ANC’s Ntuli, Ntshavheni take swipes at DA for boycotting National Dialogue

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC)’s chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni have both taken swipes at the Democratic Alliance (DA) for boycotting the National Dialogue during debate on the budget vote of the Presidency.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday sought to address the National Dialogue impasse with the DA upfront, saying it won’t be a talk-shop and is being designed to hear the voices of society, so their needs can be properly addressed.

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Mdumiseni was the first to criticise the DA’s announcement in June that it would not participate in the National Dialogue because of the cost involved and because the president was not acting fairly in his disciplinary action against members of the executive.

Ntuli also said Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was wrong to say the dialogue would be useless and a waste of money.

“It is my considered view that nobody must be allowed to stop the direction of the National Dialogue, and the country must be afforded an opportunity, from all sectors of society, to find solutions to the problems that continue to confront us.”

Outlining how the dialogue will work, Ntshavheni also took a potshot at the DA, saying there had been an overwhelming response from civil society.

“When you don’t want to participate, you’ll remain there alone. South Africans are eager to participate.”

With the first leg of the dialogue set to start in August, Ntshavheni said it would not be a once-off event and that the dialogue will continue in various forms and platforms for at least a year.

On Wednesday night, the Presidency announced Professor Tinyiko Maluleke and Roelf Meyer as the co-chairpersons of the eminent persons group responsible for guiding the dialogue.