Rocky launch for talks meant to unite SA

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has come out swinging against critics and boycotters of South Africa’s first National Dialogue convention, insisting that true nation-building requires uncomfortable conversations - not political grandstanding - as civil society groups, opposition parties, and even former allies slammed the process as flawed, elitist, and rushed.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU, HOPE NTANZI and LOYISO SIDIMBA

He also moved quickly to dismiss concerns over the reported R740 million budget for the event, insisting the dialogue will be conducted at minimal cost using free community venues such as schools, churches, and halls. He stressed that expensive hotels and hired venues would be avoided, responding to public fears that taxpayers would be burdened with an excessive bill for what many critics have called a costly and politically motivated exercise.

Even before President Ramaphosa addressed the crowd at the University of South Africa's main campus in Pretoria yesterday, tensions flared openly among organisers and participants at the start of the National Dialogue’s first convention.

Organisers and members of the preparatory committee remonstrated on the main stage shortly after Unisa vice-chancellor Professor Puleng Lenk-aBula delivered her welcoming address.

Instead of Ramaphosa’s keynote speech, a panel discussion on challenges facing South Africans, such as joblessness and the importance of solid leadership, among others, was held. All the while civil society groups have expressed concerns that the National Dialogue process was flawed and overly ambitious. Then the president came out firing at the naysayers, saying they would be forced to join later.