National Dialogue organisers say the show will go on despite withdrawal of key foundations

The convenors of the National Dialogue believe that the withdrawal of several foundations - including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation - will not discredit the purpose of the national dialogue. 

The committee added that the national convention is not about these foundations, but South African citizens. 

This was after the organisations, including the Steve Biko, Thabo Mbeki, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundations, last week withdrew from the dialogue event set to take place on Friday. 

The foundations released a joint statement stating that they will no longer be part of the National Dialogue preparatory team, citing concerns over the rushed timeline, inadequate preparation and shift towards government control as reasons for their withdrawal.

They also cited lack of confirmed financial resources for the plans and suggested that the event be rescheduled to after October 15 to allow for proper preparation. 

The withdrawal sparked concerns and questions about the credibility of the event, which is meant to address the challenges faced by South Africans.

 However, the committee’s chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake said the event will go ahead as planned, adding that the withdrawal would not cause a “slight impact’’.

Ditlhake was addressing the media at Unisa Campus in Pretoria on Monday.

 “We must move swiftly to hand over the process to civil society and citizens and citizen organisations that have an interest in solving the challenges our country is facing. We must not allow any grouping to control the process that should truly belong to citizens and society in general,” he said. 

Ditlhake said that a lot has been achieved in preparation for the event compared to the past few months, adding that the committee is confident that the process would be handed to the citizens. 

“We have said that this is not about perfection but having a basic framework which will be handed over to South Africans, and that will happen. 

"One of the critical issues we believe and pride ourselves as South Africans is the ability to ride on when we are confronted with difficulties,’’ said Ditlhake.

 He said: “The composite of the past few days leading up to the foundations (withdrawal) also raised a question that even in this historical moment of South Africans, something still needs to be reinforced in our ability to talk to each other and find solutions,” said Ditlhake, adding that there would be no impact following the withdrawal of the foundations. 

“There are organisations in society who came on board strongly and demonstrated that South Africans can rise if the need arises,” he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also insisted that the National Dialogue will proceed despite the divisions and withdrawals. 

In a statement issued on Saturday, Ramaphosa said that although challenges have been experienced, it was essential that the first National Convention proceed on August 15, adding that invitations have gone out to organisations across the country and delegates are preparing themselves to attend the convention.

Political analyst Kim Heller said the National Dialogue is yet another exercise in social distancing between the government and the people of South Africa. 

“Our democracy has been made miniature by these ivory tower hands-off government approach to its citizenry. The whole exercise is irrelevant and the first convention, with all its hiccups, will continue in its grandiose of extravagance and easy speech, while the cries of the ordinary people of South Africa remain unheard,’’ she said. 

Another political analyst, Ntsikelelo Breakfast, said the withdrawal of the foundations cast aspersions on the credibility of the dialogue, adding that the parties should have put the event on hold and explored other avenues of working together.

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.

He said that political parties were also invited and only of them rejected the invitation. 

The convention spokesperson Reverend Zwoitwaho Nevhatalu said while Unisa was the biggest donor, Kagiso Trust donated R2 million.

“We also know that NGO's have donated in kind, invested their time and resources and there will be other entities that support the future of this country and they will make [a] contribution to that,” he said.

The National Convention on Friday, will be expected to discuss the need for a national dialogue and outline key themes to discuss and set up a committee that will coordinate the discussions. 

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za