By Dylan Bettencourt
- The Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko and other legacy foundations say rushing the 15 August convention will turn it into a political show instead of real engagement.
- The groups say the absence of a proper budget and pressure for emergency spending could break financial laws and damage the dialogue’s credibility.
Seven of South Africa’s most respected legacy organisations have walked away from preparations for the National Dialogue, due to start on 15 August.
The Steve Biko Foundation, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the FW de Klerk Foundation, the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation and the Strategic Dialogue Group have all pulled out.
They accuse the government of hijacking what was meant to be a citizen-led process. The Thabo Mbeki Foundation, which played a major role in putting the idea on the national agenda, says the rush to hold the first convention next week has broken core principles.
The groups also complain of a lack of preparation time, poor logistics, and a design that limits public interaction. They say the event risks becoming “more performance than participation”.
Another concern is funding. There is still no confirmed budget, and the scramble for last-minute money has forced emergency procurement. They warn that this could break the Public Finance Management Act.
They also point to deep divisions in the preparatory team over governance, readiness, and the nature of the dialogue. They believe moving ahead now would damage the entire project.
The organisations want the convention postponed until after 15 October to allow for better planning and meaningful participation. They stress they are not quitting the dialogue itself, but only the current plans.
Their withdrawal comes a day after Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters there was “overwhelming interest” in the initiative, with more than 700 organisations registered to take part.
Pictured above: Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image source: File
