National Dialogue is a waste of money; we know the issues – Project Youth SA
The National Dialogue, which kicked off on Friday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, is costing long-suffering taxpayers R700 million.
President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting on the National Dialogue at the Union Buiildings on 11 July 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi / Eyewitness News
CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford speaks with Dimakatso Manthosi of Project Youth SA.
Listen below:
The National Dialogue is supposed to be an opportunity for South Africans to have a say on how they feel about the country and what they want to see moving forward.
However, it costs R700 million, and there are questions about whether this money is being spent on what the country needs.
Manthosi says this national dialogue seems completely unnecessary, especially a little more than one year after a national election.
He says the major challenges in South Africa have been laid bare, and numerous recommendations have been made.
Despite this, he says nothing is being done to fix many of these problems.
RELATED: Is the 'National Dialogue' the answer to South Africa's problems?
“Why do we need an expensive process to re-diagnose issues that have already been diagnosed?”
- Dimakatso Manthosi, Strategic Advisor - Project Youth SA
“This is a wasteful spend. This activity is not progressing in any manner.”
- Dimakatso Manthosi, Strategic Advisor - Project Youth SA
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