Deputy President Paul Mashatile has announced the date for the inaugural national dialogue, sparking criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA).
On Thursday, Mashatile chaired a session of the government of national unity (GNU) clearing house, a committee established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address policy disputes within the GNU, which consists of 10 political parties.
Key discussions during the meeting centered around the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act and coalition challenges at both provincial and local government levels.
Before the meeting, Mashatile confirmed the national dialogue would take place on December 16th.
Ramaphosa had earlier announced the dialogue as a platform to tackle critical challenges facing the nation following the formation of the GNU, with the aim of reaching consensus on building a better future for South Africa.
The dialogue will include representatives from all political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and faith-based communities, business, labor, and cultural groups, ensuring broad participation.
Ramaphosa, in his speech at Parliament on July 18, expressed that the dialogue would follow in the footsteps of pivotal moments in South African history, including the Congress of the People in 1955, the 1989 Conference for a Democratic Future, and the CODESA talks of the early 1990s.
The GNU, formed after the ANC garnered just over 40% of the vote in this year’s general elections, includes the DA, Patriotic Alliance (PA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD, Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Rise Mzansi, and Al Jama-ah.
However, tensions within the GNU have surfaced, particularly around the Bela Act and South Africa’s stance on Russia.
Recently, DA leader John Steenhuisen criticised Ramaphosa for describing Russia as a “valuable ally” during the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan.
Steenhuisen stated that the DA, as a significant partner in the GNU, disagreed with Ramaphosa’s remarks.
In response, the president’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Ramaphosa would not allow the DA to dictate his foreign policy decisions.
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