ANC rejects allegations by GNU partners that it hijacked the National Dialogue process

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) has rejected with contempt allegations by some of its Government of National Unity (GNU) partners that it has hijacked the National Dialogue process.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus are two parties in the GNU that have announced they won’t participate in the National Dialogue, calling the process an ANC political stunt.

That sentiment has also been shared by parties and other organisations outside the GNU, who are also boycotting the upcoming dialogues.

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Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the party remains an ordinary participant in the dialogue.

“It provides an inclusive platform to break structural bottlenecks that have hindered transformation and development. Attempts to mischaracterise the dialogue as an anc public relations exercise are rejected with the contempt it deserves.”