The Presidency has confirmed that preparations for the National Convention, scheduled for August 15-16, 2025, are fully compliant with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), addressing recent media reports about its costs.
The event, marking the launch of the citizen-led National Dialogue, will be hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA) at no charge, significantly reducing expenses.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, has coordinated efforts across government departments to mobilize resources and manage costs.
UNISA’s contribution includes the plenary venue, two overflow venues with livestreaming, 10 breakaway rooms, a dining area, work areas, and an Operations Centre operational since last week.
Additional services, such as catering, ushers, audiovisual support, printing of discussion documents, signage, conference bags, notepads, pens, and WiFi, are also provided free of charge.
Funding for the convention is drawn from existing budgets of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) and the Presidency, covering secretariat support, communications, and logistics.
Reimbursements to the Department of Employment and Labour and NEDLAC are planned under the Appropriation Act and PFMA through the upcoming Adjustments Budget. All procurement adheres to PFMA and Treasury Regulations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Additional cost-saving measures include donations for the National Dialogue’s digital platform and in-kind contributions, such as free public viewing screens and rail and road transport. The Presidency emphasized its commitment to minimizing costs to the fiscus while supporting an inclusive dialogue.
