CAPE TOWN - With just two days before the National Convention kicks off, questions remain over its purpose.
The event in itself has been dealt a blow following the withdrawal of seven legacy foundations, along with the Solidarity Movement, which labelled the event a “fruitless endeavour.”
Political economist Moeletsi Mbeki now says the latest developments prove that the National Convention is ANC-driven rather than an event of civil society.
“Only the president of the ANC and the president of the country want this to go ahead – notwithstanding that the people who have been working for the past year or two to make the National Dialogue happen, this being legacy foundations," he said.
Mbeki added that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s persistence for the event to happen despite the withdrawal of legacy foundations has stripped the event of its intended purpose.
He argues that the proceedings are all about 'procedures'.
"How do you get 1,000 people to come to Joburg to talk about procedures? It’s a waste of time and money," Mbeki says.
The National Convention starts this Friday.