President Ramaphosa defends decision to proceed with National Dialogue despite deep divisions

IOL News

21 hours ago

Despite the withdrawal of several prominent Legacy Foundations from the structures of the Preparatory Task Team (PTT) and the upcoming First National Convention of the National Dialogue scheduled for August 15, 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Friday that the Dialogue will proceed as planned.
Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS
THE national convention organising team responsible for the National Dialogue has been reorganised and is being reinforced by various social partners and civil society formations, says the Presidency.
This comes after the withdrawal of several foundations, a development the Presidency insists does not represent a setback. The first meeting of the National Dialogue is expected to proceed this week. The Presidency also confirmed that all budgetary processes related to the National Convention were in full compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
This follows a meeting of the interim Preparatory Task Team (PTT) on August 7, where members were divided on key issues, including whether the PTT is ready to deliver the National Convention as scheduled on August 15, 2025.
The first National Convention is expected to bring together 200 organisations from 33 different sectors, to kickstart the National Dialogue process, by outlining key themes for discussion and finalise the establishment of a broadly representative Steering Committee, among others.
A day after the PTT meeting, several prominent foundations announced their withdrawal from both the PTT and the upcoming National Convention.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group confirmed their decision to pull out, citing that the convention was being rushed.
They argued that without sufficient programmatic, operational, and communications in place, the event could not serve as a "credible launchpad for a truly transformative process for South Africans...continued absence of a confirmed, approved budget allocation, and a last-minute commitment of initial funds has made sound preparation impossible. This raises real risks of a poorly organised and unaccountable process".
'The rushed timeline, constrained logistics, and limited interactive design mean that the proposed convention no longer offers a meaningful platform for engagement. The structure risks becoming symbolic rather than substantive. What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately, in practice, shifted towards government control. 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. The principles and important nature of being a citizen-led process are being sacrificed for the sake of expediency,' the group said.
Their decision did not represent a withdrawal from the National Dialogue project itself. They proposed moving the event two months later, to after 15 October 2025, which the president has declined to do.
In a statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: 'The National Convention must happen so that South Africa's people can take ownership and control of the National Dialogue. Invitations have gone out to organisations across the country and delegates are preparing themselves to attend the convention. It is at the National Convention that the people of South Africa will take over and run with the National Dialogue process,' he said.
Ramaphosa expressed regret at their withdrawal from the preparations, but said he was 'encouraged' by their intention to continue to play a meaningful role in the National Dialogue as it unfolds.
On Friday, Ramaphosa also met with the co-chairs, deputy chairs and the secretary of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG).
EPG member Archbishop Thabo Makgoba maintained the foundations pulling out of preparations should not be seen as a setback, but 'as a genuine effort to wrestle with – and find agreement on – issues upon which the success of the whole initiative will depend'.
He called on all involved to 'serve the common good in the interests of the whole nation'.
Cape Times