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MPs Demand Answers on R270m National Dialogue Funding
A budget mystery that won’t go away
Confusion over who is footing the bill for South Africa’s National Dialogue has spilt into Parliament. Members of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Portfolio Committee pressed officials this week after reports surfaced that R270 million had been allocated to the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to bankroll the process.
Minister Maropene Ramokgopa and Acting Director-General Melancton Makobe flatly denied that their department is responsible for any such allocation. They told MPs that the National Dialogue is a presidential initiative, led by the deputy president through an inter-ministerial committee, with administrative support provided by Nedlac.
“Our role is not to fund the Dialogue but to monitor and evaluate outcomes in line with the National Development Plan beyond 2030,” Ramokgopa explained.
Mixed signals from the top
The committee’s frustration stems from conflicting public statements. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was quoted as saying R485 million had been set aside for the Dialogue, with R270 million apparently drawn from the DPME. Yet, before the committee, Makobe insisted, “As it currently stands, there is no budget in the department for the National Dialogue.”
That disconnect drew pointed remarks from MPs across party lines. DA MP Daren Bergman warned that Cabinet colleagues seemed not to be “talking to each other.” MK Party’s Mzwanele Manyi argued that the issue “made things interesting” and needed serious discussion with ministers. The IFP’s Zuzifa Buthelezi and ActionSA’s Athol Trollip both called for Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who oversees the Dialogue, to personally explain the funding arrangements.
ANC MP Meagan Chauke added that the committee could not proceed without “accurate facts and information.”
National Treasury in the spotlight
Committee Chairperson Teliswa Mgweba ruled that the National Treasury itself must appear before MPs to clear up the matter. She argued it was unacceptable to rely on media reports without the Treasury’s official word.
If clarity is not provided, she warned, the deputy president may be summoned directly, along with Nedlac, to account for the Dialogue’s cost. A joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Appropriations will also be convened to drill down into the actual budgetary allocations.
Why it matters
The National Dialogue was first announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address as a way to bring together political parties, civil society, and other role-players to chart a way forward for South Africa’s democracy. But questions about its funding are now overshadowing the initiative’s intent.
For many citizens watching this play out, the wrangling feeds into long-standing concerns about transparency in public spending. On social media, some South Africans have asked why hundreds of millions can be found for dialogue while service delivery struggles in many municipalities. Others argue that genuine national conversations are urgently needed, but only if the process is clearly costed and accountable.
The road ahead
Ramokgopa insisted that her department had never been told to redirect money to the Dialogue, emphasising that funds would flow from the Treasury through the Department of Employment and Labour before reaching Nedlac.
Until Treasury appears, however, the R270 million question remains unanswered. For Parliament, this is no longer just about line items in a budget; it is a test of credibility, accountability, and whether South Africa’s institutions can be trusted to speak with one voice.
Also read: Western Cape Sounds Alarm on Gang Violence: Why Policing Reform Can’t Wait
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Engineering News
