President Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Convention scheduled to start on the 15th of August will go ahead, with or without the participation of the national legacy foundations.
He was responding to questions on the public notice of withdrawal from the process, of entities like the Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko, Chief Albert Luthuli and FW De Klerk Foundations.
They cited the erosion of citizen leadership, a rushed timeline and a lack of financial and operational infrastructure, as reasons for not attending. The President was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of an extension of Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant, in Vereeniging.
Against the backdrop of towering filtration tanks and the steady hum of advanced purification machinery, President Cyril Ramaphosa today officially launched the new System 5A Water Purification Plant at Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Station in Vereeniging, Gauteng.… pic.twitter.com/4GWvkeZ7P0
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) August 8, 2025
The President said the first meeting of the Convention would not deal with substantive issues but rather map out the process and choose a steering committee.
The National Convention scheduled for next week, will take place as planned. This is according to Ramaphosa.
He noted the concerns raised by some national legacy foundations.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa says there is nothing political or untoward about the decision by several foundations to withdraw from the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team. pic.twitter.com/SBA28aruMk
— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 8, 2025
The President says come next Friday, nothing will stand in the way of the planning process for the National Dialogue and argued that such initiatives often encountered hiccups and that the focus must remain on the outcomes of the National Dialogue.
Ramaphosa also said he would give the opening address on the first day of the convention.
The President also touched on his telephone conversation with his counterpart in the United States, after the 30 % tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration came into effect.
He said discussions with the U.S on the tariff issue are ongoing.
“We have to reach a deal one way or the other. So we are proceeding with those discussions,” says Ramaphosa.
He says he also interacted with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the peace process and efforts to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Meanwhile, the President applauded the progress made at the launch of the Station 5A Water Purification Plant, at Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Plant, in Vereeniging.
VIDEO | President Ramaphosa launches the Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Water Purification Works plant
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