Legacy foundations pull out of National Dialogue amid funding uncertainty

Former President Thabo Mbeki has clarified the reasons for his foundation's withdrawal from the National Dialogue, a government initiative designed to unite South Africans in addressing the nation’s most pressing issues.

Mbeki stated that a key factor in the decision was the uncertainty regarding the R700 million allocated for the National Dialogue.

Mbeki's foundation, along with other prominent legacy foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and FW de Klerk Foundation, withdrew from the National Dialogue Convention scheduled to kick off on Friday.

The foundations cited concerns over the rushed timeline, inadequate preparation, and shift towards government control as reasons for their withdrawal.

"We feel the organisation of the matter was not entirely honest as to where the funds will be directed," Mbeki said. 

"This is due to our belief that core principles meant to underpin the whole National Dialogue have been violated in the rush to host a gathering on August 15."

The foundations also cited the absence of a confirmed, approved budget allocation and last-minute commitment of initial funds have made sound preparation impossible and deep disagreements exist within the Preparatory Task Team over the nature of the dialogue, readiness, governance, and risk.

The foundations have proposed rescheduling the convention to after October 15 to allow for adequate preparation, coherence, and participatory integrity.

The National Dialogue is an inclusive, citizen-driven process focused on developing a vision and plan for South Africa for the next 30 years.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) expressed strong disapproval regarding the proposed R700 million budget for the National Dialogue. 

“Like many other rational South Africans, Cosatu was astonished that such a figure could even be suggested. This arbitrary budget number should be considered a verbal slip and a reckless error, best forgotten."

Despite the withdrawal of the legacy foundations, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the first national convention will proceed as scheduled. 

The Presidency further distanced itself from the estimated R700 million price tag for the dialogue.

 “The Presidency wishes to confirm that all budgetary processes regarding the National Convention are consistent with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

“The Inter-Ministerial Committee, which is chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and comprises all relevant government departments to coordinate government’s contribution towards the National Dialogue, has been working to mobilise resources for the convention and manage costs,” the presidency said in a statement yesterday.

The statement added that the costs of the first convention were being funded from the existing budgets of NEDLAC and the Presidency for secretariat support, communications and logistics and that the provisions in the Appropriation Act and the PFMA will be used to reimburse the Department of Employment and Labour and NEDLAC in the Adjustments Budget later this year.

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