13 hours ago
Pressure mounts on organisers to make National Dialogue truly inclusive
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing delegates at the national convention, marking the opening of the National Dialogue. The constitution of the steering committee has been delayed by another two weeks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing delegates at the national convention, marking the opening of the National Dialogue. The constitution of the steering committee has been delayed by another two weeks.
What was anticipated to be a crucial platform for addressing urgent challenges facing South Africa has turned into a point of contention, igniting criticism towards the organisers from various sectors of society.
The opening of the National Dialogue, which was designed to foster discussions around the rampant rates of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and escalating crime, seems to have instead invited accusations of exclusivity and lack of transparency.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has released a statement affirming their support for a national dialogue, recognising it as crucial to tackling the country's dire challenges. However, the party cautions that the current process suffers from significant flaws in inclusivity, leading to a crisis of legitimacy.
'The legitimacy of the National Dialogue process lies in its inclusivity, ensuring it is genuinely a whole-of-society process,' said the SACP.
The party further emphasised that the dialogue should belong to the citizenry rather than government authorities, underscoring the importance of a diverse, representative discussion that is not overshadowed by bureaucratic interference.
The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) has also expressed unease over the organisers' insistence on proceeding with the dialogue amidst vocal public dissent and the withdrawal of certain founding members. FOSA argues that the initial planning phases were beset by a lack of transparency, questioning how state resources could be utilised without adequate accountability.
'We reiterate our position that the so-called National Dialogue will yield no positive outcomes,' the party lamented.
They further called for the immediate publication of all minutes from historic negotiation processes, including CODESA and the Sunset Clause. FOSA says the party advocates for a national referendum to ascertain whether the public desires this costly initiative to continue.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a prominent political party, have also voiced their disapproval. EFF leader Julius Malema stated bluntly, 'We do not support the national dialogue. Our people need services. They don't want the talks. They are tired of talking.'
Criticism mounts from various quarters, with calls for a more inclusive approach and doubts surrounding the effectiveness of continued discussions lacking public backing continues on different platforms.
Saturday Star
