President Cyril Ramaphosa has given his confirmation that the National Dialogue will commence and is scheduled to take place on Friday 15th of August. This comes despite disputes and the withdrawal of several legacy foundations from its preparatory task team. Speaking in Vereeniging, the president stated that the funds had been released, a venue secured, and an operations centre set up, with thousands of invitations sent to community, business, labour, and government representatives. Although President Ramaphosa stressed the importance of inclusive participation and pledged that the dialogue would proceed in line with constitutional values, while the ANC works to address concerns over transparency, financial oversight and governance, many doubt the dialogue will live up to the issues to be discussed.
Several prominent foundations, including the Steve Biko, Thabo Mbeki, and Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundations, have reportedly withdrawn from the Preparatory Task Team and the upcoming National Dialogue Convention scheduled for 15 August 2025. In a joint statement, the group cited concerns about a shift from a citizen-led initiative to one increasingly controlled by government officials. They criticised the rushed timeline, lack of readiness, absence of an approved budget, and potential legal violations related to emergency procurement. “What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately in practice shifted towards government control,” the foundations said. “In pushing forward for a Convention on 15 August at the will of government officials and against the advice of the Sub-Committee Chairs, we believe that a critical moment in which citizens should be leading will be undermined. “Deadlines cannot override substance. Dialogue cannot be locked in haste.”
Ramaphosa’s national dialogue leaves behind much to be desired depending on how this conference is conducted. The withdrawal and absence of the respective academic and charitable foundations leaves much to be desired concerning who will be able to attend and give relevant insight into South Africa’s social, economic and political problems. The fact is that the president was supposed to recognize this as being sponsored by the people, through ordinary citizens and civil society. It is not meant to be manipulated by his ministers and advisors as window dressing. The withdrawal of the above foundations, particularly the Thabo Mbeki foundation and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation puts the entire event under the microscope. Did the respective foundations come under strain not to raise controversial issues? If so, what were those issues? Was transparency and accountability ever a concern? Is the president truly committed to holding the National Dialogue for South Africans?
JOHANNESBURG – Lobby group AfriForum said President Cyril Ramaphosa has captured the National Dialogue and turned it into an African National Congress (ANC) monologue. The group and its affiliate, Solidarity, have withdrawn from this weekend’s national convention. From Friday, one thousand delegates will gather at the UNISA building in Pretoria to set the agenda for the dialogue. But last week, legacy organisations such as the Thabo Mbeki Foundation withdrew from the convention, saying it’s been rushed. Afriforum said the dialogue has deviated from being citizen–led. “What we are seeing now is that the president and the ANC are dictating what the agenda should be – they are dictating who should manage the process and the rest of us – the citizens will just have to sit and listen to what their agenda is.”
AfriForum has never been particularly fond of how any ANC government since nineteen ninety-four has run the country. But then the ANC alongside the last two administrations has managed to do more harm than good. The withdrawal of Afriforum and its associate organization Solidarity is however another warning that this Dialogue is not going to be an inclusive debate but a rubber stamp endorsement for its policies and conduct in the way they run South Africa. The dialogue is certainly being rushed and the civil society groups – legacy organization or otherwise – along with the rest of the country are seeing it for what it is. President Ramaphosa if he is serious about hosting this dialogue to here about the nation’s concerns should slow down. This “National Dialogue” at UNISA, Pretoria should be delayed to allow for all relevant parties to participate.
It all depends on how the government engages civil society in determining the factors that will govern South Africa.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
