Convention faces backlash as key groups withdraw
WATCH: Discussion | DA boycotts National Convention
Several legacy foundations have walked out in protest.
eNCA reporter Moloko Moloto has the latest from Unisa.
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eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Was the first National convention a success?
JOHANNESBURG - The much-vaunted National Convention has come and gone. Those in the tent are hailing it a success. But, many stood outside calling it a waste of time and money. The DA, Freedom Front Plus and ActionSA pulled out of what they called a costly talk shop. While, Legacy Foundations stayed away saying the dialogue had lost its focus. A broad-based steering committee to oversee and guide the dialogue will be finalised in the next two weeks. e spoke to governance expert, Sam Koma, to discuss the talks over the past two days.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Julius Malema explains the EFF's opposition to the National Dialogue: 'Our people need services'
The EFF President and Commander in Chief Julius Malema addressing ground forces at the #EFFSiyabongaRally in Ward 13, Seshego. Image: X/@EFFSouthAfrica Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema speaking during the Siyabonga rally held at Seshego in Polokwane, Limpopo on Saturday, criticised the National Dialogue. Malema lambasted the dialogue using money, which the government does not have, yet people do not have services needed. 'While it was disorganised, it was just government elite that was all over the place. It really did not serve any purpose. If anything, it was saving the egos of certain people, and therefore it was a waste of money. 'NGOs and people who participated in that preparations suggested that it must be postponed, because they are not ready only to go and embarrass themselves the way they did. 'We don't support this convention. We don't support the national dialogue. We know the demands of our people. We cannot spend R700 million of the money that we don't have. Our people need services, they don't want the talks, they are tired of talking,' said Malema. The National Dialogue kicked off on Friday at UNISA in Pretoria, despite the withdrawal of former President Thabo Mbeki, several legacy foundations, Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, and civil society organisations. They pulled out of the process, citing concerns over its implementation and rushed timelines. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ ♦️Must Watch♦️ President @Julius_S_Malema engaging with members of the media at the #EFFSiyabongaRally in Seshego, Ward 13. We don't support the National Dialogue, we know the demands of our people, we cannot spend R700 million of the money that we don't have, our people need… — Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 16, 2025 The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) also withdrew, accusing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of using the dialogue to polish its image ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Drama unfolded on day one after panellists were invited to the stage for the first engagement session before the president's address. While panellists from the Citizen-Led National Dialogue Roadmap were called to the stage, individuals not on the list attempted to intervene, demanding to speak in front of Ramaphosa and other high-profile delegates. IOL
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Hlabisa is a lesson on getting things done behind chaos
While the GNU continues to be chaotic, Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has kept calm and done the unthinkable. The GNU presents a laugh a day. In the last month, Andrew Whitfield got axed, setting an awkward precedent for President Cyril Ramaphosa's defence chief. While bus drivers are taking their own lives, having not been paid since January, a dialogue is on the go that increasingly seems to be evolving into a monologue. Gayton McKenzie has been doing his thing, whatever that might be on the day, and team DA is patting themselves on the back for outsourcing state work to the banks. And we all applauded it, such is our disdain of home affairs. Oh, and the ministers appointed to fix load shedding were busted doing what we already knew they were doing; burning diesel as ferociously as Christians burned Beatles albums. Amid all the chaos and lack of time to consider which connected cadre should feast on which deal, some real good has been done; Transnet even seems to be on the rise, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's revelations are promising to unlock some gems and South Africa's economic kingpin, Thabo Mbeki, has finally found some guts to start saying some things. Amid the chaos, some things are improving The weather is perfect for sowing the seeds of ideas that may be great for the country and good for the fiscus, even if they aren't politically popular. In a country where a small minority are being squeezed for funding, it's difficult to make financially prudent decisions. But since that money isn't getting to the people it's supposed to, it makes it somewhat easier. Add to that the warring internal factions and it shouldn't be surprising that as the castle of patronage comes down, a couple of things can be improved with the resources. A minister who seemingly gets this and has largely kept a calm demeanor throughout the GNU is Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa. During lockdown, we learned just how much power Cogta has and Hlabisa has been wielding it pretty impressively. ALSO READ: IFP reaffirms GNU role, slams NPA and urges reforms within justice system Halbisa takes on municipal functionality On natural disaster management, he's done the unthinkable in South African terms; enhancing the implementation of a 10-year-old framework. It shouldn't be impressive, but since we tend to have a kink of jumping from one policy to the next, doubling down and anchoring a belief in a policy's execution is quite a brave and functional thing. When last have you heard a minister insistent on implementing the plan of a predecessor and making it work? Hlabisa genuinely seems to want to do what's good for the people and when it comes to preventing them from dying, that's quite nice. I'm not sure if it's because nobody knows how to get in his way or whether it's just not profitable to impose themselves on him, the minister has been given some room to manoeuvre and it appears he knows this. It shouldn't be surprising that he's taken on what is probably going to be the most difficult reform of this administration; municipal functionality. Ten years ago, you wouldn't dream of anybody in Jacob Zuma's cabinet thinking of claiming that the national government is bloated, let alone municipalities. ALSO READ: Cogta warns municipalities against wasting R1.2 billion disaster relief Now, the minister is having a right go at the state of municipal affairs and fairly so. It's not like John Steenhuisen is going to criticise anybody's literacy because it will come off poorly, but the way Hlabisa puts it makes it pragmatic in the eyes of the public. 'You can't monitor billions if you can't read,' he said. Why on earth we're even in a position where he's got to say that is beyond me, but thank goodness somebody has finally said it. What's most exciting about this shake up is that it's clearly a long term investment and he's set milestones allowing him to take his time on the matter. It shows a degree of seriousness rather than politricking and perhaps we don't see the results in his lifetime. It feels so good to hear a minister commit themselves to a long term solution to an issue that nobody has really tried to address in 30 years. There's a saying about great men planting trees and I really hope this one grows. We could do with the shade. READ NEXT: Almost 40 municipalities facing sanctions from Treasury over mismanagement
