The primary reasons for his foundation's withdrawal from the National Dialogue, a government-led initiative to unite South Africans in addressing national challenges, have been made public by former president Thabo Mbeki. He stated that the decision was heavily influenced by uncertainty regarding the R700 million budget allocated for the dialogue.

The Thabo Mbeki Foundation, along with the Steve Biko Foundation, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and the FW de Klerk Foundation, have withdrawn from the National Dialogue Convention set to begin on Friday, 15 August. Their withdrawal raises questions regarding the credibility and preparedness of the intended inclusive, citizen-driven dialogue organizers. Concerns About Foundation Withdrawal's Funding and Planning Mbeki said that the organizers were not open about how they would use the money. We believe that the organizers did not completely disclose where they intend to allocate funds.

He stated that in their haste to host a gathering on August 15, "they have violated the core principles meant to underpin the National Dialogue." The foundations cited a rushed timeline in a joint statement. arguing that it had diminished the convention from a significant beginning of a national process to a symbolic milestone. Additionally, they emphasized the absence of a budget allocation that had been approved, which they claimed had hampered proper preparation. The Preparatory Task Team's internal disagreements regarding governance and the direction of the conversation further complicated the situation. Demand for Delay and Other Conflicts To ensure that the process retains substance, the foundations have proposed rescheduling the convention to after 15 October 2025, allowing ample time for proper coordination and engagement.

They emphasized, "Deadlines cannot override substance." “Dialogue cannot be built on haste.” President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the first national convention will proceed as planned, despite the legacy foundations' retreat.