Ramaphosa: SA has 'always dialogued' to solve its 'most intractable problems'

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa had a rich history of solving some of its difficult problems through dialogue.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the convention for the National Dialogue at the UNISA main campus in Pretoria.

The convention is a precursor to a series of dialogues that will take place throughout the country over the next nine months.

In 1955, South Africans from all racial groups met for a dialogue in Kliptown and out of that came the Freedom Charter.

The Convention for a Democratic South Africa, also known as the CODESA talks, laid the groundwork for the country's move away from apartheid.

The president said the country now faced new challenges, including economic inequality, poverty and lack of public faith in institutions.

"A dialogue, by the way, is not a new phenomenon among us as South Africans. We have always dialogued to solve the most intractable problems that have confronted our country."

Ramaphosa said it was also normal to have sections of society boycott the dialogue, however, the show must go on.