This follows an open letter penned by SA former President Thabo Mbeki to Steenhuisen, expressing concern over the DA’s decision to boycott the dialogue.

The National Dialogue is set to bring together SA from all walks of life to engage in discussions about the kind of country they envision for the future.

Ramaphosa described Steenhuisen’s withdrawal as a “poverty of adherence to good principles.”

“Really, it’s poverty of adherence to good principles to walk away from the people of SA, because this is precisely walking away from the people of SA and defining yourself outside what the people of South Africa are embracing,” he said.

He added that there is “nothing wrong with the dialogue  it’s people getting together.”

“The National Dialogue will continue without the participation of the DA, and we will probably have a successful dialogue without diversionary inputs or interference from a party that does not have the interests of South Africans at heart,” Ramaphosa concluded.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--