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Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Presidency caught up in battle with civil society groups over direction & cost of National Dialogue
CAPE TOWN - With just days to go before the start of the National Dialogue, the Presidency is still caught up in a battle with civil society groups over the direction it will take and the costs involved. It said the total budget for the dialogue would be developed once the structure and form of the community dialogues were finalised by the convention. On Friday, the foundations of former presidents pulled out of the gathering, citing a lack of funding and insufficient time to prepare. But President Cyril Ramaphosa has dug in his heels, saying the first convention will go ahead as planned this coming Friday. ALSO READ: • Blame game erupts between govt, legacy foundations over National Dialogue • Postponing upcoming national convention wouldn't have been possible - Ramaphosa • National Dialogue organising team restructured after withdrawal of several foundations - Ramaphosa • ANC calls for urgent resolution to disputes surrounding the upcoming National Dialogue • National Dialogue: ActionSA rethinking participation after key foundations' withdrawal • SAns urged to be more active citizens & contribute towards rebuilding country Ever since the initial more than R700 million price tag was first attached to the event, it's sparked debate over whether the country could afford such an undertaking given constraints on the fiscus and the country's many urgent needs. While foundations that have withdrawn from the occasion have argued that more money is needed, the Presidency said on Sunday that the budget would depend on in-kind contributions, donations, and other resources that may be mobilised. On Friday, seven legacy foundations, including that of Thabo Mbeki, FW de Klerk, Steve Biko and Desmond and Leah Tutu, pulled out of the occasion over clashes with the Presidency. The University of South Africa will be providing free venues for the national convention, while there have also been donations for screens for public viewing and free transport. The Presidency said that money would come from the budgets of NEDLAC and itself to cover the rest of the costs associated with the first convention. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that public funds would be strictly monitored. "The reduced cost associated with the hosting of the National Dialogue and the funding plan are done with the intention of reducing the cost to the fiscus." Magwenya said that under the leadership of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, the inter-ministerial committee had been working to mobilise resources for the convention.
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Blame game erupts between govt, legacy foundations over National Dialogue
JOHANNESBURG - As a rift between President Cyril Ramaphosa and legacy foundations behind the National Dialogue festers, a blame game has ensued, with government insiders accusing the organisations linked to former leaders of suffering from a superiority complex. On Friday, six foundations announced their withdrawal from the preparatory task team and the first convention of the National Dialogue, which takes place next week. They raised the misalignment of the preparatory task team, a shift towards government control, the rushed timelines and a lack of financial and operational structure as some of their concerns. ALSO READ: • Postponing upcoming national convention wouldn't have been possible - Ramaphosa • National Dialogue organising team restructured after withdrawal of several foundations - Ramaphosa • ANC calls for urgent resolution to disputes surrounding the upcoming National Dialogue • National Dialogue: ActionSA rethinking participation after key foundations' withdrawal • SAns urged to be more active citizens & contribute towards rebuilding country Foundations, including those of Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, FW de Klerk, as well as the Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu, have been pushing for South Africans to engage on the state of the nation. At least two meetings during the week, deliberating over frustrations experienced by the legacy foundations have come to nil. Instead, with government and the foundations are now digging in their heels, accusing one another of undermining efforts to bring South Africans together. Some government insiders have told EWN that the foundations want control over state-sponsored events, accusing what they term private family organisations of trying to preserve the legacy of their custodians through the dialogue. But the foundations have equally raised concerns, citing a deliberate takeover by government and attempts to push aside those who birthed the idea. Some in the foundations are also worried about the watering down of the dialogue. The impasse is also being seen by some as a clash between President Ramaphosa and former President Thabo Mbeki. The Presidency's Vincent Magwenya refused to comment and participate in public spats.
Eyewitness News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa says DA showing 'hypocrisy' by pulling out of National Dialogue
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the Democratic Alliance (DA) was showing "hypocrisy" and what he called "poverty of good principles" by pulling out of the National Dialogue. Ramaphosa was speaking in Pretoria on Friday during a joint media briefing with his Austrian counterpart, Alexander van der Bellen. The DA recently announced it would be boycotting the upcoming National Dialogue in protest of Ramaphosa's decision to fire the party's Andrew Whitfield as a deputy minister and for not taking action against African National Congress (ANC) ministers embroiled in controversy. ALSO READ: • Mbeki says it's good Zille is displaying her arrogant, contemptuous view of SAns • Zille unfazed by suggestion DA ministers could face consequences for National Dialogue withdrawal • ANC believes DA's criminal complaint against Nkabane part of its grievance over Whitfield's axing • Withdrawal from National Dialogue likely to see Steenhuisen in hot water On a day of diplomacy and bilateralism, President Ramaphosa delivered a scathing 10-minute rebuke of the DA's decision to boycott the National Dialogue.
