Latest news with #NationalDialogues
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Government to utilise own facilities for National Dialogue to cut costs
JOHANNESBURG - In an effort to bring down the cost of the National Dialogue, government said it will be using its own facilities to host the events. The National Dialogues will be spread out over nine months, with organisers criss-crossing the country, engaging South Africans. The entire process was initially estimated to cost more than R700 million, leading to critics calling it an expensive talkshop. READ: Ramaphosa emphasises National Dialogue as a platform for tough questions Speaking at the National Dialogue Convention in Pretoria on Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he could not allow for the event to cost this much. 'The Unisa VC, said to cut off all those costs, said we will give you this beautiful venue for free, and now we got it for free, and that's exactly what we will seek to do. We will be going around the country, we will desist from hiring expensive halls and hotels and so on, we will want to hold the various dialogues in schools, churches but not in beer halls. We will hold them under the tree and all that because the people of SA do not want us to be spending too much money on the conversations we are going to have.'
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
UNISA hopes National Dialogue Convention will nurture SA's young democracy
JOHANNESBURG - The University of South Africa (UNISA) says it hopes the convention to the National Dialogue will nurture the country's young democracy. UNISA is hosting the two-day convention at its main campus in Pretoria. The two-day convention aims to finalise the modalities and finer details of the National Dialogues, which are set to take place across the country over the next few months. ALSO READ: • Presidency: Ramaphosa, Mbeki's relationship remains 'cordial' despite National Dialogue differences • CHARLES MATSEKE | National Dialogue risks failing before it begins • ActionSA withdraws from National Dialogue Convention • After withdrawing from National Dialogue, FF Plus leader Mulder suggests parallel event without ANC • Steenhuisen: Withdrawal of legacy foundations from National Dialogue proves DA assertion initiative poorly planned Over 100 representatives from civil organisations, NPOs and other sectoral groups have made their way to the UNISA main campus in Pretoria. The convention to the National Dialogue represents the first step of government's attempt to rebuild the social compact it has with the people. UNISA spokesperson, Boitumelo Senokoane, said the university was happy to provide a venue for these important talks. "UNISA is more than only teaching and learning or research. We have got a responsibility amongst the many to activate a dialogue within communities but even beyond that to ensure democracy is nurtured within our society." Senokoane said the university could not comment on the decision of its chancellor and former state president, Thabo Mbeki, to boycott the event.
