3 days ago
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.
