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All systems go for National Convention as Mashatile urged to re-engage foundations

The National Dialogue Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Thursday expressed appreciation for the cost-saving efforts made to host the first National Convention that precedes, on Friday and Saturday, the National Dialogue.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile this week convened the National Dialogue's IMC for a report on the state of readiness ahead of the Convention.

Mashatile chairs the IMC, which comprises government departments and coordinates government's contribution towards the National Convention and the National Dialogue.

The IMC said it noted the decision by some foundations to pull out of the preparations and had requested that Mashatile engage these foundations for an inclusive dialogue.

The National Convention kicks off at the ZK Matthews Hall, at Unisa, in Pretoria, and marks the beginning of the National Dialogue process, which will roll out over the next few months across the country in the form of public dialogues in different communities and sectors.

Several withdrawals were announced before the start of the Convention.

ActionSA cited "serious and unresolved" questions, particularly around the budget of the National Dialogue. While the party said it would withdraw from the process, it would send an observation committee to monitor proceedings.

So far, seven legacy foundations have withdrawn from the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team, calling for a postponement of the National Dialogue to allow for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity, citing violations of the Dialogue's core principles.

On Tuesday, the Solidarity Movement and its affiliates also announced their withdrawal, attributing the decision to its belief that the National Dialogue had been "hijacked" by the African National Congress.

BUDGET

The IMC assured Mashatile that all budgetary processes regarding the National Convention comply with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), noting that the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) and the Presidency are funding the Convention's costs from existing budgets for secretariat support, communications and logistics.

The committee assured that all procurement and management of public funds would adhere to the PFMA and applicable Treasury Regulations.

"All funds will be accounted for through the normal public finance mechanisms," it said.

The IMC further applauded the stakeholders who were providing in-kind support and expressed appreciation to the University of South Africa (Unisa) for offering to host the Convention, as well as provide associated goods and services, free of charge.

Unisa is providing the venues for the plenary, overflow venues with livestream services, 10 breakaway venues, dining area and work areas.

Unisa is also providing facilities for an operations centre, which has been running over the past week with catering, ushers, audio-visual services, printing of discussion documents, signage, conference bags, notepads, pens and WiFi.

The IMC emphasised the importance of the Convention and the National Dialogue being citizen-led and fully inclusive, urging communities to raise issues so that they could be addressed and attended to.

'Water must be financed, tracked, championed' - Ramaphosa launches Water Investments Council

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his keynote address at the Africa Water Investment Summit, launched the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, in Cape Town on Wednesday, and welcomed collaboration with co-chairs of the Council.

The Council, is a G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative that aims to connect Africa with international investors.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates will collaborate with the South African G20 Presidency as co-chairs in the Council on Water Investments.

Ramaphosa said water investments should feature heavily in climate and finance discussions, and must be financed, tracked and championed.

He explained that the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments will see the Africa Water Investment Programme scaled up into a Global Water Investment Platform.

"It will track progress, unlock finance, report annually and align efforts across the G20, UN, multilateral development banks and the private sector. It will mobilise the leadership, capital and innovation required to transform water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector," he explained.

Alternate co-chairs will also serve as facilitators on the Council and include former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete; United Nations Deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Angolan President and African Union Chair João Lourenço; Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

He hopes to see the Council guide the transition from fragmented water investments to a coherent, coordinated and capitalised global effort through the Global Water Investment Platform.

Last week, Ramaphosa launched the second phase of the Zuikerbosch Water Purification Plant in Gauteng, which he said demonstrated Africa's capacity and on mega project investments.

The plant is part of a development that will supply an extra 600-million ℓ of water a day to address the growing water demand across four South African provinces.

"Let us build a world where every drop counts and every community thrives. Let us build a world where water is recognised as a human right and not weaponised against women, children and communities. It is my honour and pleasure to officially open the Africa Water Investment Summit and launch the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments," he said.

ActionSA pulls out of National Convention, will instead observe proceedings

Owing to "serious and unresolved" questions, particularly around the budget of the National Dialogue, ActionSA has decided it will not send a formal delegation to precursor gathering the National Convention on Friday.

