Town Hall Dialogues

"The Town Hall Dialogue series aims to engage South Africans in dialogue, debate and conversation through dynamic interaction."
- Roelf Meyer, GIBS Dialogue Circle Fellow & former politician

Modelled on the Town Hall Meetings founded by a community of Americans who value open exchange of ideas, dialogue and action, this GIBS Dialogue Circle initiative serves the intention to offer opportunities for South Africans to interact and engage with high level decision makers and influencers of public opinion in order to construct relevant and realistic meaning around issues dealt with on a daily basis.

Gwede Mantashe

The first in the Town Hall Dialogue Series saw Gwede Mantashe, Secretary General of the ANC, engaging with a panel of delegates from the Nexus, ImagiNation, Imbokodo, Spirit of Youth and MBA programmes. Through his responses to the panel, Gwede unpacked the actions of the new government, the politics of the ANC and his own views on his leadership and that of the leadership of the country. After responding to the questions and reflections posed by the panel, questions were invited by the audience which consisted of delegates from the Dialogue Circle and GIBS programmes, as well as the media. Many responded favourably to the candour and openness with which Mr Mantashe engaged with his audience.

Click here to view The Weekender article on the event.

Gwede Mantashe meets Spirit of Youth Delegates

Panel engages with Mr Mantashe