09/08/2025
Publication: CWAO
Author: Press Writer
The National Dialogue/Convention
The South African government, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and other Foundations, including the FW De Klerk Foundation, are convening a National Convention at Nasrec from 15 to 17 August as the first phase of the process of a National Dialogue.
They are intending to invite working class organizations and other organizations to participate in the National Dialogue process and National Convention. The organizers of the National Convention are claiming that the National Convention will be a true “Parliament of the People, controlled by the people”.
It is important therefore for working class organizations to develop their attitude towards the National Dialogue and National Convention. SAFTU has already decided to participate in the National Convention. In the meeting of the Campaign to Scrap the Labour Law Amendment Bills on the 8th July 2025, different views were articulated as to how to relate to the Dialogue/Convention. In the Campaign meeting, CWAO called for non-participation in these processes. In this discussion document we share our reasoning as to why we are calling for non-participation.
To develop an attitude and approach to the National Dialogue and Convention it is helpful to understand where the proposal comes from, the driving forces behind it and what it is trying to achieve.