News

Seven Major Foundations Withdraw from 2025 National Dialogue

Published

3 weeks ago

August 8, 2025

Chiraag

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A week before the first National Dialogue Convention was set to begin, some of South Africa’s most respected foundations had decided they wouldn’t be part of it.

In a carefully worded joint statement released on Friday, seven prominent organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Steve Biko Foundation, and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, confirmed they have withdrawn from the August 15, 2025, National Dialogue.

Also withdrawing are the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, the WDB Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group. Collectively, these groups had been deeply involved in shaping the dialogue process over the past year.

Why the walkout?

Their reasoning is pointed but principled: they believe the process has lost the citizen-led values it started with.

What was once a grassroots initiative, they say, has shifted into something largely controlled by government officials, driven more by deadlines than dialogue.

“Deadlines cannot override substance. Dialogue cannot be locked in haste,” they said in the statement.

The groups say they are not disengaging from the broader vision. Rather, they are stepping back in order to protect the credibility, inclusiveness, and integrity of the platform itself.

Concerns raised by the foundations

The statement lists several issues with the planned Convention on August 15:

A rushed timeline
Logistical unpreparedness
No approved budget
Minimal space for public engagement
Disagreements within the Preparatory Task Team (PTT)

They warned that, as it stands, the event could become symbolic rather than substantive, more about optics than outcomes.

There is also concern that “emergency procurement” and last-minute decisions might violate the Public Finance Management Act, which governs how public funds are used.

What they propose instead

The foundations have not abandoned the National Dialogue idea. Instead, they are calling for the Convention to be rescheduled for 15 December 2025.

They believe this would allow enough time to:

Build broader participation
Ensure legal and financial accountability
Restore public trust in the process

“We cannot pursue that goal by cutting corners, centralising power, or rushing the process.”

A press briefing is expected soon, where the organisations will explain their decision further and outline alternative steps forward.

Public reaction: a split opinion

On social media, the reaction has been mixed. Some South Africans have applauded the move as a bold act of integrity, while others fear it may derail a rare opportunity for national unity.

Commentators also point to a larger tension: the trust gap between civil society and government, especially around public participation and transparency.

Whether the government adjusts its approach or pushes ahead without these groups remains to be seen.

What is clear is this: without these key foundations, the legitimacy of the August 15 event is now in serious question.