Lack of funding for national dialogue a worrying message

Citizens feel they can only get attention by venting their anger on the streets

- NKOSIKHULULE NYEMBEZI

CRITICS of President Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment to the long-overdue national dialogue are enjoying another "told you so" moment following no mention and no funding of this item in Minister Enoch Godongwana's third tabling of the national budget last Wednesday.

It was never realistic, they say, to formulate an inclusive national dialogue plan to chart a way forward for the country with virtually no resource allocation from the government and no leeway to accommodate for unforeseen events militating against the political and socioeconomic stability of this government of national unity and the nation.

In an antithesis remark that poured water on a carefully crafted speech, Godongwana said, "Despite the additional allocations we have made here, there are other long-standing spending pressures that persist but cannot be funded within the current envelope," and "this is the nature of policy trade-offs: prioritising what we can do now and what we must postpone and spend on later when our revenue allows." His unfunded items included "the National Social Dialogue."

Not allocating resources for the national dialogue is asking for trouble. It is clear, there are just too many events ahead of the 2026 local government elections and the demarcation of municipal boundaries process under way that could be put on a list of "known unknowns" for a president and finance minister to almost wilfully wish away their potential impact on the economy, investor confidence, and the public finances.