Media briefing by Spokesperson to the President, Mr Vincent Magwenya, Imbizo Centre, Parliament, Cape Town

Good afternoon and welcome to the media representatives who have joined us in Cape Town and online.

Good morning as well to audiences who are following this first Presidency briefing of 2024 on various platforms and channels.

This briefing is an opportunity for us to look at the Public Engagement Programme of the President for the period up to 22 February.

We look forward to the President delivering the State of the Nation Address tomorrow – it will be the Administration’s seventh - in a year which marks 30 years since our Parliament ushered in the democratic dispensation.

You will recall that the President served as Chair of the Constitutional Assembly which produced our Constitution that has been the guiding light for six Administrations.

Tomorrow’s State of the Nation Address will therefore be an invitation by the President for all of us to be part of ensuring that we Leave No One Behind in building our society and growing our economy.

We urge all South Africans to follow tomorrow’s Address as it deals with the state of the nation; not the state of only one segment or some segments of the nation. It is the state of all of the nation.

We are united in the progress we have made and united in the work we need to do to address the challenges we face.

Let me add that the President is making a good recovery from a bout of ‘flu and he will be up to the task of addressing the nation at 7pm tomorrow.

PRESIDENTIAL GOLF CHALLENGE – FRIDAY, 09 FEBRUARY

On Friday morning, 9 February, the President will be up at dawn to warm up for the annual Presidential Golf Challenge at the Atlantic Beach Golf Club at Melkbosstrand.

Coordinated by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, the Presidential Golf Challenge will raise funds for the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.

The Foundation’s partner entity, the Adopt-A-School Foundation, will use the funds to construct ablution facilities at schools in support of the Department of Basic Education’s SAFE Initiative, which stands for Sanitation Appropriate for Education.

This is an important investment in the dignity of learners and staff at our schools and a contribution to social infrastructure in the country.

The President is honoured that his playing partner this year is 14-year-old Botshepehi Phakoe of Mangaung in the Free State.

Botshepehi is one of the best young players in the Free State Junior Union and we hope he doesn’t put too much pressure on the President on the first tee.

On Friday evening, the President will express his appreciation to the event’s sponsors and partners at a prize-giving dinner where players will be recognised as well.

UBUNTU AWARDS – SATURDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2024

On the evening of Saturday, 10 February, the President will shift his focus to South Africans and friends and partners of our country who have advanced our national interest in the international arena.

The annual Ubuntu Awards hosted by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation will recognise South African industry leaders, eminent persons and ordinary South African citizens for their distinguished service and contribution in promoting South Africa’s national interests and values across the world.

The event brings together captains of industry, leaders from civil society, members of Cabinet and eminent persons, in addition to all Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to South Africa.

Past winners have included performance artists, athletes, major South African companies and social upliftment foundations.

FOOTBALL – SUNDAY, 11 FEBRUARY

On Sunday, 11 February, the President will attend the Football for Humanity match between the Palestinian national team and a South African side.

Football for Humanity will allow Palestinian players to exercise their favourite sport in conditions of peace and sound infrastructure. The game will demonstrate our historic solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle against illegal occupation and violent excesses by the State of Israel.

This engagement does, however, depend on Bafana Bafana’s advancement to the AFCON 24 final, which the President is keen to attend.

DEBATE ON THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 13 and 14 February, the President will attend Parliament’s Debate on the State of the Nation Address.

We do expect that on Valentine’s Day, there will be no love lost in the Debate, but this will be a manifestation of the robust and open nature of our democratic engagement.

On Thursday, 15 February, the President will deliver his Reply to the Debate on the State of the Nation Address.

We are also working on a possible engagement with the Cape Town Press Club and members of the media more broadly on Thursday the 15th.

AFRICAN UNION ASSEMBLY – FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY

The 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU will take place on 17 and 18 February 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU Assembly will be preceded by the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 14 and 15 February 2024.

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU will be held under the theme, “Educate an Africa fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.

The Assembly is expected to discuss the status of peace and security on the Continent and the consideration of the Report of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). The discussion will take place against the backdrop of great concern regarding the state of peace and security on the Continent.  

The highlight of the 37th Ordinary Session will be the launch of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the AU’s Agenda 2063: “The Africa we want”.  Agenda 2063 serves as a fifty-year blueprint for Africa’s socio-economic development and integration, adopted by the AU member states after extensive consultations across the Continent.

South Africa has elevated the implementation of Agenda 2063 as one of the foremost priorities in the advancement of the African Agenda.  

A key flagship project of Agenda 2063 in which South Africa is playing a leading role is the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (the AfCFTA), that serves as a milestone development in the evolution of the AU.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has agreed to co-host the AfCFTA Business Forum to be held from 15 to 18 April in Cape Town. It is envisaged that the Forum will be attended by 1,000 delegates including political principals, captains of industry, CEOs of major banks on the Continent and representatives from private sector.

The 37th Ordinary Session is taking place amid the ongoing devastating war of Israel against the people of Palestine. In this regard, it is expected that the Heads of State and Government of the AU will receive a briefing by the AU Commission on the situation in Palestine.  

President Ramaphosa is expected to attend and participate in several High-Level Committee meetings of the Assembly. These include the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), which will be held to reaffirm Africa’s position on Climate Change as advocated during the COP28 held in the United Arab Emirates.  

President Ramaphosa will present a report on the progress made in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the Continent in his capacity as the Champion of the AU’s COVID-19 response. As the pandemic is waning on the Continent, South Africa intends to work with the AU Commission towards expanding the role of President to include all other health pandemics that are affecting the Continent.  

In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative (PICI), President Ramaphosa annually hosts a meeting (breakfast/lunch) of all PICI countries, on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session, to provide a Progress Report on PICI projects.

Lastly, President is also expected to chair a high-level meeting of the Committee of Five (C5) on South Sudan to review and provide political guidance on the progress made in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.

BUDGET – WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY

On Wednesday, 21 February, the President will attend the Minister of Finance’s presentation to Parliament of the Budget for the 2024/25 financial year.

This Budget will set out the actions that the Sixth Administration will undertake in the final months of this political term to address the priorities set out by the President in the tomorrow’s State of the Nation Address.

The President and Cabinet are committed to serving the nation with the necessary intensity and energy until the term ends. Their foot is very much on the pedal. Remember, you speed up in the home straight; you don’t slow down.

OPENING OF THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS – THURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY

On Thursday, 22 February, the President will officiate the annual Opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders.

This is always a special moment for the President, as this House promotes the role of traditional leadership within our constitutional dispensation, and promotes nation-building, peace, stability and cohesiveness of communities.

The President has over the years emphasised the importance of the economic development of traditional communities as a vital component of the inclusive and sustainable economy we seek to build.

CONCLUSION

This brings us to the end of the schedule. If any changes were to be made, you will be the first to know.

Thank you for your attention. I now welcome questions.

Thank you.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa - media@presidency.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria