ANC takes a swipe at Thabo Mbeki

The African National Congress (ANC) has made a dig at former President Thabo Mbeki following his refusal to attend the R20 million National Convention from 15 to 16 August.

In a scathing letter, Mbeki’s foundation announced that it would boycott the first convention of the National Dialogue, calling the process rushed and claimed that it excluded citizen-led leadership.

It dismissed the University of South Africa (UNISA)’s main campus meeting as unrepresentative, misleadingly labelled a “National Convention,” and ethically questionable.

In response, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe said on the sidelines of the convention that Mbeki, a driving force behind the dialogue, needs to to face the reality that he was no longer in leadership.

“One of the things that are in important when you’re in leadership is to let go when there’s a new leader,” said Mantashe.

“If you don’t do that, there is always going to be confusion. The convention is not about us; it’s about South Africans talking to one another,” he added.

Committee Chair Boichoko Dithlake said the convention will host 1,000 delegates, with 755 invited so far from over 30 sectors and 200 organisations.

The remaining 245 spots will go to groups requesting participation.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the National Dialogue will begin with the 1st National Convention and end with a 2nd, culminating in a “Peoples Compact” of commitments from citizens, sectors, and institutions.

The dialogue will roll out in phases nationwide, addressing poverty, inequality, jobs, social cohesion, safety, governance, and land reform to form a shared National Compact.

The process has faced controversy over costs, initially pegged at R700 million but later reduced to R450 million, of which R270 million will come from taxpayers.

The 15–16 August convention alone will cost about R20 million.

The letter from the Thabo Mbeki Foundation can be found below: