Latest news with #Nevhutalu
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
National Convention denies knowledge of challenges as National Dialogue draws fire over transparency
Thabo Makwakwa | Published 1 day ago The National Convention says it is unaware of concrete reasons behind a wave of withdrawals from the National Dialogue, even as several prominent foundations pulled out and major political parties condemned the process as impractical and wasteful. This follows several organisations withdrawing their participation due to concerns over transparency, funding, and the intentions, alleging that the government had hijacked the process. Several high-profile foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group, Spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu told IOL that thirty sectors were identified to constitute the first National Convention. 'Our organisers now face a challenge of battling with people who want to come in, but we don't have space anymore, so we are completely oversubscribed.' He rejected claims that the government was taking over the process, insisting the government's role had been to support rather than dominate the negotiations. 'The Legacy foundations raised none of the issues about the government taking over our process,' Nevhutalu said, noting that the Legacy Foundations were part of the preparatory framework that underpins the convention. He argued that the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) provided ongoing advice and that the Preparatory Task Team (PTT) had proposed ways to preserve the convention's quality while expanding citizen participation. Asked about the withdrawals, he said he was unaware of specific grievances beyond concerns raised about government influence. 'Those who pulled it out were the Democratic Alliance in reaction to the president's firing of one of the deputy ministers. And they started taking it out at the National Convention,' he said. Nevhutalu pointed to the EPG's role in ensuring compliance with laws and processes, and he insisted that the ongoing engagement window remained wide for those who chose to participate. 'There's a big window of opportunity for people to engage… the EPG will engage with those who have dissociated themselves from the National Dialogue, ' he said, urging non-participants to reconsider and join 'the dialogue for the nation.' The controversy comes as several high-profile foundations - including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group — have either expressed reservations or withdrawn entirely from the process. Critics argue that the dialogue risks legitimising a process that could be out of touch with ordinary South Africans. At the same time, the country grapples with a severe cost-of-living crisis, rising unemployment, and diminishing public services. Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other parties have publicly rejected the National Dialogue. They describe it as 'outrageous and wasteful,' citing an estimated spend of at least R700 million at a time of hardship for many citizens. Parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations is also under pressure, with Mmusi Maimane, the committee's chair, writing to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to clarify funding sources and governance for the National Dialogue. Asked about concerns raised by critics of the multi-party Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) following the mass walkout over questions of regional autonomy , political and cultural self-determination , and the constitution-making process. Nevhutalu said, 'Codesa legitimised this government, which the people elected, and the government has not implemented some recommendations'. He attributed this to leadership rather than the process itself, echoing a familiar line about how accountability ultimately rests with those who lead and implement. [email protected] IOL Politics
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
National Convention denies knowledge of challenges as National Dialogue draws fire over transparency
Concerns over National Dialogue grow as major foundations withdraw, National Convention denies knowledge of challenges. Image: GCIS The National Convention says it is unaware of concrete reasons behind a wave of withdrawals from the National Dialogue, even as several prominent foundations pulled out and major political parties condemned the process as impractical and wasteful. This follows several organisations withdrawing their participation due to concerns over transparency, funding, and the intentions, alleging that the government had hijacked the process. Several high-profile foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group, Spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu told IOL that thirty sectors were identified to constitute the first National Convention. 'Our organisers now face a challenge of battling with people who want to come in, but we don't have space anymore, so we are completely oversubscribed.' He rejected claims that the government was taking over the process, insisting the government's role had been to support rather than dominate the negotiations. 'The Legacy foundations raised none of the issues about the government taking over our process,' Nevhutalu said, noting that the Legacy Foundations were part of the preparatory framework that underpins the convention. He argued that the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) provided ongoing advice and that the Preparatory Task Team (PTT) had proposed ways to preserve the convention's quality while expanding citizen participation. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Asked about the withdrawals, he said he was unaware of specific grievances beyond concerns raised about government influence. 'Those who pulled it out were the Democratic Alliance in reaction to the president's firing of one of the deputy ministers. And they started taking it out at the National Convention,' he said. Nevhutalu pointed to the EPG's role in ensuring compliance with laws and processes, and he insisted that the ongoing engagement window remained wide for those who chose to participate. 'There's a big window of opportunity for people to engage… the EPG will engage with those who have dissociated themselves from the National Dialogue,' he said, urging non-participants to reconsider and join 'the dialogue for the nation.' The controversy comes as several high-profile foundations - including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group — have either expressed reservations or withdrawn entirely from the process. Critics argue that the dialogue risks legitimising a process that could be out of touch with ordinary South Africans. At the same time, the country grapples with a severe cost-of-living crisis, rising unemployment, and diminishing public services. Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other parties have publicly rejected the National Dialogue. They describe it as 'outrageous and wasteful,' citing an estimated spend of at least R700 million at a time of hardship for many citizens.
