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Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Echo chamber: National Convention is big on talk, but no action
Despite the withdrawal of some political parties and 'eminent persons' from the National Convention, a packed Unisa nevertheless allowed strong airing of the cacophony of legitimate grievances felt by the nation. Whether there will be anything done about them, or whether this was an expert exercise in placation, remains to be seen. Unisa's main campus, which overlooks Pretoria, shaped like an odd spaceship of education, was the setting for the two-day National Convention on 15 and 16 August. The university has probably not seen such a security presence in ages, with guards stationed every few metres, including around the large neon sign on the side of the 'University of the Hill' proclaiming 'National Dialogue 2025'. Despite all of the parties that pulled out of the event, attendance was strong, as the plethora of VIP vehicles and overrun parking showed. Unisa's ZK Matthews Great Hall was packed during the opening proceedings. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Not yet five minutes into the introductory speech by the programme director – as she uttered 'the daily rehearsal of democracy that once bound our communities together…' – proceedings were interrupted by the collapse of an attendee, who required medical intervention. 'Rehearsal is not repetition, it is preparation for transformation, and today, as part of that ongoing rehearsal…' she trailed off. Such a portent – if one believes in such – was reinforced during the delay as paramedics evacuated the medically distressed delegate. Many others broke into song: Alisoze Laphel'amandla ('we won't tire') Yet, one can't help but wonder when the daily rehearsal of democracy will end, and the final act – the real, the tangible – will land. Because, as Daily Maverick observed in many plenaries, people are in fact very, very tired. An experiment in consensus The National Convention, or National Dialogue (the official name is still under discussion) is described as an attempt to set citizen-led themes, structure and a path towards another such meeting in 2026. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Ostensibly a platform for the public to air their grievances, the run-up was marked by fits and starts, including the not unexpected pullout of the DA, which said there was 'no further point in wasting our breath in endless talk shops with the ANC'. Ironic, given that it is part of the Government of National Unity but also many foundations, such as the Thabo Mbeki and Desmond Tutu foundations, which jointly said that 'we cannot lend our names to a gathering that does not allow for genuine dialogue', citing the rushed timeline and logistics and limited interaction. Even more concerns were raised about cost transparency, with a widely cited estimate of R740-million for the dialogue debunked, while the actual cost to the cash-strapped fiscus remains unclear. While the Presidency said the spend will follow the Public Finance Management Act and Unisa will provide its facilities free of charge, there is no clarity on the price tag. What to expect when you're expecting President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived an hour late for the keynote address, which, depending on where you stand, might indicate strong commitment or apathy. Greeted by spirited song and cheering, Ramaphosa began his address by thanking all attendees before emphasising a broad church of involvement. 'This is not a partisan platform… here, no voice is too small, no perspective is too inconvenient to be heard… to chart a common path forward for our country,' the President said, citing the multitude of challenges the country faces – inequality and crime to South Africa's unstable geopolitical situation – as showing the need for such a dialogue. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'There is one thing that we have in common. We are South Africans' – but whether that 'common past and common destiny' will mean results remains uncertain. The lion(s) in the room The crux of the convention was a series of nine themed plenary sessions with titles that read like a litany of South Africa's challenges, including 'Crime and Corruption', 'Fixing the State and making the Constitution Work' and 'Poverty and Inequality'. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Daily Maverick attended all sessions, though none in full since they were all taking place at once. Each followed a similar format – chaired by a relevant person, policy experts providing analysis, with each attendee – from the public, civil society, the state and other bodies – given an opportunity to lend their voice to the room. The challenges raised wouldn't surprise any South African, from any background or demographic: the lack of jobs and economic growth, the very real fear for our lives due to rampant crime, and the challenges state institutions fear, and whether these can be turned around. What was somewhat striking, however, was one recurring theme across all plenaries: the failure of the state to deal with crime and corruption in our institutions. As one attendee from the 'Land, Spatial Equality and Environmental Justice' session succinctly put it, 'my dream is a peaceful, prosperous country, free of poverty, violence, crime… we are getting to a mafia state, it must be stopped.' While the National Dialogue emphasises citizen-led processes, the state seemed to miss a key point: South Africa is already largely citizen-led, with civil society repairing roads, agricultural collectives supporting each other, and community policing forums taking personal risks. