The presidency says the government has not yet committed itself to any budget for the upcoming National Dialogue, following reports that it may cost at least R700 million .
The Dialogues Preparatory Task Team chairperson Nkosinathi Biko provided the cost estimate during a media briefing last week.
Democracy is not cheap. Building a nation is very costly. The next thing we are going to do is to present the draft budget and workshop that budget. Just to pull the provinces and municipalities is an estimation of probably more than R700 million, Biko said.
This sparked criticism from various sections of the public who argued that the amount would be too high.
Presidency responds to R700m National Dialogue backlashHowever, speaking to SABC News on Monday 16 June, President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said there was no budget.
There isn't a number or a cost that the government has committed to. All we have is what has been communicated as a proposal that the foundations have put forward. Now the foundations are not going to be the fiscal custodians of this process, he added.
"Government is going to be the fiscal custodian of the process and government has not yet engaged in a process of formulating a budget. So, therefore, the debate of R700 million is completely misplaced and completely unnecessary."
Last week, Ramaphosa announced that he would call a National Convention on 15 August to prepare the National Dialogues agenda.
The Dialogue will then be held at various levels nationwide followed by a second National Convention early next year. This Convention will finalise a compact that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all South Africans, the President explained.
It is anticipated that the National Dialogue will drive progress towards our Vision 2030 and lay the foundation for the next phase of South Africa's National Development Plan.