Thabo Mbeki explains why his foundation pulled out of the National Dialogue
Thabo Mbeki has explained why his foundation withdrew from the government-led National Dialogue aimed at addressing South Africa’s challenges.
Former president Thabo Mbeki revealed key reasons why his foundation withdrew from the National Dialogue, a government-led initiative to unite South Africans in tackling national challenges.
He cited uncertainty over the R700 million budget allocated for the dialogue as a main factor in their decision.
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation, along with the Steve Biko Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and the FW de Klerk Foundation, pulled out of the National Dialogue Convention scheduled to start on Friday, 15 August.
Their withdrawal raises questions about whether the organisers of the planned inclusive, citizen-driven dialogue are acting with integrity and are adequately prepared.
Concerns Over Funding and Planning in foundation Withdrawal
Mbeki accused the organisers of not being transparent about how they would use the funds.
“We feel the organisers were not entirely honest about where they will direct the funds.”
“They have violated the core principles meant to underpin the National Dialogue in their rush to host a gathering on August 15,” he said.
In a joint statement, the foundations criticized the rushed timeline, arguing that it reduced the convention to a symbolic milestone instead of a meaningful start to a national process.
They also pointed out the lack of an approved budget allocation, which they said hindered proper preparation.
Internal disagreements within the Preparatory Task Team over governance and the dialogue’s direction further complicated the situation.
Call to Delay and Other Tensions
To ensure that the process retains substance, the foundations have proposed rescheduling the convention to after 15 October 2025, allowing ample time for proper coordination and engagement.
“Deadlines cannot override substance,” they emphasised. “Dialogue cannot be built on haste.”
Despite the legacy foundations stepping back, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the first national convention will proceed as scheduled.