Instead, the party's Dr Kgosi Letlape and Lerato Ngobeni will attend as an observation committee.

The National Convention kicks off on August 15 and 16 at the ZK Matthews Hall, at Unisa, in Pretoria, and marks the beginning of the National Dialogue process, which will roll out over the next few months across the country in the form of public dialogues in different communities and sectors.

ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip announced on Wednesday that the party was unconvinced that any of the concerns raised by key stakeholders, organisers and the broader public had been addressed.

Last week, seven legacy foundations withdrew from the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team, calling for a postponement of the National Dialogue to allow for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity, citing violations of the Dialogue's core principles.

On Tuesday, the Solidarity Movement and its affiliates also announced their withdrawal, attributing the decision to its belief that the National Dialogue had been "hijacked" by the African National Congress.

Trollip noted an insistence on continuing with the undertaking despite serious, unresolved questions, specifically on the budget appropriation, which he said no parliamentary committee had been briefed on.

On Monday, National Convention organising committee chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake led a media briefing to present a public update on the Convention and Dialogue, following the controversy around the legacy foundations' withdrawals last week.

He acknowledged the withdrawals but asserted that the process needed to swiftly continue.

Trollip said Letlape and Ngobeni's observations would culminate in an assessment of whether the process served as a meaningful platform for reform.

"…or, as the situation suggests, is merely an electioneering exercise that misappropriates public funds under the guise of public participation while sidestepping the real concerns and reforms needed to change South Africa," he said.

ActionSA's representatives will travel, be accommodated and catered for at their own personal cost, he assured.

Dirco slams 'inaccurate, deeply flawed' US human rights report

The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation expressed disappointment with what it said was an "inaccurate and deeply flawed" account of human rights practices in a recent report on human rights in South Africa published by the US State Department.

In its yearly human rights report, the US State Department accused South Africa of a significantly worsened human rights situation. The report also included US President Donald Trump's critiques of the country's Land Expropriation Act, raised concerns about alleged extrajudicial killings and alleged repression of racial minorities.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said the report's reliance on a-contextual information and discredited accounts was highly concerning, as it failed to accurately reflect the reality of the country's constitutional democracy.

"It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it as an extrajudicial killing," said Lamola.

He highlighted that this was not only premature but a fundamental distortion of the facts, as the individuals were formally arraigned before a court of law.

"…similarly, incidents of police using force are mentioned without acknowledging the robust processes in place, where institutions designed to protect our democracy are actively investigating whether due process was followed and if such force was warranted," he said.

Lamola said South Africa remained open to addressing these "distortions" through the diplomatic channels, and said his department was compiling a set of documents "to provide a complete and accurate picture", and which would be released for public perusal during the course of the week.

He said information was freely available from South Africa's law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, which were constitutionally mandated to protect and advance human rights.

He said it was ironic that the US produced a human rights report when it had exited the United Nation Human Rights Council.

"This is particularly striking given the significant and documented concerns about human rights within the United States, including the treatment of refugees and breaches in due process by its own agencies, such as ICE," Lamola hit back.

He pointed to reports from the South African Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Council, as well as articles from reputable news agencies that corrected distortions and showed South Africa's commitment to human rights.

He pointed out that in stark contrast to the US report, South Africa noted the recent assessment from the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva, where the UN described South Africa's Land Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a "critical step in addressing the country's racially imbalanced land ownership".

"…this recognition from the UN's primary human rights body underscores the integrity of our legislative processes aimed at rectifying historical injustices in a constitutional and human-rights-based manner," he stated.

Media reports of arrest warrant for Police Commissioner unfounded - NPA

The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) on Tuesday refuted media reports that warrants of arrests have been issued for National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, calling it "unfounded".

According to the reports, Masemola and four crime intelligence officers have allegedly been accused of buying five properties, worth over R120-million, irregularly, through the South African Police Service's Crime Intelligence Unit and without following official channels for the purchase through the Department of Public Works.

