On Monday, March 17, 2025, two internationally-recognized leaders from South Africa visited Washington state and met with members of the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health, including Lt. Governor Denny Heck, Rep. Tom Dent, Rep. Mary Dye, Rep. Chris Stearns, and Sen. Yasmin Trudeau. This visit was sponsored by national nonpartisan organization Civic Genius and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a co-partner of the Project for Civic Health.
Roelf Meyer is renowned for his pivotal role as the South African’s government chief representative in the constitutional negotiations to end Apartheid. Mohammed Bhabha is a former Member of the South African Parliament and was part of the African National Congress (ANC) team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), who helped negotiate agreements on the final South African Constitution. Both leaders shared their firsthand experiences in resolving deeply complex conflicts and in working across profound differences to address political and policy challenges.
“These two incredible leaders are living proof that even in the most divided of times, we can work together in the service of a shared vision — if we commit ourselves to the process,” said Jillian Youngblood, Executive Director of Civic Genius.
According to Meyer and Bhabha, racial divide was one of the, if not the, biggest causes of the tension in their country. They suggested that building a strong democracy required communities to come together, seek reconciliation, and work with one another to resolve conflicts. With the leadership of individuals like Nelson Mandela, prominently known as a key figure in the ANC and a leader of the struggle against Apartheid, dialogues and negotiations were effectively utilized to address and settle political issues, resulting in the creation of the new South African Constitution in 1996 and a peaceful transition of power post-Apartheid.
Bhabha emphasized that while negotiations are needed to address division, building trust between communities requires inclusive spaces for all voices to be heard. He also noted that division in South Africa was not only due to racial tension, but also to the lack of access to resources for a majority people, including economic opportunities, education, and infrastructures.
However, Bhabha added, “retribution is rarely the answer” to these problems — at least not if we seek to uphold democracy and the country’s law and order. “What we need is a leadership that emphasizes understanding and listening,” he said, “because if we can understand where the problems come from, we can address them properly through their roots.”
“Spending time with Roelf Meyer and Mohammed Bhabha is always profound,” said Julia Carboni, Director of The Ruckelshaus Center. “Their commitment to inclusive dialogue and a shared future in South Africa despite seemingly insurmountable conflict remind us that democracy is not passive; it’s a living, breathing thing that depends on our willingness to show up, listen, and engage.”
A good leader can be demonstrated by their willingness to interact with communities, listen to their concerns or issues, and be able to manage their expectations toward progress, especially of their own people. Meyer and Bhabha spent many years in their careers engaging with numerous civic- and faith-based organizations to establish trust and relationship across differences. They have found this approach far more successful and effective in building a healthier democracy as opposed to top-down approaches.
“To sit down with leaders from South Africa and Washington state, and to hear these common experiences from two completely different worlds, should give us all hope that our challenges are not insurmountable,” added Executive Director Youngblood.
A key takeaway from this visit is that “people just wanted to be respected.” During this time of turmoil and chaos, we tend to think that problems arise because someone else is taking away what we have. This highlights why building and establishing trust between and across communities is crucial. “Those who are against you are generally reasonable people who are driven by other factors, such as fear or concerns,” said Meyer and Bhabha. “A big key to fight against division is to find what we have in common.”