Motlanthe clarifies National Convention absence, says it's untrue his foundation withdrew from process
His foundation said it was never part of the preparatory team like the other legacy foundations who pulled out because of disagreements with the Presidency over process and budget.
UNISA hosted a two day-convention to the National Dialogue at its main campus in Pretoria. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Former President Kgalema Motlanthe has moved to clarify his absence at the National Convention last week, saying it was untrue that his foundation withdrew from the process.
His foundation said it was never part of the preparatory team like the other legacy foundations who pulled out because of disagreements with the Presidency over process and budget.
In a statement, Motlanthe said he was invited as a guest in his personal capacity, but already had prior commitments related to the work of his foundation.
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The Thabo Mbeki, FW de Klerk and Desmond and Leah Tutu foundations were among those that withdrew from the National Convention after clashing with NEDLAC over a date for the convention they believed was premature.
But Motlanthe said, unlike these legacy foundations, his was not involved in any preparatory work and therefore could not be viewed to have snubbed the first gathering in the dialogue process.
Motlanthe said that despite not being able to attend the two-day event, he sent organisers a letter of support.
"We remain committed to fostering spaces for inclusive dialogue, and to supporting every effort aimed at building a democratic, just and cohesive society," reads the statement.
Motlanthe said he hopes the National Dialogue was one of equals because each civil society organisation played its own role and they all hope to contribute to society in unique ways.
Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that a steering committee representative of civil society groups would be set up by the end of August to lead the rest of the dialogue process in conjunction with the eminent persons group he announced in July.