The government is yet to ring-fence the funds required for the coming national dialogue, despite the Treasury having earlier identified the initiative as one of six emerging fiscal pressures for the current financial year.
The dialogue, an initiative by President Cyril Ramaphosa aimed at forging a new social compact, is expected to cost about R700m, according to the preparatory committee.
The task team, comprising more than 50 organisations representing foundations, nongovernmental organisations and community-based groups, is yet to present a budget proposal to the Treasury.
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, in tabling the 2025/26 national budget, included the dialogue as one of six unfunded spending priorities, alongside infrastructure projects in the budget facility for infrastructure (BFI) and the Prasa’s rolling stock fleet renewal programme, the US’s withdrawal of Pepfar funding, funding for the office of the chief justice and Stats SA and political party funding and infrastructure provision for royal houses.
The dialogue, expected to begin in August, is intended to address deepening political fragmentation. Its success hinges on the government’s ability to marshal the necessary financial resources, as well as its capacity to foster broad-based political consensus.
“As part of our planning, we are developing an action plan that will be subject to an independent, participatory, long-term monitoring and evaluation mechanism,” preparatory committee chair Nkosinathi Biko said.
Biko said at a media briefing on Friday the action plan would also enable transparency in the implementation of the 30-year national vision.
The national dialogue will bring together the government, business, labour and civil society, seeking to address mounting political and economic pressure and build consensus on a shared national vision.
Ramaphosa said a steering committee would be established, comprising individuals from various sectors, to co-ordinate the implementation of the national dialogue process.
The dialogue will be preceded by two national conventions, with the first one scheduled for August 15 and the second for early next year.
“The public dialogues, the true heart of the national dialogue process, are designed to be a representative, bottom-up process. This is an opportunity for South Africans to engage over six to nine months in national problem-solving conversations,” Biko said.
“The outcomes of the public dialogues will be drawn together into a final national convention where a draft national compact and a 30-year vision and plan for ‘the SA we want’ will be deliberated upon and approved. This will be the blueprint for SA going forward.”
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