Latest news with #FirstNationalConventionof
eNCA
4 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Some hail talks as a "step in the right direction"
PRETORIA - Saturday is the second day of the national dialogue's first convention. Technical glitches, a medical emergency, and tense scenes marked day one. Some delegates walked out after the keynote, accusing organisers of talking at them rather than listening. President Cyril Ramaphosa began the event, urging all South Africans to join the dialogue. He called for frank conversations on gender-based violence, poverty, inequality and service delivery failures. Saturday's focus is on finalising the rollout of the dialogues and securing contributions to support citizen-led discussions. 📍Day 2 at the First National Convention of @ZANatDialogue Today's focus is on report-backs from thematic areas, the election of a steering committee, and shaping a roadmap for community-led dialogues across the country. We continue to call for a Basic Income Support to… — Black Sash (@black_sash) August 16, 2025 [STATEMENT ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE] The poor & working class have long been denied a seat at the table, despite holding valid, urgent solutions. That is why we are here: to disrupt any drift towards a state- or NGO-centric process & to ensure grassroots voices are centred. — SERI (@SERI_RightsSA) August 15, 2025
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Ramaphosa insists National Dialogue will prevail after foundation withdrawals
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 that the Dialogue will proceed as planned. Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to the withdrawal of several legacy foundations from the upcoming National Dialogue, saying 'the show goes on' and that dialogue will continue with or without legacy foundations, including former President Thabo Mbeki. Ramaphosa said this through his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, during a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Thursday. This comes amid mounting criticism of the dialogue process from political parties, civil society groups, and prominent legacy foundations. The National Convention for the National Dialogue is scheduled to take place in Pretoria on August 15 and 16. Magwenya emphasised that the convention is not the dialogue itself, but rather a platform to set the agenda and map out a roadmap for the broader National Dialogue. 'The National Convention is not the actual dialogue,' said Magwenya. 'It is a platform where the agenda for the National Dialogue will be set and agreed upon. The roadmap for the rollout of the actual dialogue will also be affirmed.' He said that the inclusivity of the process should not be questioned at this stage, as the convention is just the beginning of a nine-month, nationwide engagement. 'It's always been understood that this is the kick-off of the dialogue process. Out of the National Convention, we will get a clear roadmap for dialogues in communities, wards, districts and sectoral groups. At the end of this nine-month process, all South Africans will have had an opportunity to participate.' Magwenya dismissed concerns about the legitimacy of the process, arguing that the withdrawal of seven foundations does not undermine its credibility. 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 ✕ 'With respect to the National Convention and the withdrawal of seven foundations - with all due respect, these foundations do not represent the majority of South Africans.' Several prominent legacy foundations announced their withdrawal from the process, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, WDB Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group. In a joint statement, the organisations expressed 'deep regret,' saying their decision was necessary to protect the credibility and integrity of the process. They accused organisers of deviating from the original citizen-led vision and shifting towards government control. 'What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately, in practice, shifted towards government control,' the statement read. Magwenya dismissed the notion that the foundations represent defined constituencies, arguing that their absence would not diminish the legitimacy or inclusiveness of the convention. 'These foundations were never set up to be constituency groups, as far as we understand, unless that has changed. We now have close to 1000 confirmed delegates. The Convention will be representative of all sectors of society through the different formations and groups that have accepted invitations to attend.' He added that the dialogue must eventually reach communities, industries, households and other sectors. 'The credibility of the dialogue is not a once off exercise. It will depend on the level of participation across communities and the outcomes of that process.' 'South Africa is much bigger than any one individual or any single foundation. It would've been great to have former (President Mbeki) there – but if he's not there, he's not there.' 'The reality is that the show will go on, and South Africans will continue with the dialogue process. Hopefully, at some point, not only the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and others will eventually decide to participate in the process and realise that there's no benefit out the boycotting the people of South Africa.' He added that the dialogue process does not belong to Ramaphosa or the government 'It belongs to all South Africans. Those who choose not to participate are not disadvantaged by the president or the government – they are choosing not to be part of the broader national conversation.' Several political parties have also withdrawn from the National Dialogue.
IOL News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mbeki, Biko, Tutu foundations withdraw from August 15 National Dialogue
Seven leading foundations withdraw from National Dialogue Convention, citing concerns over rushed planning, loss of citizen leadership, and lack of transparency in the process. Several prominent foundations have withdrawn from the structures of the Preparatory Task Team (PTT) and the upcoming First National Convention of the National Dialogue scheduled for August 15, 2025. The Steve Biko Foundation, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the WDB Foundation, the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group announced their decision in a joint statement on Friday. The group, which has played a central role in shaping the emerging National Dialogue process over the past year, says the decision comes from a place of 'deep regret,' but is necessary to protect the credibility, inclusiveness, and integrity of the process. They stress that they remain committed to a citizen-led National Dialogue rooted in public trust, broad participation, and accountability. In a joint statement issued on Friday, the Foundations said the withdrawal was '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 15 August.'
