National Dialogue will go ahead as planned, says Ramaphosa
The party said the concerns, ranging from transparency and financial oversight to the need for a truly citizen-led process, must be addressed to preserve the dialogue's integrity and credibility.
It has urged the foundations, including those of former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, to reconsider their withdrawal, calling their experience "invaluable" to the success of the process.
In a statement, the ANC said the National Dialogue must be rooted in inclusive participation, guided by the spirit of the constitution and liberation values.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in Vereeniging, also weighed in, insisting that the event would go ahead as planned.
He said that funds had been released, a venue secured, and an operation centre was already functioning with thousands of invites sent to community leaders, business, labour and government representatives.
The ruling party added that it was ready to support improvements to the dialogue framework, including proper financial governance, transparent decision-making and clear accountability structures.
It called on all stakeholders, including government, to work with urgency and humility to rebuild public trust, saying the initiative must rise above administrative shortcomings and focus on the collective good.
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Jacob Zuma Morocco visit
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This statement, which has been published three weeks after the visit, uses the excuse of the flag previously mentioned in the ANC press release concerning the visit of the previous Head of State to criticise the presence of the latter in Morocco. Indeed, the hypersensitivity of DIRCO and its unusual and exaggerated reaction raise several questions about the priorities of Foreign Policy in our country, especially during these tough times. Amidst the recent punitive Trump Tariffs, the focus should be to mend the trade relationship to assert the economic diplomacy plan that was adopted by DIRCO, DTIC and the Ministry of Finance. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Nonetheless, DIRCO took time among these huge trade problems with the USA that threaten our national interest to publish a press release concerning the visit of the former Head of State. This is not the first trip undertaken by Jacob Zuma as the former head of state outside of South Africa. 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Thus, the DIRCO statement raises the issue of the use of the national flag by South African citizens, organisations and political parties in General. Expressing concerns over this issue, the spokesperson of MK, M. Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said that 'Mbalula, on his visit in 2023 in Algeria, had a national flag of South Africa in a picture taken with him and the foreign minister of Algeria and DIRCO said nothing. Why now? The ANC and its GNU do not own the South African flag; it belongs to South Africans, and President Zuma is a South African, and a former head of state'. On the details of Zuma's trip to Morocco, IOL was able to confirm that the visit was prepared with the involvement of the South African Embassy in Rabat, which officially asked the Moroccan authorities to grant Mr. Zuma protocol treatment. 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Indeed, the DA, which is a partner of the ANC in the GNU, has undertaken, in March 2025, a trip to the USA, which was officially communicated by the previous DA Spokesperson on International Relations & Cooperation, Mrs Emma Powell, in total contradiction with the official position expressed by the South African Government and DIRCO.
IOL News
2 hours ago
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National Dialogue may not be a success
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IOL News
3 hours ago
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Legacy foundations pull out of National Dialogue amid funding uncertainty
Seven leading foundations have withdrawn from the National Dialogue Convention, citing concerns over rushed planning, loss of citizen leadership, and lack of transparency in the process. Image: File Former President Thabo Mbeki has clarified the reasons for his foundation's withdrawal from the National Dialogue, a government initiative designed to unite South Africans in addressing the nation's most pressing issues. Mbeki stated that a key factor in the decision was the uncertainty regarding the R700 million allocated for the National Dialogue. Mbeki's foundation, along with other prominent legacy foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and FW de Klerk Foundation, withdrew from the National Dialogue Convention scheduled to kick off on Friday. The foundations cited concerns over the rushed timeline, inadequate preparation, and shift towards government control as reasons for their withdrawal. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading "We feel the organisation of the matter was not entirely honest as to where the funds will be directed," Mbeki said. "This is due to our belief that core principles meant to underpin the whole National Dialogue have been violated in the rush to host a gathering on August 15." The foundations also cited the absence of a confirmed, approved budget allocation and last-minute commitment of initial funds have made sound preparation impossible and deep disagreements exist within the Preparatory Task Team over the nature of the dialogue, readiness, governance, and risk. The foundations have proposed rescheduling the convention to after October 15 to allow for adequate preparation, coherence, and participatory integrity. The National Dialogue is an inclusive, citizen-driven process focused on developing a vision and plan for South Africa for the next 30 years. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) expressed strong disapproval regarding the proposed R700 million budget for the National Dialogue. 'Like many other rational South Africans, Cosatu was astonished that such a figure could even be suggested. This arbitrary budget number should be considered a verbal slip and a reckless error, best forgotten." Despite the withdrawal of the legacy foundations, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the first national convention will proceed as scheduled. The Presidency further distanced itself from the estimated R700 million price tag for the dialogue. 'The Presidency wishes to confirm that all budgetary processes regarding the National Convention are consistent with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). 'The Inter-Ministerial Committee, which is chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and comprises all relevant government departments to coordinate government's contribution towards the National Dialogue, has been working to mobilise resources for the convention and manage costs,' the presidency said in a statement yesterday.
