Maimane urges all to join National Dialogue despite differences


Build One South Africa leader, Dr. Mmusi Maimane, has called on every South African, despite their differences, to participate in the National Dialogue.

Maimane also urged the foundations, who had withdrawn from the process, to reconsider their stance and participate in the dialogue for the sake of the country.

Briefing the media in Rosebank, Johannesburg, the BOSA leader says this process will forge a new consensus on what the future South Africa should look like, post 30 years of democracy.

He also revealed that, in response to the letter he wrote to the finance ministry, Minister Enoch Godongwana said the National Dialogue would cost R485 million. 

“Our nation is on trial when we think about the National Dialogue. That’s why it’s important as I am appealing again to all the foundations, that whilst they might have challenges with the processes they must come back,” says Maimane in plea to those who have backtracked on their support for the National Dialogue.

He says 31 years into democracy, a reflection on the country’s path to prosperity has never been needed more than now.  

“31 years into our democracy, it becomes important to South Africa to be able to forge a new consensus about what its own future looks like.  The question on the table always is who is on trial. Others have arrived at the national dialogue and said that the government is on trial and yes, the government has demonstrated massive government failures, not only on the economy, safety of citizens and many others, but at the same time as all of that, I do think the moral fabric of our society is also on trial because it cannot be that the fault of accountability eventually resides itself at the hands of government when morally, so you parent murdering their own children,” Build One South Africa leader, Dr. Mmusi Maimane. 

WATCH: BOSA media briefing on developments in the GNU

The price tag of the national dialogue has generated keen interest.

According to Maimane, the country will cough up close to a half billion rand. He quoted the figure from his communication with the finance minister.

“Coming out of the contingency reserve fund, South Africa will spend an estimated R485 million to be spend on the national dialogue,” he says.

The party also seized the moment to give an opinion on the state of the Government of National Unity. It’s been just over a year since the GNU was formed, and throughout it’s been unstable. This comes against the backdrop of the announcement that the GNU will be reset and expanded by allowing more political parties to join.   

“I want to be categorical that we have not engaged the African National Congress in this regard, I want to make this particular point that at the invitation of that particular engagement, we are not people who simply say we go along, for getting along’ sake. South Africa is in crisis. So, I am not going to be invited in a fight between the ANC and the DA,” he adds. 

He concluded by making it clear that BOSA would not be part of a GNU with parties he described as racist and divisive.