The reports claim that arrest warrants for the five accused were secured but needed sign off from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The NPA's IDAC said on Tuesday that it had noted the "numerous false articles" reporting on the allegations and that it had received media queries on the matter.

"IDAC maintains what it has repeatedly confirmed to the media: These are untrue allegations; no such warrants have been issued," it said.

'ANC has hijacked National Dialogue' - Solidarity Movement and its institutions pull out of convention

Following the withdrawal of seven legacy foundations from the upcoming National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team, the Solidarity Movement and its institutions, AfriForum and Solidarity, have announced their withdrawal from the precursor National Convention, starting on Friday.

The Movement attributed the decision to its belief that the National Dialogue has been "hijacked" by the African National Congress (ANC).

Last week, 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 said the Dialogue had become compromised.

The foundations called for a postponement of the National Dialogue to allow for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity, citing violations of the dialogue's core principles.

The National Convention kicks off on August 15 and 16 at the ZK Matthews Hall, at Unisa, in Pretoria, and marks the beginning of the National Dialogue process, which will roll out over the next few months across the country in the form of public dialogues in different communities and sectors.

On Monday, the National Convention organising committee chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake led a media briefing to present a public update on the Convention and Dialogue, following the controversy around the legacy foundations' withdrawals last week.

He acknowledged the withdrawals but asserted that the process needed to swiftly continue.

The Solidarity Movement said while it agreed with the need for engagement and dialogue to address South Africa's challenges, it believed the planned Dialogue would be fruitless.

"The reason is that it appears that the ANC wants to hijack the intended National Dialogue to try to win back lost support, rather than to find answers to the crises. That is why the Solidarity Movement supports the various foundations that have decided not to attend the dialogue on Friday, and we will also not be there.

"There is no sense in placing the party responsible for the country's decline in charge of a National Dialogue," said Solidarity Movement chairperson Flip Buys.

He said his organisation would adopt a "wait and see" approach on the process.

Meanwhile, the Movement accused the ANC of double standards for calling for a dialogue when it had allegedly previously failed to listen to stakeholders.

"The experience is that the ANC would rather conduct an ANC monologue than participate in national dialogues. The ANC has dominated all previous talks, using them merely as forums to try to sell its policies, rather than forums where they could listen to suggestions on how to adapt their unworkable policies," said Buys.

Further, he claimed that previous commitments made by the ANC had been unfulfilled, to the detriment of the country.

The Solidarity Movement is calling for community dialogues instead, which it believes are more effective.

Buys pointed to "failed ANC policies", and blamed the party for making South Africa a target in US President Donald Trump's tariff roll-out.

Relations between South Africa and Trump's administration came to a head earlier this year, after the signing of the Expropriation Act, tensions which many believe were exacerbated by the Solidarity Movement and its members, AfriForum and Solidarity, lobbying the US.

However, the Solidarity Movement and its organisations have instead blamed the South African government, and particularly the ANC, for alienating the US and straining tensions.

"The country needs new and fresh ideas because the old ANC ideas have failed, and it will be of no use to simply recycle them. Millions of people have suffered long enough under the ANC's leadership," he said.

Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann claimed that the State was hijacking spontaneous community dialogue, crediting legacy foundations for the idea of the National ...

Unemployment rate worsens to 33.2%

South Africa's unemployment rate worsened by 0.3 of a percentage point to 33.2% in the second quarter, compared with the unemployment rate of 32.9% reported for the first quarter of the year.

Statistics South Africa reports that there was an increase of 19 000 in the number of employed persons to 16.8-million, while there was an increase of 140 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8.4-million in the second quarter. This resulted in an increase of 159 000 in the labour force during the same period.

Discouraged work-seekers decreased by 28 000 and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement remained unchanged between the first quarter of 2025 and the second quarter. This led to a decrease of 28 000 in the number of the not economically active population to 16.6-million.

Meanwhile, the expanded unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point to 42.9% in the second quarter, compared with the 43.1% recorded in the first quarter.

The number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 34 000 in the second quarter, while informal sector employment decreased by 19 000.

