News24 | National Convention snub by foundations, Mbeki seen as boycotting ‘people of SA’, not govt

Former president Thabo Mbeki

• Former president Thabo Mbeki and seven legacy foundations opted not to attend South Africa’s National Convention, citing dissatisfaction with organisers.
• Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya asserted this didn’t undermine the event’s credibility, emphasising its inclusivity with nearly 1 000 confirmed attendees.
• The convention aims to foster national dialogue, representing diverse South African communities, notwithstanding the notable absences.

The departure of seven legacy foundations and former president Thabo Mbeki from the National Convention has not undermined the legitimacy of this weekend’s gathering.

This was the sentiment from President Cyril Ramaphosa, through his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, in response to the latest confirmation that Mbeki had penned a letter confirming he would not attend the National Convention.

Magwenya, at a press briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, said those who were staying away from the gathering must not be mistaken to think they are boycotting Ramaphosa or the government, but they were boycotting the people of South Africa.

“With all due respect, these foundations do not represent the majority of South Africa. They were never set up to be constituency groups, as far as we understand them, unless that has changed,” Magwenya said.

He said the credibility of the dialogue, which has been called into question amid the mass exit by legacy foundations, is not a once-off exercise between Friday and Saturday.

“The credibility of the national dialogue is going to be the level of participation across communities and what’s going to come out of that process as outcomes. And that credibility cannot be determined by one person, neither can it be determined by seven organisations or foundations.

“South Africa is much bigger than any one individual or any other foundations.

“It would have been great to have the former president there, but if he’s not there, he’s not there,” Magwenya said.

He said the show would go on.

“And Africans will continue with the dialogue process and hopefully at some point, not only the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, but other foundations will find it among themselves to participate in the process and realise that there is no benefit out of boycotting the people of South Africa.

“They are not boycotting the president, they’re not boycotting government, they are boycotting the people of South Africa in their exercise through this national dialogue and this national dialogue does not belong to the president, nor does it belong to government.

“It belongs to all South Africans and therefore those who choose not to participate are not in any shape or form disadvantaging the president or government, for that matter,” Magwenya said.

The National Convention, being held at Unisa (Muckleneuk Campus), where Mbeki serves as chancellor, is viewed as a pivotal gathering to lay the foundation for the National Dialogue.

News24 reported on Thursday that Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, chairperson of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, had penned a letter and addressed it to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) executive director, Makhukhu Mampuru.

Fraser-Moleketi confirmed correspondence inviting Mbeki to attend the event before declining.

It is worth noting that the tone of the letter appeared to undermine the sitting, with her referring to the organisers as the “so-called National Dialogue team and the convention organising committee of the National Dialogue”.

Magwenya said close to 1 000 delegates had confirmed attendance and this means that the convention would be inclusive.

“The convention will be representative of all sectors of our society through the different formations and groups that have accepted invitations to attend, the organising team has taken a great deal of care to ensure that all sectors of our society will be represented tomorrow (Friday) at the national convention,” Magwenya said.