National convention organisers say event will still be led by citizens
The convention, where the agenda for the National Dialogue will be set, will begin on Friday and end on Saturday.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the Eminent Persons Group over the upcoming National Dialogue at the Union Buildings. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The organisers of the upcoming national convention said this weekend’s event would still be led by citizens, even though only invited delegates will be attending.
The convention, where the agenda for the National Dialogue will be set, will begin on Friday and end on Saturday.
This is despite legacy foundations boycotting this weekend’s event, flagging the rush to host it so soon.
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One thousand delegates will be brought into the University of South Africa (UNISA) main campus this weekend for the event.
The legacy foundations that have pulled out from this weekend’s national convention had raised concerns that the rush to host the event this week would compromise the nature of the event being citizen-led.
This weekend, only 1,000 representatives from different sectors of society will gather at UNISA’s ZK Matthews Hall in Pretoria.
But the convention’s organisers insist this event will still be citizen-led.
"Faith-based, women, youth, people who work with children, political parties, organs of state like Chapter 9 institutions, Parliament," said spokesperson Zwo Nevutalu.
Nevhutalu said R8 million has been budgeted for this weekend’s event to cover travelling, hotel, and catering costs for the delegates.