Jacob Zuma Not Invited to National Dialogue, SA Split As MK Party Confirms He Wouldn’t Attend Anyway

• 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
• South Africans took to social media to share their thoughts on the event and the party's comments

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party will not be a part of the National Dialogue, and it's not surprised.

The dialogue’s convention will be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from 15 to 17 August 2025, but former president Jacob Zuma will not be anywhere near it.

The first convention will set the agenda for the dialogue, as well as form a steering committee to guide local and provincial dialogues over the next year. It will culminate in a second national convention in 2026.

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National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela confirmed that Zuma was not invited to the first convention, insisting that he wouldn’t have attended it anyway.

What did Ndhlela say?

During an interview with Sunday World on Thursday, 14 August 2025, Ndhlela said that Zuma wouldn’t be anywhere near the inaugural National Dialogue, saying that is how it was meant to be.

He added that, not in a million years, would Zuma be invited to something he considered to be a politically compromised gathering.

“They know better than to invite us. With the status that we took with our initial statement and the follow-up statement, they already knew that we can’t participate,” he explained.

MK Party describes the event as National Monologue

The MK Party has not held back from sharing its thoughts on the event, saying it wasn’t a dialogue, but more of a monologue. The party also claimed that it was designed to flatter President Cyril Ramaphosa rather than to engage ordinary South Africans about the problems in the country.

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“We released a statement on our stance on the ‘National Monologue’, and we stated that it’s nothing else, from where we are sitting, than a platform for the elites and to stroke Ramaphosa’s ego. We are not going to fall for that,” Ndhlela added.

How did South Africans react?

The statements by Ndhlela drew mixed reactions from social media users, as some showed support for Zuma and others criticised.

Tebogo Ray Motlhaping said:

“He was going to threaten to spill the beans die hele dag.”

Anam Adzagayi asked:

“What contribution can he bring? Yena marr.”

Letsoapo Fobo stated:

“Says who? Zuma is not my favourite leader, and I'm saying this as a disclaimer. But Zuma represents more than 2.3 million voters, so I don't understand why someone would come and say Zuma cannot be invited to the national dialogue.”

Sifiso Mathaba asked:

“Do you think he really cares? President Zuma is not compromised like many former freedom fighters.”

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Masixole Sintu questioned:

“Why should he go to an ANC election machinery? There is no national dialogue here, hence the massive withdrawals.”

Gugu Mabaso asked:

“Anyway, what contribution can be made by someone with Standard 2?”

Litre Lutho said:

“Now that credible foundations have withdrawn, they can invite him because they are all thieves.”

Mabunda Bento stated:

“This guy is not interested in building. He thrives in destroying and causing chaos.”

Mxo Tau said:

“Zuma doesn't care about that nonsense.”

Sexwale raises concerns about National Dialogue

Briefly News reported that Tokyo Sexwale also raised concerns about the upcoming National Dialogue.

The ANC veteran cautioned against labelling it the silver lining to the range of problems faced by the country.

South Africans shared their thoughts on Sexwale's statement and questioned the R700 million price tag.

Source: Briefly News