The largest increases in employment were recorded in the trade (88 000), private households (28 000) and construction (20 000) industries, while the largest decreases in employment were recorded in community and social services (42 000), agriculture (24 000), finance (24 000), transport (15 000), utilities (6 000) and manufacturing (5 000).

National Dialogue a tribute to women pioneers of 1956 - Ramaphosa

Ahead of the controversial upcoming first National Convention as part of the National Dialogue process, President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the full participation of women from all sectors of society.

He wrote in his weekly letter to the nation, that with the first National Convention taking place during Women's Month, it would be a powerful tribute to the legacy of the pioneers of 1956.

"Recognising that the lives of women are bound up with the future of the nation, government is counting on women's groups and organisations to mobilise around the National Dialogue process," he said.

Ramaphosa wrote that given the history of women's struggles in the country, it was expected that they participate actively in the National Dialogue process.

On Friday, organisations from across South Africa will gather at the National Convention in Pretoria to kickstart the National Dialogue process.

Ramaphosa said government had committed to ensuring that women were equally represented across the process.

"Women make up more than half of our country's population. Women are affected by every political, social and economic issue in the country. Likewise, every crisis, whether it is unemployment, crime or climate change, affects women equally and, in some instances, more than men," he said.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that the challenges facing rural women and women in traditional communities differed from those of women in urban areas with access to education, resources and public services.

He stressed the Government of National Unity's commitment to ensuring that gender was mainstreamed in all government policy and that a "gendered lens" was consistently considered.

"No government decision should be made without due consideration of how it impacts women specifically," he added.

Last week, seven prominent legacy foundations withdrew from the structures of the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team and the related first National Convention, citing violations of the dialogue's core principles.

The legacy foundations proposed that the first National Convention should be postponed to allow for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity.

There have also been concerns around the funding for the event, with many parties warning of possible corruption and claiming that the dialogue is a vanity project for the African National Congress.

However, government is determined to push through with the event, noting on Sunday that funds are allocated from the existing budgets of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) and the Presidency for secretariat support, communications and logistics. The provisions in the Appropriation Act and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) will be used to reimburse the Department of Employment and Labour and Nedlac in the Adjustments Budget later this year.

"All procurement and management of public funds will adhere to the PFMA and applicable Treasury Regulations. All funds will be accounted for through the normal public finance mechanisms," the Presidency said.

Rejigged organising committee formed after withdrawal of legacy foundations from National Dialogue task team

Representatives from civil society, social partners, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the Presidency will now form part of an organising committee to run the upcoming National Convention, after seven legacy foundations withdraw from its preparatory task team on Friday.

The foundations called for a postponement of the National Dialogue to allow for adequate preparation, coherence and participatory integrity, citing violations of the dialogue's core principles.

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 noted the Dialogue had become compromised.

"The rushed timeline, constrained logistics, and limited interactive design mean that the proposed Convention no longer offers a meaningful platform for engagement," the foundations said in a joint statement on Friday.

The foundations warned that the Dialogue risked becoming symbolic rather than substantive.

The National Convention kicks off on August 15 and 16 at the ZK Matthews Hall, at Unisa, in Pretoria, and marks the beginning of the National Dialogue process, which will roll out over the next few months across the country in the form of public dialogues in communities and sectors.

The National Convention organising committee chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake led a media briefing on Monday to present a public update on the convention and dialogue, following the controversy last week.

He acknowledged the withdrawal of the foundations but asserted that the process needed to swiftly continue.

"The convention organising committee includes volunteers from around 20 civil society organisations. As the convention organising committee, our task is to ensure that the National Dialogue process is handed over to a broadly representative steering committee that will be established at the first National Convention. There is no need for unnecessary delays," Ditlhake said.

He added that the process needed to be handed over to civil society, citizens and citizen organisations and said no one group should control the venture, as had been the concern from many parts of society. He stressed that the National Dialogue was decentralised by design.

The cost of the National Convention had also been a point of contention since it was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June, when he said that there was broad agreement from government's engagements with various entities on the need to convene a National Dialogue, given the challenges facing the country.

