We will scale down the cost of the national dialogue: Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured parliament that the government will drive down the cost of the national dialogue over the public backlash over the estimated R700m price tag.
Speaking at the National Council of Provinces during a question-and-answer session on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said people had been fixated over the cost of the dialogue.
Earlier this month, Ramaphosa announced the national dialogue would be convened in August with eminent people from different groups expected to lead discussions. The dialogue was agreed upon after the elections which saw the ANC losing its majority and forming a government of national unity with various parties including the DA.
After the announcement of the date for the national dialogue, it emerged that the engagement would cost the country R700m. This led to various parties including the EFF taking issue with the government's decision to convene the dialogue.
EFF leader Julius Malema penned a letter rejecting the cost as a 'grotesque and wasteful plan by the so-called national dialogue preparatory task team'.
He said national dialogue has no bearing on the lives of ordinary South Africans.
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