Businessman-turned-presidential hopeful Roger Jardine has challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa to a public debate before the general elections later this year. 

Jardine wants Ramaphosa "to come out of hiding" and discuss the state of South Africa.

He accused Ramaphosa of being an "absent father" to the country. Jardine also said he had listened carefully to Ramaphosa's January 8 statement at the weekend and was "profoundly disappointed". 

He said the statement which gave the African National Congress's (ANC's) report back and marching orders to branches was crafted by a "deceitful governing party".

Jardine, who was speaking at the Constitution Hill Women's Prison on Thursday, did not hold back, adding that Ramaphosa's speech was akin to a "desperate salesman" making an "outlandish pitch to a frustrated consumer".

"Our president needs to come out of hiding; everyone talks about him; we have a president who hides; he is the absent father of this nation. He has not given a proper press [briefing] befitting a leader of a country," he said.

Jardine said Ramaphosa had shown on more than one occasion that his party was more important than the people, and it showed.  

"It's time, Mr President, you come out and debate the state of the nation on a platform for all to see, not just carefully curated applauding crowds.

"The masses see the ANC of today for what it is: a shadow of what it once was. I am quite certain, Mr President, that you are acutely aware of carrying the unwanted burden of being a leader of a failed government, which has depressingly only gotten worse since your return to political office," said Jardine. 

He added that the ANC had become a shadow of what it formerly was.

"And so I extend an invitation to you for a debate on our national condition and approaches to the crises facing South Africa. Such a dialogue will definitely benefit all South Africans," he said.

Ramaphosa is not known for his debating prowess and has avoided any political debates. 

Also, unlike the American elections debate format, South African political leaders rarely engage in debates as voters select parties rather than individuals.

It's unclear how Jardine's debate would be structured.

Having launched the party in December, Change Starts Now will move to launch its party manifesto on 19 February. Jardine said the party's manifesto will explain how it intends to implement its plans. 

Their plans include working with businesses and other partners to create new jobs for young people and fix broken infrastructure and state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The party also plans to end corruption in public institutions, ensure accountability from people in public office, explore new approaches to social security, encourage innovation, and ensure people's rights are protected.

Since the party's launch in December, Jardine said he took a break and a vacation in the US before jumping back into work after Christmas. 

He said since then, he had visited several schools and "townships", but also, the party had been closely analysing the voting landscape. 

Speaking on coalitions and possibly teaming with another party or think tanks, Jardine said the primary goal was to build Change Starts Now.

"Coalitions must not be about sharing the spoils, about who gets what position. Coalitions are about sharing a vision for society and a programme of policies to improve people's lives," he said.

"What we are trying to do is not join something else. A collaboration with Rise Mzansi is not out of the question in the future, but our focus is trying to move the needle," Jardine said.

"There is a political paradigm. where you set up branches, set up structures, have a conference, and that is the linear route. Modern politics does not have to work that way," Jardine said.