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Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe said that an important aspect of leadership is knowing when to let go, especially when new leadership takes over.<\/p>\n
”One of the things that is important when you are in leadership is to let go when there is a new leader. If you don’t do that, there is always going to be confusion,” he said. <\/span><\/p>\n This follows former President Thabo Mbeki raising concerns and indicating his intention to boycott the national dialogue taking place from Friday, August 15 to 17 at UNISA in Pretoria.<\/p>\n Several legacy foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, WDB Foundation, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, and the Strategic Dialogue Group, withdrew from the dialogue last Friday over concerns regarding its implementation and rushed timelines.<\/span><\/p>\n Their withdrawal raised serious questions about the integrity and preparation involved in what is meant to be an inclusive and citizen-driven dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n Central to Mbeki’s decision was the uncertainty surrounding the R700 million budget allocated for the dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n “We feel the organisation of the matter was not entirely honest as to where the funds will be directed,” Mbeki said.<\/span><\/p>\n “This is due to our belief that core principles meant to underpin the whole National Dialogue have been violated in the rush to host a gathering on August 15.” <\/span><\/p>\n The foundations released a joint statement outlining several issues that contributed to their decision, including a rushed timeline that has turned the convention into a mere performative milestone rather than a meaningful launch of a comprehensive national process.<\/span><\/p>\n They expressed deep concern over the lack of a confirmed, approved budget allocation, which has hindered any sound preparation. Significant disagreements within the Preparatory Task Team further complicated the situation, particularly regarding governance and the overall direction of the dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n To ensure that the process retains substance, the foundations proposed rescheduling the convention to after October 15, 2025, allowing ample time for proper coordination and engagement. <\/span><\/p>\n “Deadlines cannot override substance,” they said. . “Dialogue cannot be built on haste.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking on the sidelines at Unisa, Mantashe stressed that the convention is not about individuals or political parties, but about South Africans engaging with one another.<\/p>\n \u201cThe convention is not about us. It\u2019s about South Africans talking to one another,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He acknowledged that South Africans may disagree on ideology and principles, but insisted that dialogue remains necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will disagree on ideology, disagree on principles, but we have a dialogue where South Africans, not parties to the GNU, must talk to one another,\u201d Mantashe said.<\/p>\n When asked whether the ANC would be presenting discussion papers during the dialogue, the minister said, \u201cWe are not presenting discussion papers today, but we will have discussion papers on a number of issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Adding context to the former president\u2019s absence, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri clarified the relationship between him and President Cyril Ramaphosa, dismissing rumors of tension.<\/p>\n She stated, \u201cI\u2019m not aware of any tensions between the two leaders. Certainly not. They meet occasionally, including most recently at the National Executive Committee meeting.<\/p>\n ”There is no rivalry between the two presidents, certainly not at a political level.\u201d<\/p>\n hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe said that an important aspect of leadership is knowing when to let go, especially when new leadership takes over. ”One of the things that is important when you are in leadership is to let go when there is a new leader. If you don’t do that, there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":250172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[19112,11533,7390,9783,4889],"class_list":["post-250171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-boycotts","tag-dialogue","tag-mantashe","tag-mbeki","tag-national"],"yoast_head":"\nGet your news on the go, click here to join the News WhatsApp channel.<\/strong><\/h2>\n