South Africa names rugby captain, business leaders to national dialogue panel

South Africa’s president set up a panel that includes business leaders, actors and the captain of its national rugby team to guide a dialogue on the country’s future development path.

The so-called eminent persons’ group comprises 31 people with “proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building,” Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech Tuesday.

Among them are Robbie Brozin, co-founder of chicken franchise Nando’s, Siya Kolisi, captain of the nation’s rugby team known as the Springboks, former AngloGold Ashanti Chief Executive Officer Bobby Godsell and actor John Kani.

The nation will hold a convention to set the dialogue’s agenda on August 15, the president said. Another will follow at the start of 2026 that “will reinforce our shared values and adopt a common vision and programme of action for our country into the future,” he said.

The talks first agreed to by a coalition government formed after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in May 2024 elections will address low growth, unemployment, poverty, poor governance, slow land reform, graft gender-based violence and racism.

South Africa’s economic growth has averaged less than 1% a year in the past decade, contributing to an unemployment rate of 32.9% and inequality. According to World Bank data, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world.

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