Is the National Dialogue a distraction or democratic necessity?
National dialogues, commissions and lekgotlas have long dotted our democratic history – but do they ever deliver more than symbolism?
There's been a lot written about President Cyril Ramaphosa's upcoming National Dialogue. Some of it overwrought, some quite profound, but the biggest question has been why?
There is an argument that it's nothing more than a distraction. There's the typical row over who has been invited and who isn't.
There's also the historical context: we've had national lekgotlas before; Codesa, which helped us peacefully and properly extricate South Africa from centuries of colonialism and decades of apartheid.
There have been commissions: from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into human rights abuses during apartheid to the Zondo commission into state capture, not forgetting the Farlam commission into Marikana or the Moseneke commission into Life Esidimeni. All of these, it could be argued, were necessary to 'help shape the next chapter of our democracy'.
The problem is none of them have met with much approval after their conclusion, despite the cost and effort.
Politician Vladimir Lenin famously said religion was the opiate of the masses, distracting them from their suffering.
We don't know what he thought of sport, but modern sport has replaced the circus – the gladiator version not Boswell and Wilkie – as a distraction.
ALSO READ: Is the national dialogue a futile exercise?
Successive Roman emperors would host 'games' featuring lions and Christians, slaves and professional gladiators, beating the hell out of the other in an orgy of gore and mass hysteria to take the audience's minds off what was happening outside the stadium.
Sport does that here, whether it's Temba Bavuma's men becoming the best Test cricket team in the world or the Springboks, who open their international season in Cape Town this Saturday.
Everyone gets in on it, from retailers selling affordable and knockoff fan gear, to the fans themselves parsing the team announcements in the next couple of days to see if Rassie Erasmus has got it right against the Barbarians (literally).
It's the best distraction there is, culminating on Saturday evening and then it starts all over again the next week.
There are some marvellous South Africans named as National Dialogue ambassadors; from Robbie Brozin to Manne Dipico, Imtiaz Sooliman, Nomboniso Gasa, Sibusiso Vilane and, of course, captain Siya Kolisi, but can the nine-month talk shop do anything that elections can't?
If Ramaphosa really wanted answers, he could just schedule those and get a road map fairly quickly on the next chapter of our democracy.
But is that what he actually wants?
NOW READ: Clarity sought on alleged R700m cost of National Dialogue
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The Citizen
35 minutes ago
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Business Leadership CEO expresses worry about recent GNU tensions
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'Yet here we are: with visa backlogs cleared, private partnerships finally emerging at Transnet and government departments contracting with world-class IT suppliers to advance digitisation. 'The relationship between business and government under the GNU has been unlike anything we experienced in recent memory. Through Business for South Africa, we moved beyond the familiar dance of complaints and promises to genuine collaboration. Quarterly meetings with the president produced tangible outcomes, not just photo opportunities.' ALSO READ: Leaving GNU would cause 'coalition of chaos', says Steenhuisen as DA escalates pressure Substantial wins of the GNU Mavuso points out that the wins have been substantial. The department of home affairs eliminated the crippling visa backlog that cost us countless tourists and skilled workers. Processing times that once stretched for months now take weeks. 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ALSO READ: DA vows to stay in GNU to 'fight corruption', threatens motion against Ramaphosa Broader economic picture much more troubling She points out that the broader economic picture is much more troubling. 'Earlier this year, confidence was building. You could feel it in boardrooms and investment committee meetings. Then the global trade environment shifted dramatically. 'The looming expiration of the current 10% tariff arrangement on 9 July could see South African exports to the US facing 30% tariffs, fundamentally altering trade flows and forcing rapid strategic adjustments. 'Business and government have been working overtime to navigate these international headwinds, engaging directly with American counterparts as rules change seemingly overnight. But we require a stable coalition that can help us deliver even more.' Mavuso says this brings us to the GNU's Achilles heel: political uncertainty. 'The coalition partners did not establish robust protocols for managing their inevitable disagreements without threatening the entire arrangement.' However, she points out that the business-government partnership remains energised and focused on accelerating reforms. 'Operation Vulindlela's second phase, including an ambitious programme to improve local government performance, launches with our full support. 'The challenges at municipal level are enormous, but business stands ready to contribute expertise and facilitate private investment in critical infrastructure. The economic partnership we built proves that collaboration works, but it requires a government confident enough in its own longevity to make bold decisions.' ALSO READ: SA's economic growth outlook growing increasingly dim She says the next twelve months will determine whether this government becomes a footnote in political history or the foundation for South Africa's economic recovery. 'Our economic trajectory is our most urgent priority. We must lift growth to the 3%-plus level that we aspired to at the beginning of the year, and political stability is a necessary ingredient. 'But then we have to knuckle down and change how this economy works, from the network industries to skills development. Organised business is committed to help make bold decisions and implement the changes needed. I hope we continue to be able to partner with a government with similar energy and focus.'
IOL News
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Malema calls for DA to leave the GNU, paving the way for EFF's entry
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But the reality is that they are now part of a coalition government and should be pulling in the same direction.' He said the DA often second-guesses and 'checkmates' the ANC, creating confusion about its intentions within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Mngomezulu said two main reasons are preventing the DA from leaving the coalition - is the receipt of ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, and its desire to prevent the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from joining the GNU. His remarks come amid heightened tensions following Ramaphosa's dismissal of Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Whitfield, a senior DA member, over an unauthorised international trip. The blue party responded by withdrawing from the National Dialogue process, which is a key platform for inter-party consultation. But, the party has not ruled out tabling a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa. Speaking over the weekend at the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula rubbished DA's threats. 'The DA can pack their things and leave, but on their way out, they will meet others coming in,' Mbalula said. 'Even if the DA walks away, the GNU will not collapse. Other parties are already knocking at the door to join. The GNU is powerful - it finishes you without you realising.' Mbalula warned that any attempt to propose a motion of no confidence would result in the DA's expulsion from the GNU. He confirmed that the ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) would meet Monday afternoon to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, Mngomezulu said if the DA were to proceed with the motion, it would likely find support from smaller parties, including the MK Party, the EFF, and the African Transformation Movement (ATM). 'Even if ActionSA, which also has an identity crisis, were to vote against it, the rest could constitute the two-thirds majority needed, which would mean the end of Ramaphosa,' he said. 'But I don't think it will come to that, because the ANC and DA do discuss issues behind closed doors.' He called on the ANC to address the DA's repeated challenges to its policies, including the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, the Land Expropriation Bill, and its stances on foreign policy. 'They must also discuss the DA's threats to oppose all budget speeches by ministers they disagree with, and the possibility of invoking Section 89 of the Constitution,' Mngomezulu said. 'They must assess what the DA's exit would mean in terms of parliamentary numbers. That is critical.' 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Mashego said negotiating with the EFF and MK would be difficult, especially because it would require agreement on who would become president if Ramaphosa were removed. 'There is no scenario whereby the MK Party or EFF are going to allow the DA to appoint a president,' he said. 'If the DA also agrees with MK to appoint an MK president, there is no way an MK president will have the DA in Cabinet.' Mashego expressed that the motion is unlikely to happen. 'They might talk about it as a bargaining tool, but they're not going to do it,' he said. 'The recent DA stance is for optics. No South African is looking forward to the national dialogue, so withdrawing from it doesn't change anything.'
