The National Dialogue in South Africa is scheduled to proceed this weekend despite the withdrawal of several legacy foundations from its Preparatory Task Team. These foundations have expressed concerns that the process has deviated from being citizen-driven and risks becoming a rushed, government-controlled event. The Thabo Mbeki Foundation cited the R700 million cost as a key reason for its withdrawal. The Democratic Alliance has criticized the dialogue's budget as wasteful, suggesting the funds could be better spent addressing existing national challenges. Parliament’s Appropriations Committee is seeking clarification from Treasury on how the dialogue will be financed. Political analysts have offered mixed views, with Moeletsi Mbeki describing the dialogue as an admission by the African National Congress (ANC) that it lacks solutions for the country's problems, while others like Tinyiko Maluleke and Roelf Meyer hope the process will yield a social compact to guide South Africa's development for the next thirty years. The National Dialogue is also seen by some as a review of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s tenure, with its outcome potentially influencing the remainder of his term. Despite the controversies and withdrawals, the Presidency maintains that the dialogue will continue as planned.