IOL News
12-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Community dialogues in every ward aim to reshape South Africa's future
The National Convention organising committee spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu says the R700m budget for the national dialogue is provisional, with most funds aimed at 13 600 community discussions on SA's future, funded by both government and donors. Image: Screengrab from video / SABC News Thousands of community dialogues across the country are expected to form part of the National Dialogue process, and 60% of the costs for the project will be funded by the government. This was said yesterday by National Convention organising committee spokesperson Reverend Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu, who clarified that the widely discussed R700 million budget for the national dialogue was not a government allocation but a draft figure prepared by the preparatory task team. The National Convention is scheduled to take place on August 15 and 16 in Pretoria. The clarification comes after the estimated R700 million price tag ignited a wave of criticism from trade unions, political parties, academics, and sectors of civil society, especially in a context of austerity measures, service delivery failures, and deepening inequality. Speaking at a media briefing at UNISA yesterday on the state of readiness to host the first convention, Nevhutalu said, 'You see, the budget that people were talking about, the R700m and so on, was a budget prepared by the preparatory task team. It's not a government budget.' He added that the conceptual funding framework envisages 60% of costs being covered by the government through the fiscus, while the remaining 40% would come from donors in cash and in kind. 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 ✕ Ad loading He noted that contributions would be sought from businesses, the private sector, and civil society, with organisations such as churches and municipalities providing infrastructure and venues. 'Civil society has already done a lot,' he said. Nevhutalu further stressed that the initiative is a 'people's project' and not solely a government undertaking. He said, therefore, that most of the proposed funding would go towards community dialogues, which are planned to take place in every ward across the country. 'It is expected that we're going to have three dialogues per ward for the duration. I think it comes to like 13,600 dialogues,' he said. These sessions will focus on grassroots discussions about the future vision of South Africa. He emphasised that the budget remains provisional, with Treasury still in discussions over the government's contribution. Entities will also be approached and mobilised by the steering committee and eminent persons groups to secure additional support, he said. 'This is a people's project. It's not something that is really a government project,' Nevhutalu said. National Convention organising committee chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake said that 775 individuals have been invited from over 30 sectors and more than 200 organisations. 'As of yesterday, 557 people from 28 sectors had confirmed attendance,' he said. The National Dialogue, however, has been rocked by the withdrawal of several prominent organisations, 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 issued on Friday, the group said the decision was made with 'deep regret' but was necessary to protect the process's credibility and integrity. They accused the organisers of shifting the initiative away from its citizen-led origins toward government control. 'What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately in practice shifted towards government control,' the statement read. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the upcoming National Dialogue must serve as a platform for 'women to raise their voices'. 'With the first National Convention taking place during Women's Month, I call on all sectors of society to come together to ensure the full participation of all women in the National Dialogue,' he said in his weekly newsletter yesterday. 'This would be the most fitting and powerful tribute to the legacy of the pioneers of 1956.'
