Foundations of SA statesmen withdraw from the National Dialogue convention, citing government control and rushed plans

Key topics:Foundations cite funding delays and rushed planning concernsCitizen-led initiative seen as increasingly government-drivenCall for October postponement to ensure participatory integritySign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Kerry Lanaghan.The legacy foundations of some of South Africa's most revered statesmen, including former presidents Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk, have pulled out of the upcoming National Dialogue convention, initially scheduled for 15 August. Citing financial constraints and concerns over growing government dominance, the foundations have called for the gathering to be postponed until after 15 October.The organisations representing the legacies of Steve Biko, Albert Luthuli, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu, and Mbeki and de Klerk announced the withdrawal on Friday. While reaffirming their support for the broader National Dialogue project, the foundations clarified that they could not endorse the current structure and timeline."The decision does not represent a withdrawal from the National Dialogue project itself,” the foundations stated. "We propose the convention be rescheduled to after 15 October, allowing for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity.”According to TimesLIVE, the decision followed a last-minute meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening, which failed to resolve the foundations' concerns. Chief among them was a perception that what began as a citizen-led initiative had shifted towards a state-controlled process."What began as a citizen-led initiative has unfortunately shifted towards government control," the statement read.The foundations criticised the event's rushed timeline, limited planning, and lack of interactive design, warning that it would not allow for "genuine dialogue." They added: "We cannot lend our names to a gathering that does not allow for meaningful engagement."Funding delays also contributed to the withdrawal. One insider told TimesLIVE that a delayed funds transfer had been raised directly with Ramaphosa. The government later sourced some financial support for accommodation and transport, but the foundations said this came too late to ensure proper planning."The continued absence of a confirmed, approved budget allocation and a last-minute commitment of initial funds has made sound preparation impossible," the statement said. "This raises real risks of a poorly organised and unaccountable process."They also warned that the urgency of proceeding with the convention had created "pressure to engage in emergency procurement, which may violate the Public Finance Management Act."Beyond logistical issues, the foundations cited "deep disagreements" within the preparatory task team over governance, readiness, and the very purpose of the dialogue. They argued that without a shared vision, proceeding would be destabilising.Calling for a truly inclusive process, the foundations proposed 13,664 community and sectoral engagements and 50,000 citizen-led dialogues."The national dialogue is a generational opportunity to reconnect the people of South Africa to each other and the democratic project," they said. “But we cannot pursue the goal by cutting corners, centralising power or rushing the process.”

Foundations of SA statesmen withdraw from the National Dialogue convention, citing government control and rushed plans

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