ActionSA withdraws from National Dialogue Convention
The party’s parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said on Wednesday there were too many concerns from stakeholders that had not been addressed.
FILE: ActionSA's parliamentary caucus held a press briefing at Parliament in Cape Town on 3 April 2025 to discuss the next steps in the budget process. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/EWN
CAPE TOWN - ActionSA is the latest political party to withdraw from active participation in the National Dialogue.
The party’s parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said on Wednesday there were too many concerns from stakeholders that had not been addressed.
Instead, the party said it would send two of its parliamentarians to keep a watchful eye over the expenditure of public funds.
Following on from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA too is opting out of the two-day National Convention in Pretoria, which starts on Friday.
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Trollip said the party was sceptical that the dialogue won’t be another electioneering exercise rather than dealing with the real concerns and reforms needed to change the country.
Last week, several of the key foundations that were involved in the planning and organisation of the event also withdrew over budget and logistical disputes with the Presidency.
ActionSA said it did not agree that the precursor event to the National Dialogue should go ahead until Parliament had interrogated the budget.
Spokesperson Matthew George: "ActionSA will not participate in or lend legitimacy to a process under these circumstances. However, recognising that the dialogue will proceed regardless, we will not be absent from our duty to exercise oversight over a process funded by taxpayers."
The party said it would foot the bill for all the costs associated with its two representatives, MPs Kgosi Letlape and Lerato Ngobeni, attending the event in an oversight capacity.