By Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a team of South Africans to spearhead the newly formed Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which will guide and champion the country’s National Dialogue on social cohesion, democratic renewal and nation building.
The announcement follows the EPG’s inaugural meeting at the Union Buildings on Friday.
“I am grateful to each of them for agreeing to take on this responsibility and to contribute towards the effective functioning of the Eminent Persons Group,” he said.
The president has designated Tinyiko Maluleke and Roelf Meyer as the co-chairs of the group.
Lindiwe Mazibuko and Siyabulela Xusa will serve as the deputy chairs, while Nompendulo Mkhatshwa has been appointed as the secretary.
The EPG has been established to serve as an independent, high-level advisory and convening body to promote inclusive public discourse, tackle inequality and foster unity across political, social and generational divides.
It forms a central pillar of the president’s broader National Dialogue agenda.
It comprises respected South Africans from diverse backgrounds, with a shared commitment to democratic values, inclusive development and public service.
The group will work in close cooperation with the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team, which includes civil society organisations, national foundations and representatives from the Presidency.
This team will continue to support the dialogue until a formal steering committee is in place.
Maluleke, who is Vice-Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology and deputy chairperson of the National Planning Commission, brings decades of academic leadership, public engagement and theological scholarship to the role.
As a globally respected public intellectual, he is known for bridging complex societal issues with a deep understanding of African identity, resilience and transformation.
His recent memoir, Faces and Phases of Resilience, has been praised for its insightful reflections on South Africa’s historical and contemporary challenges.
Meyer, who was the former National Party chief negotiator during South Africa’s transition to democracy, is internationally recognised for his peacebuilding work.
As a key figure in the 1990s constitutional negotiations alongside Ramaphosa, Meyer played a vital role in ushering in South Africa’s first democratic elections.
He later served in former president Nelson Mandela’s government.
Since retiring from frontline politics, Meyer has applied his expertise in conflict resolution globally, including in Northern Ireland, Rwanda, Kosovo and Sri Lanka.
Mazibuko, who was the former leader of the opposition in Parliament, is a public intellectual and advocate for ethical governance.
She co-founded and leads Futurelect, a non-partisan leadership academy focused on civic education and public service transformation across Africa.
Alongside her, Xusa offers innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Once celebrated as South Africa’s teenage rocket scientist, Xusa studied at Harvard and now leads Galactic Energy Ventures, an energy-focused investment firm.
His work on clean technologies and smart energy solutions positions him as a forward-thinking leader invested in Africa’s future.
Mkhatshwa, a former Fees Must Fall student leader at Wits University, was the chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
She is now the spokesperson for the Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Department.
The EPG’s leadership will play a critical role in designing an inclusive and participatory process that engages communities, institutions and key sectors in addressing the country’s most pressing challenges, from economic inequality and corruption to identity, belonging and democratic accountability.
The National Dialogue is envisioned as a platform for open reflection and to shape concrete proposals and social compacts that can be implemented through government and civil society partnerships.
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