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads These range from civil society organisations stepping in to repair infrastructure for roads, to agricultural collectives providing financial and advisory support to one another – or as one attendee, a woman activist working closely with community policing forums in the Western Cape, said, 'people in the community [are] having to put their lives on the line when there is no other solution and the police aren't doing anything'. The South African populace already bears the cost and responsibility of the state's failures – and having an opportunity to raise these concerns does not mean there will be any improvement. Indeed, the one key absence was clarity on next steps, beyond another dialogue next year. 'Trying to buy our silence' A few key incidents occurred where listening – or the illusion of listening – was frayed. In one, a male delegate erupted with anger after not being recognised to speak ahead of a young woman, and proceeded to level expletives and insults. There was more conflict when, before Ramaphosa's speech, an argument broke out between delegates on stage, resulting in security escorting attendees on stage. Most illustrative was when Sihle Sibisi, a civil society activist, stood and spoke with the frustration of a nation, listing what is on all of our minds: 'Before we talk, talk, talk… What are we saying about the elephant in the room.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Before listing the litany of challenges South Africa faces, he said: 'We are the ones on the ground… it's sad that you are here because 2026 elections are coming, so you are trying to buy our silence.' 'Thank you so much, let's give that lady a hand,' the chair responded placatingly. It turns out, listening, like democracy, is loud and up close and occasionally confrontational. What comes next On paper, the roadmap is straightforward: six to eight months of ward and sector dialogues, a steering committee to standardise processes and publish summaries, and a second convention in early 2026 to consolidate outcomes. The promise is that the venues will be modest – school halls, churches, community centres – and the process citizen- rather than podium-led. The measure will be in what is counted and made public, not what is proclaimed from the lectern. In the end, the university spaceship on the hill dimmed its neon sign, the songs faded and convoys of blue lights skulked back into Pretoria's night. What remains isn't the choreography of listening but the ledger of doing. South Africa has rehearsed its democratic voice hoarse; the chorus is tight, the crowd can harmonise on command, and the stage directions remain laminated. The question that remains is almost insulting in its simplicity: who is going to move a chair, fix the lights and open the doors to let in a better life for all. If this National Convention is to mean anything beyond its lanyards, the proof will be painfully prosaic – names and CVs for a genuinely independent steering committee; a public, line-by-line-item cost; lab summaries posted within a week; funded pilot projects with owners, start dates and money attached. Without results, this daily rehearsal of democracy remains just that – yet another dress run where we never get an opening night, with the patience of an anticipatory audience wearing thinner by the day. DM
Daily Maverick
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
‘Dialogue cannot be built on haste' — Key organisations withdraw from National Convention
Organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, cited a litany of concerns such as the rushed timeline, inadequate preparation, disagreements within the Preparatory Task Team and 'government control' as the reason for their withdrawal from the precursor to the National Dialogue. A week before the start of the National Convention, which is expected to set the agenda for the broader National Dialogue, key organisations behind the initiative have withdrawn, citing concerns over 'cutting corners', 'centralising power' and a rush to host the gathering on 15 August. 'It is with deep regret, but with unwavering conviction, that we have resolved to withdraw our participation from the structures of the Preparatory Task Team [PTT] and the First National Convention of the National Dialogue scheduled for 15 August 2025. 'This is 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. 'We do so not out of apathy or disengagement, but because we remain committed to the belief that all aspects of the National Dialogue must be credible, principled and anchored in public trust,' the non-profit groups said in a joint statement on Friday, 8 August. The organisations include the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, the FW de Klerk Foundation, the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation and the Strategic Dialogue Group. They said that prior to making their announcement, they had informed both President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Eminent Persons Group of their position. Statement From the Foundations on the National Dialogue 8 Aug 2025 by on Scribd The groups said their decision to withdraw from participating in the PTT, and the First National Convention on 15 August, does not represent a withdrawal from the National Dialogue process itself. 