Why South Africa’s Fishing Communities Must have a Voice in the National Dialogue

As South Africa prepares for its long-overdue National Dialogue, the stakes could not be higher. This is not just a symbolic exercise – it’s an opportunity to reimagine our democracy, rebuild trust in institutions, and reset the social contract between the state and its people. But for the process to be meaningful, it must be inclusive. And that means actively involving South Africa’s fishing communities, whose voices have too often been ignored, marginalised, or simply erased from national conversations.