Ditlhake assured that support and contributions from various stakeholders had helped to reduce the cost of the Convention, including from host Unisa, which he said had provided associated goods, facilities and services free of charge.

"The reduced costs associated with the hosting of the National Dialogue and the funding plan are done with the intention to reduce the burden on the national fiscus. The total budget for the National Dialogue will be developed as a structure . . . the community dialogues are finalised by the National Convention and will depend on in-kind contributions, donations and other sources that can be mobilised, and will be mobilised from various stakeholders across all sectors of our society," he said.

The Presidency clarified on Sunday that funds were allocated from the existing budgets of Nedlac and the Presidency for secretariat support, communications and logistics. The provisions in the Appropriation Act and the Public Finance Management Act would be used to reimburse the Department of Employment and Labour and Nedlac in the Adjustments Budget later this year.

Ditlhake assured that "appropriate steps" had been taken to contain the costs associated with the Dialogue and to use availa...

DA calls National Dialogue 'one-sided' as it prepares to table plan in Parliament to boost economy

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen on Monday stated that while the country "bleeds with a failing economy" and high unemployment rate, R700-million will be spent on the upcoming National Dialogue, which he sees as a "talk shop with no action, no reform, no plan, and by the looks of things, dwindling support with the announcement of further withdrawals from major foundations in South Africa."

In few days, the Government of National Unity (GNU) is expected to hold its first National Convention in Pretoria, in preparation of the National Dialogue.

Last week, seven legacy foundations announced their withdrawal from the structures of the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team and the related National Convention, citing violations of the dialogue's core principles.

The DA had also announced its withdrawal from the National Dialogue weeks back, after President Cyril Ramaphosa fired one of its Deputy Ministers from office.

Flanked by his DA Ministers at the party's headquarters in Bruma, in Gauteng, Steenhuisen described the National Dialogue as an illegitimate initiative, that he said lacked credibility.

"…even former President [Thabo] Mbeki has now come to the same conclusion as the DA," he said.

In July, in an open letter addressed to Steenhuisen, Mbeki accused the DA of undermining an inclusive, citizen-led initiative that intends to create a new national consensus.

He argued that the DA's continued participation in the GNU, while refusing to engage in the Dialogue that is meant to shape the country's political future, represented a contradictory and ill-considered stance.

The cost of the National Convention had also been a point of contention since it was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June, however, on Monday National Convention organising committee chairperson Boichoko Ditlhake, said that there were reduced costs associated with the hosting of the National Dialogue and the funding plan are done with the intention to reduce the burden on the national fiscus.

Steenhuisen said his party has not been invited to be involved in the organisational and conceptualisation of the dialogue, and that it was "one-sided" and was being driven by the African National Congress (ANC).

"We felt that it was being abused as a political process by the ANC, to try and reconnect with the voter base after the past elections," said Steenhuisen.

He said these concerns were confirmed in a letter Mbeki wrote to him, indicating that he had been in discussion with the ANC and the party's National Executive Committee around the formulation of the dialogue.

Steenhuisen said it is important that GNU partners "learn to dialogue", highlighting that a National Dialogue cannot take place when the 10 parties under the GNU are not able to have a conversation with each other on the way forward.

He said South Africans are tired of talk-shops and colloquium symposium, noting that the problem is the implementation of policies.

"…and here we are about to embark on another talk-shop that will never be implemented. We know what South Africa's problems are, we have a poor economic growth, crime and a situation of deepening equality that still exist," he said.

DA'S PLAN TO BOOST THE ECONOMY

Steenhuisen outlined a set of "non-negotiable" demands for reform that it says will kickstart the country's economy and set South Africa on a path to growth and jobs.

He told Polity that he was confident that the plan will shift sentiment, drive the economy forward, and ensure that South Africans have a "fighting chance" to grow businesses.

He explained that his party would target what it believes are three major roadblocks - Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), Employment Equity and the Expropriation Act.

The DA has been vocal about these policies, with the party calling for comprehensive red tape reduction and deregulation across the entirety of the So...