'We remain committed to the principles under which we have been working – to its vision and its urgent necessity,' they stated. Ramaphosa announced the first National Convention in early June this year. A National Dialogue PTT was set up and began mobilising civil society and establishing various working committees. A second National Convention is planned for 2026, which will consolidate the proposals from the various engagements into a national vision and implementation programme, Daily Maverick reported. The initiative – meant to tackle a wide range of South Africa's pressing issues including unemployment, poor governance and gender-based violence – was met with immediate opposition, owing largely to its R740-million price tag, a figure the Presidency disputed. In June, Government of National Unity (GNU) partner, the DA, announced it would not participate in the National Dialogue following the axeing of party member Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister of trade and industry. Last month, former president Thabo Mbeki – whose organisation was among those that have withdrawn – warned that the National Dialogue process risked being meaningless, without capable leadership. 'Sake of expediency' The organisations, in their statement, have proposed that the National Convention be rescheduled to after 15 October, to allow for 'adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity'. Daily Maverick understands that the feeling among those in the organisations involved in the process is that the 15 August gathering would not constitute a meaningful engagement because there has not been adequate preparation. According to a source who spoke to Daily Maverick about the background to the issue, the groups are concerned that this will be a 'performative gathering' because the Presidency is set on the 15 August date. The source said concerns over the lack of critical resourcing, operations and systems had been flagged with the Presidency in the weeks leading up to the National Convention. However, the pursuit of the 15 August date appeared to override these concerns. 'We can't have the convention in its current form go ahead in our names, but if things change, we would support the endeavour of the National Dialogue. But it must be meaningful, citizen-led and build a platform that is transformative for the country,' the source said. The groups, in their statement, cautioned that the National Dialogue 'cannot be built on haste'. 'Deadlines cannot override substance,' they said. This is 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. In their statement, the groups listed a series of reasons for their withdrawal from the PTT and the National Convention, including, what they called, the 'erosion of citizen leadership'. 'What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately in practice shifted towards government control. In pushing forward for a convention on 15 August 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 principles and important nature of being a citizen-led process are being sacrificed for the sake of expediency,' read the statement. They said that the 'rushed timeline, constrained logistics and limited interactive design' meant that the convention no longer offers a platform for meaningful engagement. 'The structure risks becoming symbolic rather than substantive – more performance than participation. We cannot lend our names to a gathering that does not allow for genuine dialogue. Furthermore, the National Convention was envisaged as a kick-off event for the real heart of the National Dialogue – community, sectoral and citizen-led engagement. As yet, there is no agreed plan for the roll-out of the real Dialogue, and as such the National Convention is premature,' they added. 'Strategic misalignment within the PTT' According to the groups, the 'continued absence of a confirmed, approved budget allocation and a last-minute commitment of initial funds' has made adequate preparation for the gathering impossible. 'This raises real risks of a poorly organised and unaccountable process. The push to proceed has created pressure to engage in emergency procurement, which may violate the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),' they said. They added that there were 'deep disagreements' within the PTT over the nature of the National Dialogue, readiness, governance and risks. 'Without shared clarity and alignment at the core of the process, moving ahead would be destabilising to the national effort. Unfortunately, this strategic misalignment revolves around the move away from a citizen-led National Dialogue to a government-led process,' the organisations said.
Daily Maverick
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
DA withdraws from National Dialogue, will vote against budgets of ‘corruption accused' ANC ministers
The DA will oppose the budget votes of 'corruption accused ANC ministers' – including Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. The DA is not leaving the Government of National Unity (GNU), but it will not participate in the looming National Dialogue, following the axing of its Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Andrew Whitfield. 'Frankly, the President cannot even dialogue meaningfully with his own coalition partners, so there is little point in pretending there is any substance to an ANC-run National Dialogue,' DA leader John Steenhuisen said at a press conference in Cape Town on Saturday, 28 June. 'Effective immediately, the DA will therefore have no further part in this process. 'We will also actively mobilise against it to stop this obscene waste of R740-million – starting with a call on civil society to join us in demanding that the National Dialogue not proceed until President [Cyril] Ramaphosa fires ANC corruption accused and other delinquents from the executive,' Steenhuisen continued. Earlier this month, Ramaphosa announced the appointment of 31 prominent South Africans to lead the National Dialogue expected to take place on 15 August this year. The initiative – meant to tackle a wide range of South Africa's pressing issues including unemployment, poor governance and gender-based violence – was met with immediate opposition owing largely to its R740-million price tag. Steenhuisen announced the decision of the DA's Federal Executive (FedEx) after Ramaphosa removed Whitfield from his position on Wednesday, 25 June, providing no reason for his dismissal. Whitfield's removal, it later emerged, was apparently due to an 'unauthorised' trip he took to the US for the DA in February this year. On Thursday, Steenhuisen gave the president an ' ultimatum ' to clean house of the ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption within 48 hours or face 'grave consequences'. He accused Ramaphosa of a 'flagrant double standard' and had specifically called on him to remove Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo from his Executive. The political developments surrounding South Africa's fragile coalition government, caused Ramaphosa to cancel his trip to Seville, Spain, on 30 June, to attend a conference on financing for development. He instead delegated International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola to attend. 