Presidency denies R700m National Dialogue budget is final amid public backlash

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the R700 million figure for the National Dialogue is not official, emphasizing no government budget has been finalized and cost concerns are being heard.
The Presidency's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has dismissed concerns about a reported R700 million price tag for the upcoming National Dialogue process, calling current budget debates 'premature' and 'unfortunate.'
In an interview on The Morning Brief FM with Thulasizwe Simelane, Magwenya said the process should not be mistaken as a presidential project but rather a national undertaking aimed at redefining South Africa's future.
This comes after the estimated R700 million price tag ignited a firestorm of criticism from trade unions, political parties, academics, and sectors of civil society, especially in a context of austerity measures, service delivery failures, and deepening inequality.
'This is not President Ramaphosa's project. This is South Africa's undertaking to go back to the drawing board and engage and discuss what kind of country we would like to see over the next many years to come,' Magwenya said.
He highlighted that no official government budget has yet been set and that the R700 million figure circulating in public discourse is merely a proposal raised by external foundations involved in the planning phase.
'We don't have a budget at this point. Government is yet to formulate the budget that will then go through all the necessary and stipulated budgetary processes before we can come out to the public and say, here's what it's going to cost you,' Magwenya said.

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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Dialogue, or Deflection? Let us be honest. Much of the dialogue proposed today risks becoming elite-driven spectaclea performance of inclusivity without power-sharing. A repackaging of reconciliation in times of political turbulence. A soft cushion against the hard edges of growing public rage. 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