Dr Theuns Eloff: ANC capture of National Dialogue for election campaign

More and more parties and organisations are withdrawing from the National Convention amid fears that the National Dialogue will become an African National Congress (ANC) monologue. In this interview with BizNews, Dr Theuns Eloff of the Afrikaner Leadership Network (ALN) says: “There are, for good reason, fears and suspicions that the Presidency has taken this over, not as a Government of National Unity, but as an ANC Presidency to steer this process into a certain way and to avert any negative criticism that can come to the ANC.” On top of that there is a real fear that the ANC could misuse the dialogue to boost its chances in local government elections next year. “It's like the ANC says we don't have enough money in our own coffers to run a campaign, let us use the National Dialogue for that. And if the ANC goes ahead alone with these things with public money, then they have a campaign. They can wage their campaign without interference from anyone else.” Furthermore, Dr Eloff expresses concern that President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the National Dialogue as his personal legacy. “It’s said in the Presidency that he wants a thousand people there because he wants to make a speech. Now that is not a National Dialogue. That is exactly an ANC monologue.” Meanwhile, Dr Eloff outlines the dialogue options open to civil society organisations.