A simmering political tension between President Cyril Ramaphosa and former President Thabo Mbeki surfaced anew this week when the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, alongside six other legacy foundations, withdrew from preparations for the National Dialogue, citing concerns about the government centralizing the process instead of allowing it to be citizen-led. Political analysts traced the underlying strain between the two leaders back to early ANC negotiations in the 1990s, when Mbeki was replaced as chief negotiator by Ramaphosa.
The Citizen
Despite these developments, the Presidency swiftly moved to downplay any notion of personal discord. Vincent Magwenya, speaking on behalf of President Ramaphosa, emphasized that the relationship with Mbeki remains “cordial, comradely and professional.” He acknowledged democratic rights to criticism while affirming the dialogue process would proceed with or without the foundations’ participation.
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Meanwhile, media commentary adds another perspective: while the public dispute highlights procedural disagreements, insiders suggest there is no substantial personal rift between the two leaders
