Convention before the much-anticipated, controversial National Dialogue gets salty
While the convention was to draw up a roadmap of the dialogues that will take place over the next few months, some of the attendees used the event to air their frustrations about government failures.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the Eminent Persons Group over the upcoming National Dialogue at the Union Buildings. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
PRETORIA - Tempers flared among some delegates attending the first day of the convention that is expected to lead to the National Dialogue.
The convention kicked off on Friday at the University of South Africa (UNISA)’s main campus in Pretoria.
While the convention was to draw up a roadmap of the dialogues that will take place over the next few months, some of the attendees used the event to air their frustrations about government failures.
In what could be a glimpse of what’s to come in the National Dialogue, the convention descended into chaos on Friday.
During a public interaction process, the founder of the Kwanele Foundation – Sihle Sibisi – was left frustrated when organisers asked her to cut short her rant on illegal immigration in the country.
“If you say it’s a national dialogue for us, you can’t shut us down. It’s sad that you’re here because the 2026 elections are coming and you're trying to buy our silence.”
Other delegates also expressed anger at not being given a platform to air their grievances.
“This is a dialogue, spend more time listening to us than telling us what to do. Stop talking down on us.”
“The government has not kept its commitment; they are liars; they want you to go out so that we cannot address you on the crimes of the government.”
Saturday is the second and last day of the convention.