The National Convention says it is unaware of concrete reasons behind a wave of withdrawals from the National Dialogue, even as several prominent foundations pulled out and major political parties condemned the process as impractical and wasteful.

This follows several organisations withdrawing their participation due to concerns over transparency, funding, and the intentions, alleging that the government had hijacked the process.

Several high-profile foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group,

Spokesperson Rev Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu told IOL that thirty sectors were identified to constitute the first National Convention.

“Our organisers now face a challenge of battling with people who want to come in, but we don’t have space anymore, so we are completely oversubscribed.” 

He rejected claims that the government was taking over the process, insisting the government’s role had been to support rather than dominate the negotiations.

“The Legacy foundations raised none of the issues about the government taking over our process,” Nevhutalu said, noting that the Legacy Foundations were part of the preparatory framework that underpins the convention. 

He argued that the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) provided ongoing advice and that the Preparatory Task Team (PTT) had proposed ways to preserve the convention’s quality while expanding citizen participation.

Asked about the withdrawals, he said he was unaware of specific grievances beyond concerns raised about government influence. 

“Those who pulled it out were the Democratic Alliance in reaction to the president’s firing of one of the deputy ministers. And they started taking it out at the National Convention,” he said.

Nevhutalu pointed to the EPG’s role in ensuring compliance with laws and processes, and he insisted that the ongoing engagement window remained wide for those who chose to participate. 

“There’s a big window of opportunity for people to engage… the EPG will engage with those who have dissociated themselves from the National Dialogue,” he said, urging non-participants to reconsider and join “the dialogue for the nation.”

The controversy comes as several high-profile foundations –  including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group — have either expressed reservations or withdrawn entirely from the process. 

Critics argue that the dialogue risks legitimising a process that could be out of touch with ordinary South Africans. At the same time, the country grapples with a severe cost-of-living crisis, rising unemployment, and diminishing public services.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other parties have publicly rejected the National Dialogue. 

They describe it as “outrageous and wasteful,” citing an estimated spend of at least R700 million at a time of hardship for many citizens. 

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations is also under pressure, with Mmusi Maimane, the committee’s chair, writing to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to clarify funding sources and governance for the National Dialogue.

Asked about concerns raised by critics of the multi-party Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) following the mass walkout over questions of regional autonomy, political and cultural self-determination, and the constitution-making process.

Nevhutalu said, “Codesa legitimised this government, which the people elected, and the government has not implemented some recommendations”. 

He attributed this to leadership rather than the process itself, echoing a familiar line about how accountability ultimately rests with those who lead and implement.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

IOL Politics

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