Deputy President Paul Mashatile Sparks Outrage at National Convention

• Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s abrupt walkout from the national convention on Saturday sparked outrage among delegates
• Deputy President Mashatile later returned to the gathering, but tensions remained high among delegates
• Several delegates insisted their voices must be heard by the South African government

The deputy president of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, abrupt departure from the national convention on Saturday, 16 August 2025, sparked outrage among delegates, who insisted their voices must be heard.

What happened at the national dialogue?

Mashatile suddenly left the gathering today, 16 August 2025, but he returned later. This sparked outrage among the delegates, who stated that their voices must be heard by the South African government.

The convention, designed to give citizens a direct role in shaping solutions to the country’s most pressing challenges, saw several speakers accuse the government of failing to listen. In response to the unrest, organisers opened the floor for nearly two hours to allow delegates to voice their concerns.

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Government failing to listen

Several speakers accused the government of failing to listen. The delegates insisted that their voices be heard. To calm tensions, organisers gave delegates nearly two hours to voice their concerns directly.

A large part of the debate centred on the National Dialogue’s citizen-led steering committee. Delegates will elect representatives from sectors such as youth, health, HIV and Aids, and the environment to lead the process. For many, this step is seen as vital to ensuring the dialogue reflects the true priorities of communities across South Africa.

What you need to know about the national dialogue

• The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has confirmed that it will not be present at the National Dialogue. National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela also explained why Jacob Zuma would not be present.
• Dr Malusi Gigaba has weighed in on the National Dialogue, which is due to begin on 15 August 2025. The upcoming event has faced a lot of criticism and uncertainty, as numerous stakeholders have withdrawn.
• The Economic Freedom Fighters berated President Cyril Ramaphosa's intention to host a national dialogue. Ramaphosa released the names of the attendees, which include religious figures, public figures and sports legends.
• The Democratic Alliance considered tabling a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party held a press briefing on 28 June 2025 to discuss its options following Ramaphosa's failure to take action.
• Herman Mashaba has criticised the decision to spend R700 million on the upcoming National Dialogue. Mashaba said that the country's problems were already known, and there was no need to spend money to talk about them.

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Government defends national dialogue

In another article, Briefly News reported that South Africans have rejected the government's defence of the Eminent Persons whom Cyril Ramaphosa appointed to spearhead the National Dialogue, which will kick off on 15 August 2025.

The Chairperson of the National Dialogue Preparatory Committee, Nkosinathi Biko, whom Ramaphosa appointed, said the appointments embody what the country can achieve. He said that they will work with the preparatory task team.

Source: Briefly News