COSATU backs national convention despite tensions
The foundations had asked for a postponement of Thursday's convention to allow additional preparation time, but the president rejected their proposal.
JOHANNESBURG - Trade union federation Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has expressed satisfaction that the national convention will proceed as scheduled, despite tensions within the National Dialogue's organising team.
Last week, legacy foundations, including the Thabo Mbeki and Steve Biko foundations, withdrew from the initiative, citing several concerns.
The foundations had asked for a postponement of Thursday's convention to allow additional preparation time, but the president rejected their proposal.
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks said delaying the event over a handful of concerns would only result in unnecessary setbacks.
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"Whilst the federation appreciates legitimate concerns outlined by the Legacy Foundations and other organisations, these can and must be addressed and the Dialogue proceed as intended. If we wait for all issues, be it logistics, organisational or philosophical, to be resolved, we may find that time will simply run out."
While limited funding was one of the reasons the foundations withdrew, Parks has urged the organising team to keep the dialogue's costs under control.
"Whilst the Presidency is correct to push forward with the convening of the launch of the National Dialogue, it will do well to hear the skepticism of many, including workers, who correctly ask what will the Dialogue achieve and how will we ensure that it does not follow the same route of similar reviews and discussions previously held, including former President Kgalema Mothlanthe’s High Level Panel Review that concluded in 2019 and was left to gather dust in Parliament."