'President Ramaphosa has delegated Minister Lamola as the Head of Delegation for the Summit following recent political developments that require close monitoring and management in the country,' his office said in a statement on Saturday. According to a Sunday Times report earlier on Saturday, the DA was said to be considering leaving the GNU. In response to questions from reporters on why the party has decided to remain in the coalition government, Steenhuisen said the DA did not believe that it was 'in the interest of South Africa for the current GNU to collapse'. He said that if the GNU were to break, it would cause 'significant economic damage' to the country. Steenhuisen said the country 'benefits' from having the DA in the GNU. 'A more impactful way would not have been to leave the Government of National Unity, because that would've opened South Africa up to the coalition of chaos and destruction, and would have led very clearly to more disastrous consequences for South Africa,' he said. Steenhuisen threw the ball back into Ramaphosa's court, saying it was up to the ANC whether they wanted to kick the DA out of the national coalition. 'The ball is in the President's court and the ANC's court – if they want to take a strong stance against us and want to stop us [from] standing against corruption, well, they must fire us from the Government of National Unity,' he said. DA to vote against budget votes In addition to mobilising against the National Dialogue, Steenhuisen said the DA would also be voting against the individual budget votes for Simelane and Nkabane's departments. ' A second, critically important step that the DA is taking, is to vote against upcoming departmental budget votes for the departments headed by Simelane, Nkabane, and other corruption accused ANC ministers. 'We will keep voting against those departmental votes until those ministers are removed. 'In this way, the DA will strike the appropriate balance by allowing the broader GNU budget process to proceed to ensure the stability of the country, while forcing the ANC to act against specific ministers. 'If the ANC wants our support for those departmental budgets, they must replace the incumbent ministers with alternatives that meet the very standard the President has set for himself through Whitfield's axing,' said Steenhuisen. He said that the ministers in those portfolios would need to source other ways of getting their budgets passed in Parliament. 'We won't be voting against the globular budget and, I think, that is a result of the fact that we want to ensure that delivery proceeds for the people of South Africa. But those individual budget votes where ministers are severely compromised and sitting at the top of those departments, will obviously have to find other ways to get those budgets passed,' he said. Steenhuisen added that the party's Federal Executive had also considered tabling a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa. However, he said the DA understood the concerns of many South Africans if Ramaphosa were removed as President. 'While the FedEx decided not to table a Motion of No Confidence at this stage, it is clear that the DA is in the process of losing confidence in his ability to act as a leader not of the ANC, but of the GNU of which we are the second-largest component,' said Steenhuisen. 'If the ANC fails to course-correct, the FedEx will seriously consider exercising our constitutional prerogative by tabling a motion of no confidence.' He mentioned, on several occasions, that the GNU Statement of Intent had been undermined by Ramaphosa and the ANC. 'I think the intent of the Statement of Intent is correct, but it would be great if that was being honored. It is being repeatedly violated. It says a lot about where we're at that a year later, we still have a conflict resolution mechanism; that the Clearing House in the GNU has no terms of reference,' he said. Steenhuisen said that Ramaphosa had not afforded him the opportunity to inform Whitfield himself about what was expected to happen before he received a letter from Ramaphosa alerting him of his removal. 'That is not respectful and that is not right,' he said, suggesting that certain clauses relating to consultation and consensus in the Statement of Intent were violated. 'The Statement of Intent needs to be respected in both letter and spirit,' he said. A replacement for Whitfield Steenhuisen did not provide any names for Whitfield's replacement, saying that the decision was with the party's FedEx. 'We will be submitting a replacement name, and that will obviously be a matter for our Federal Executive to take through the process. It is a DA position, and once again, the fact that we got six ministers and six deputy ministers, is also another example of how we put South Africa first. We, proportionately, are entitled to a lot more than that, and yet it is another matter we had to swallow at that particular time to make sure we got a GNU that worked,' he said. DM
