The Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) is reportedly mulling over a return to the National Dialogue process, following an olive branch extended by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG). 

This comes after several legacy foundations, including the TMF, withdrew from the First National Convention due to concerns over preparation and process two weeks ago.

The foundation’s withdrawal raised questions about the legitimacy of the National Dialogue process.

Controversy surrounded the National Dialogue held at Unisa last Friday and Saturday, particularly concerning its alleged R700 million budget. This led to the refusal of several political parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, the EFF, and the DA, to participate.

On Wednesday, TMF spokesperson Bongani Kupe confirmed that all of the legacy foundations had received the letter and were considering it.

“We have always said that we are open to further discussions. In the letter that we wrote to the EPG, we mentioned that we just had a few concerns, including rushing the process,” Kupe said.

Other foundations refused to comment on the matter for now.

In a bid to restore trust, the EPG, a group of 32 independent volunteers appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to support and guide the National Dialogue, formally requested a meeting with the legacy foundations in a letter addressed to the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, FW de Klerk Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group.

The letter acknowledges the concerns raised by the foundations and expresses a desire to work together to ensure a successful and inclusive National Dialogue.

“We acknowledge the depth and seriousness of the concerns raised by the foundations,” it read.

These concerns included the preservation of citizen leadership, the need for a genuinely meaningful engagement platform, transparent financial and governance arrangements, and the importance of adequate preparation over rigid timelines. 

The EPG stressed that these were not “peripheral matters” but “central to the credibility and success of the National Dialogue”.

The Presidency, in statements early this month, had already recognised the historic role of these foundations in initiating and shaping the National Dialogue, noting their continued commitment to its vision and principles.

The EPG echoed this sentiment, stating that the process would benefit from their “leadership, commitment and knowledge”.

The EPG reaffirmed its commitment to a “radically inclusive, transparent, and accountable” National Dialogue and expressed a desire for the foundations’ continued engagement. 

A delegation from the EPG has proposed a meeting at the earliest convenience to reaffirm shared principles for the Dialogue, consider joint strategies to safeguard its citizen-led nature, identify practical avenues for re-engagement, and explore governance and operational mechanisms to build confidence and transparency.

The TMF’s Chairperson, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, reiterated on Monday that the foundation’s initial withdrawal was due to a perceived lack of preparation for the National Convention. 

She said the foundation believes that the precursor event needed a more solid basis for civil society interaction and engagement, with discussion documents drafted beforehand to provide a foundation for debate. 

Fraser-Moleketi also noted that 11 reports on various topics were still being prepared when the convention date was set by a group outside the preparatory task team.

“The amount of work you put into the process, the pre-dialogue, results in the quality of the outcome, and especially dealing with the complexities we currently confront in South Africa,” she stated.

Fraser-Moleketi further emphasised that their withdrawal from the convention did not signify a complete boycott of the Dialogue process. 

“It’s never too late. Being the progenitors, we had not withdrawn from the National Dialogue. What we withdrew from was the National Convention, which we said should be given a bit more time.”

Meanwhile, former president Kgalema Motlanthe has unequivocally refuted allegations that his foundation pulled out of the convention, labelling such reports as misleading and incorrect.

The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) clarified in a statement that it was not part of the preparatory committee for the convention.

This differs from the Thabo Mbeki, FW de Klerk, and Desmond and Leah Tutu foundations, which withdrew from the process due to disagreements with the Presidency over timelines and budgetary issues.

Motlanthe stated that he declined the invitation to the gathering due to prior long-standing commitments related to his foundation’s work.

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za

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