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FW de Klerk Foundation urges government to empower citizens in National Dialogue.
The FW de Klerk Foundation has reiterated its call for the government to give South Africans an opportunity to elect their own representatives to drive the National Dialogue.
Legacy foundations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, have withdrawn from the Preparatory Task Team, arguing that what was meant to be a citizen-led initiative has shifted towards government control.
The First National Convention taking place on Friday marks the beginning of South Africa’s National Dialogue.
The Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation, Christo van der Rheede, says the process towards the Friday gathering has been flawed.
Christo van der Rheede outlines the development of the National Dialogue over the past year, the fundamental principles that were identified, as well as the envisioned way forward, after the National Convention, in a recent article: pic.twitter.com/shmnJygC5k
— FW de Klerk Foundation (@fwdeklerkfdn) August 10, 2025
Rheede elaborates, “The money that was supposed to be made available should have been used for a comprehensive communication strategy to inform people what the national dialogue seeks to achieve and also to give communities the opportunity to come together to elect representatives at the National Convention.
“Because the dilemma that you have is that now you have a few organizations that will pitch up at the National Convention. The big question is who are they? Who are they representing? Are they necessarily legitimate in the eyes of the communities?”
[ON AIR] The National Convention, a precursor to South Africa’s proposed National Dialogue, is proceeding despite the high-profile withdrawal of five major foundations, including the FW de Klerk Foundation and the @TMFoundation_. Christo van der Rheede: Executive Director… pic.twitter.com/H8XpVEwVei
— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) August 12, 2025
Related Video | Christo van der Rheede representing the FW de Klerk Foundation
