BOSA's Maimane urges legacy foundations that withdrew from National Dialogue's organising team to return

JOHANNESBURG - Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has called on the legacy foundations that withdrew from the National Dialogue organising team to return.

The dialogue has faced setbacks after groups like the Thabo Mbeki and Steve Biko foundations withdrew.

The organisations cited insufficient budget and limited preparation time as reasons for their withdrawal ahead of last week’s first National Convention.

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BOSA held a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, addressing issues surrounding the dialogue.

Since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the formation of the National Dialogue, several political parties have declined to take part in the initiative.

The withdrawal of legacy foundations, which have long been advocating for such a dialogue, came as an even greater shock.

Maimane said that the process had clearly been politicised, which risked undermining its purpose.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. If we mess this National Dialogue up, be assured that we will not be able to hold another one. We had to do everything to make sure that the process is not politicised and corrupted."

Maimane urged the legacy foundations to return to the National Dialogue’s preparatory task team.

He said that broad participation from all sectors of society was essential.