Latest news with #LegacyFoundations
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
COSATU backs national convention despite tensions
JOHANNESBURG - Trade union federation Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has expressed satisfaction that the national convention will proceed as scheduled, despite tensions within the National Dialogue's organising team. Last week, legacy foundations, including the Thabo Mbeki and Steve Biko foundations, withdrew from the initiative, citing several concerns. The foundations had asked for a postponement of Thursday's convention to allow additional preparation time, but the president rejected their proposal. COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks said delaying the event over a handful of concerns would only result in unnecessary setbacks. ALSO READ: • Blame game erupts between govt, legacy foundations over National Dialogue • Postponing upcoming national convention wouldn't have been possible - Ramaphosa "Whilst the federation appreciates legitimate concerns outlined by the Legacy Foundations and other organisations, these can and must be addressed and the Dialogue proceed as intended. If we wait for all issues, be it logistics, organisational or philosophical, to be resolved, we may find that time will simply run out." While limited funding was one of the reasons the foundations withdrew, Parks has urged the organising team to keep the dialogue's costs under control. "Whilst the Presidency is correct to push forward with the convening of the launch of the National Dialogue, it will do well to hear the skepticism of many, including workers, who correctly ask what will the Dialogue achieve and how will we ensure that it does not follow the same route of similar reviews and discussions previously held, including former President Kgalema Mothlanthe's High Level Panel Review that concluded in 2019 and was left to gather dust in Parliament."
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Legacy Foundations withdraw from national dialogue
PRETORIA - The new committee, the National Convention is preparing for Friday's National Convention. READ: National Dialogue | Foundations withdraw after questioning processes It will be held at UNISA in Pretoria and is designed to be the first major event to kick start the National Dialogue. The spokesperson for the Legacy Foundations who earlier withdrew from the Preparatory Task Team for various reasons, Bongani Kupe spoke with eNCA.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Ramaphosa against the wall facing political issues on all fronts
JOHANNESBURG - As the week ends, President Cyril has been entangled with both local and international issues. From being at loggerheads with two former statesmen, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, to diplomatic encounters with US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladamir Putin. Zuma is demanding to know why Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, hasn't been fired. Responding to Zuma's legal team with a two-page document, Ramaphosa says the courts have already dealt with the matter. Thabo Mbeki and his foundation has withdrawn from the National Dialogue. Ramaphosa is advising not to let the withdrawal of the Legacy Foundations distract from the initiative's purpose. Now, Mbeki has also been in the courts, joined by his former Justice Minister, Brigitte Mabandla. They approached the High Court in a bid to intervene in the R167-million damages claim by families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities. The case has become a thorny issue. Pretoria has had three crucial phone calls with Washington, the Kremlin and Kyiv. The most important one being over trade relations with the United States. President Ramaphosa still believes that Donald Trump's new reciprocal import tariffs can be reviewed. Some market analysts say Trump is playing politics, and South Africa should continue with negotiations.
