Professor William Gumede announced Chairperson of the Multi-Party National Convention

With the multi-party National Convention to be held soon, the political parties involved elected Professor William Gumede as the Chairperson.

MULTI-PARTY APPOINTMENT OF RENOWNED ACADEMIA

The multi-party comprising the DA, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA, UIM and SNP is set to converge this month to discuss exploring a multi-party agreement.

With only weeks to the event, the multi-party arrangement announced that Professor William Gumede agreed to chair the National Convention on 16 and 17 August 2023 at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.

“Professor Gumede is an independent chairperson of the process and is not affiliated to any of the participating parties.”

DA Media

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The statement further read:

From the outset, this grouping of parties has understood the need for these talks to benefit from the wisdom and experience available in South Africa and is too often ignored by political leaders who falsely believe they have a monopoly on solutions needed in South Africa.

In considering Professor Gumede’s significant contributions to South Africa and various democracies worldwide, it is evident that no South African is better placed to guide our multi-party process.

WHO IS PROFESSOR WILLIAM GUMEDE

William Gumede is an Associate Professor in the School of Governance and former Convener, Political Economy, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Founder of the Democracy Works Foundation.

Professor Gumede teaches a programme for MPs of the Commonwealth on how to manage their country’s Parliaments, ensure effective oversight of the executive and government entities, and how to conduct themselves ethically as MPs. He also runs a course on public policy and economics, including how to put together the National Budget for MPs from all political parties in South Africa.

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MEDIATION OF CIVIL WAR IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES

He mediated in several country civil and communal conflicts, including the eSwatini violent country conflict between the king and his allies and opposition parties ahead of the 2013 national elections. He advised several African governments on alternative approaches to hold violent belligerents accountable following civil wars, including the civil war between Christians and Muslims in the Central African Republic and the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was the facilitator in the healing and reparation process between the mine, victims and communities following the Marikana Massacre in South Africa.

During the anti-apartheid struggle, Professor Gumede held several leadership positions in South African student, civics and trade union movements. He was a political violence mediator and area coordinator for the National Peace Committee during the multi-party negotiations for a democratic South Africa. He was seconded to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

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THE OBJECTIVE OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

This multi-party grouping of parties is committed to presenting South Africans with a compelling alternative vision and direction for our country. The basis for this agreement will be an agenda to address the greatest challenges facing our country to inspire the millions of South Africans who have lost hope. This agreement must lay the foundation for a new multi-party government in 2024 that can start the work of moving our country forward again.

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