Legacy Foundations Quit South Africa’s National Dialogue Task Team

South Africa’s plan to convene a National Dialogue—an initiative billed as a forum for nationwide reflection on the country’s political and social trajectory—has suffered a setback after a number of prominent legacy foundations withdrew from the event’s Preparatory Task Team. The organisations said the process had drifted from its original, citizen-driven intent and now risks becoming a hurried, government-controlled exercise. Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, one of the public champions of the dialogue, appealed to South Africans to continue supporting the initiative despite the walk-out. Speaking at a briefing on Friday, Makgoba said the forum remains vital for ‘healing and renewal’ and urged the departing groups to reconsider their stance. Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni told broadcasters that the resignations underscore concerns about transparency and inclusivity in the planning phase. He warned that, without broad civil-society backing, the dialogue could lose legitimacy ahead of its expected launch later this year.