personally and get his side of the story.'
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa tasks eminent persons with boosting public participation in National Dialogue
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has tasked the Eminent Persons Group with ensuring there is a high turnout and participation for the National Dialogue. At the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, Ramaphosa met with the group of high-profile South Africans he's chosen to champion the upcoming dialogue. The dialogue will feature groups and people from all walks of life, talking directly to the government about the issues in the country and possible solutions to them. READ: Ramaphosa asks National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group to be critical in its work The President said South Africans had lost faith in some of the country's democratic processes. He referenced the 2024 elections, which recorded the lowest voter turnout in the country's history. However, Ramaphosa said this was not a true reflection of the country's population. 'What I do know about South Africans is they want to be heard, they want to participate, be included in whatever process is meant to direct, improve and take their lives forward.' One of the eminent South Africans and former student leader, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, said it was important that the dialogue was not dominated by politically inclined people. 'It's the young person who is not politically active, who's never read Fannon or Lenin, who feels that this constitution doesn't benefit me, these policies that we have don't benefit me – it's that young person we need to reach out to and make sure understands how they can participate in this democracy.' Mkhatshwa said she had already begun work on organising young people.
