Mashaba labels estimated R700 million National Dialogue wasteful exercise
The exorbitant figure to execute the initiative was announced earlier this month by the committee appointed to lead the engagements.
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba during a door-to-door campaign in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Monday, 23 June 2025. Picture: @Action4SA/X.
JOHANNESBURG - The estimated R700 million price tag for the upcoming National Dialogue has been labelled a wasteful exercise by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba.
The exorbitant figure to execute the initiative was announced earlier this month by the committee appointed to lead the engagements.
The dialogue will unfold through a series of nationwide public engagements.
READ: Preparatory committee estimates National Dialogue will cost State over R700 million
Speaking during his election campaign in Alexandra on Monday, Mashaba said spending a hefty fee to discuss issues already known is a cause for concern.
The ActionSA leader spent the day going door-to-door in Alexandra, speaking to residents about their daily struggles.
Many quickly pointed out issues, including potholes, unemployment, and poverty, as major concerns.
Mashaba said the problems have been known for years, and he questioned the logic behind spending R700 million on a National Dialogue to discuss them.
"It's really so sad when I hear our president announcing to spend R700 million to hold talk about talks when roads are in shambles. Do you need a National Dialogue to know that the roads are in a bad state?"
Mashaba said he has no confidence that the National Dialogue will make a difference to society.