Steenhuisen: Withdrawal of legacy foundations from National Dialogue proves DA assertion initiative poorly planned
The DA is one of several organisations that have declined to participate in the National Dialogue, describing it as little more than an ANC talk shop.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said the withdrawal of legacy foundations from the National Dialogue proved its assertion that the initiative was poorly planned.
The DA is one of several organisations that have declined to participate in the National Dialogue, describing it as little more than an African National Congress (ANC) talk shop.
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Most recently, the Steve Biko and Thabo Mbeki foundations also pulled out of the dialogue’s organising committee, citing various concerns, including an insufficient budget.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Steenhuisen said President Cyril Ramaphosa should consider scrapping the dialogue altogether.
"Our citizens are sick to their back teeth with plans and talk shops that endlessly diagnosing the problems in South Africa and pushing us further into the quagmire of analysis paralysis."
He said the dialogue would merely reiterate what has already been publicly ventilated.
"We know what the problems are in South Africa. The problems are an economy that’s not growing, unemployment, inequality, and the problem is too much talk and not enough action."