IOL News
11-08-2025
- Business
- IOL News
National Convention spokesperson clarifies R700m budget as draft for people's dialogue
The National Convention spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu says the R700m budget for the national dialogue is provisional, with most funds aimed at 13,600 community discussions on South Africa's future, funded by both government and donors. Image: GCIS National Convention spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu has clarified that the widely discussed R700 million budget for the national dialogue was not a government allocation but a draft figure prepared by the preparatory task team. The National Dialogue is scheduled to take place on August 15 to 16, 2025, in Pretoria. Speaking at a media briefing at UNISA on Monday on the state of readiness to host the first Convention on National Dialogue, Nevhutalu stressed that the initiative is a 'people's project' and not solely a government undertaking. The clarification comes after the estimated R700 million price tag ignited a wave of criticism from trade unions, political parties, academics, and sectors of civil society, especially in a context of austerity measures, service delivery failures, and deepening inequality. 'You see, the budget that people were talking about, the R700 million and so on, it was a budget prepared by the preparatory task team. It's not a government budget,' Nevhutalu said. He explained that the conceptual funding framework envisages 60% of costs being covered by the government through the fiscus, while the remaining 40% would come from donors in cash and in kind. He noted that contributions would be sought from businesses, the private sector, and civil society, with organisations such as churches and municipalities providing infrastructure and venues. 'Civil society has already done a lot,' he said. Nevhutalu said most of the proposed funding would go towards community dialogues, which are planned to take place in every ward across the country. 'It is expected that we're going to have three dialogues per ward for the duration. I think it comes to like 13,600 dialogues,' he said. These sessions will focus on grassroots discussions about the future vision of South Africa. He emphasised that the budget remains provisional, with Treasury still in discussions over the government's contribution. Entities will also be approached and mobilised by the steering committee and eminent persons groups to secure additional support, he said. 'This is a people's project. It's not something that is really a government project,' Nevhutalu said. The National Dialogue, however has been rocked by the withdrawal of several prominent organisations, 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 issued on Friday, the group said the decision was made with 'deep regret,' but was necessary to protect the process's credibility and integrity. 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 ✕ Ad loading They accused the organisers of shifting the initiative away from its citizen-led origins toward government control. 'What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately in practice shifted towards government control,' the statement read. 'In pushing forward for a Convention on August 15, 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 group raised concerns about a rushed timeline, inadequate logistics, and a lack of meaningful engagement. They warned that the Convention, as currently planned, risked becoming more symbolic than substantive. 'The rushed timeline, constrained logistics, and limited interactive design mean that the proposed Convention no longer offers a meaningful platform for engagement,' they said. 'It risks becoming more performance than participation.' They also cited possible violations of the Public Finance Management Act due to 'emergency procurement' processes and unresolved disagreements within the Planning and Technical Task Team (PTT). While they have withdrawn from the August 15 event and related planning structures, the Foundations reaffirmed their commitment to the broader goals of the National Dialogue. They proposed that the Convention be rescheduled for December 15, 2025, allowing for better preparation and ensuring participatory integrity. 'We cannot pursue that goal by cutting corners, centralising power, or rushing the process,' they said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
The Star
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Unified approach wins plaudits at summit on technical and vocational education
The 8th Annual Technical Teachers Conference in Johannesburg marked a historic first, uniting South Africa's Departments of Basic Education and Higher Education & Training in a powerful show of alignment for technical and vocational education. Co-sponsored by Kagiso Trust and Sasol Foundation, the event celebrated 10 years of the Technical Schools of Excellence Network and 40 years of Kagiso Trust's transformative work. With innovative workshops, virtual reality learning, and a focus on modernizing TVET curricula, the conference set a bold vision for inclusive, industry-aligned education. The presence of both the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education & Training at this year's Annual Technical Educators Conference was 'symbolic and powerful', according to Dean Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu, a Trustee at co-sponsor Kagiso Trust. Nevhutalu told delegates at the conference in Johannesburg that the united front presented at the conference for the first time 'shows us that bridging the gap between educational levels is possible, necessary and urgent'. The conference included another first: the presence of lecturers from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and schools of skills, as well as the high school educators who have traditionally attended. Tshamani Mathebula, the head of the Sasol Foundation Trust, said the unified approach was a significant step forward. 'It strengthens the articulation between educational levels and underscores the importance of cohesive, responsive vocational pathways,' she said. Sizakele Mphatsoe, Kagiso Trust's head of education, said the conference came at a 'crucial moment' in the evolution of the TVET sector as the Department of Basic Education conducts a curriculum review and beds down the General Education and Training Certificate, introduced in 2023 as part of a three-stream model that provides different educational paths for learners based on their performance and career aspirations. 'The alignment of curricula with industry demands is urgent and essential,' she said. 'To truly empower the next generation, we must reconstruct our training models, embedding digital fluency and entrepreneurial thinking at every level of learning,' he said. Speaking at the conference's gala dinner at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Kagiso Trust chairperson Mankone Ntsaba said the event marked two milestones: 10 years of impact by the Technical Schools of Excellence Network, spearheaded by the Sasol Foundation; and 40 years of transformative work by Kagiso Trust. 'The Trust's 40-year legacy reflects our evolution from a donor-funded entity at inception to a self-sustainable organisation that partners across government, civil society and the private sector to enable inclusive, sustainable education,' she said. Ntsaba added that the partnerships behind the conference were 'an example of how our legacy is not a solo journey but a shared one. Together we have built a platform that empowers technical educators, the very backbone of our economic engine.' In its efforts to Ignite Human Capacity in schools, Ntsaba said Kagiso Trust was investing in modern technologies, supporting the professional development of educators and co-creating education models that respond to urgent development needs. 'Let us continue to engineer hope, craft opportunities, and shape a South Africa where education is not a privilege for the few but a right for all,' she said.
