Programme Director;
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube;
Mr. Stefan Cloete, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Southern Africa;
Ms. Sithembile Sefako-Ngobese, Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director;
Dr. Nkosenye Godfrey Zulu, Head of Department for KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs;
Mr. Sam Zungu, Deputy Director-General for the TVET Branch;
Mr. Marks Thibela, CEO of CATHSSETA;
Ms. Nokuthula Selamolela, CEO of FoodBev SETA;
Mr. Coovashan Pillay, CEO of the South African Chefs Association;
Chef Vusi Mteshana, Executive Head Chef of Unilever Food Solutions South Africa;
Representatives from TVET Colleges;
Members of the hospitality and tourism sectors;
Esteemed lecturers, mentors, parents, and most importantly, our exceptional nine provincial finalists;

Good afternoon.

It is both a privilege and an honour to join you today at the Grand Finale of the Unilever TVET Cook Challenge. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Unilever, the South African Chefs Association, FoodBev SETA, CATHSSETA, our TVET colleges, government departments, and every partner whose collective efforts have made this remarkable initiative possible.

Today, we gather here not simply to witness a competition, but to celebrate a profound story a story of heritage, creativity, resilience, and opportunity. The Unilever TVET Cook Challenge is a testament to the power of talent and practical skills to transform lives and communities.

The theme of this year’s competition, “Culinary Roots,” is a fitting reminder that every dish prepared is not just food. It is a narrative of our people, our cultures, our histories. It carries the wisdom of generations past and carries that spirit into our shared future.

In honouring these roots, our young chefs do more than create flavours; they connect us to who we are and inspire what we can become. They remind us that respecting tradition and embracing innovation must go hand in hand if we are to build a South Africa that is inclusive, dynamic, and forward-looking.

TVET Colleges: Engines of Inclusive Growth

Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges have become essential institutions in developing the skilled workforce that our economy urgently requires. They produce artisans, technicians, entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals, and countless other skilled individuals whose expertise keeps our industries functioning and our economy growing.

As Government, we continue to strengthen the TVET sector because we recognise that economic growth cannot be achieved without practical skills. South Africa requires qualified electricians, welders, plumbers, mechanics, hospitality professionals, agricultural specialists, and chefs just as much as it requires lawyers, accountants, and engineers. The young people gathered here today are proof that vocational education opens doors to meaningful careers and successful businesses.

Entrepreneurship: Turning Passion into Prosperity

Distinguished guests,

When we speak about becoming a hospitality professional, we should not only think about employment.
We should also consider entrepreneurship.

Some of South Africa's most successful entrepreneurs began with nothing more than a passion for food and the determination to succeed.

The culinary industry offers limitless possibilities.

It creates opportunities in restaurants, hotels, tourism, catering, food manufacturing, event management, baking, food styling, digital content creation, and product innovation.

Today's young chef can become tomorrow's employer.
The food truck of today can become tomorrow's restaurant chain.
The home bakery of today can become tomorrow's national brand.

That is why entrepreneurship must become central to our thinking as a nation.

Government is committed to building an economy where young people do not only search for employment but are empowered to create employment for others.

This is why programmes such as the National Youth Development Agency grant programme, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and the Industrial Development Corporation continue to provide financial and business development support to qualifying young entrepreneurs.

We encourage every aspiring chef to make use of these opportunities.

Your qualification should not become a certificate that hangs on the wall. It should become the foundation upon which you build businesses that contribute to South Africa's economic growth.

Commemorating the Golden Anniversary of the Youth of 1976

As we celebrate excellence today, we also do so during a significant year in our country's history. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising. Fifty years ago, young South Africans demonstrated extraordinary courage in confronting an unjust system that sought to deny them quality education and equal opportunity. They understood that education was the foundation upon which freedom, dignity and prosperity would be built. Their struggle was never simply about classrooms. It was about creating opportunities for future generations to realise their full potential. Today, we honour their legacy not only through remembrance but through action.

Every investment in education,
Every bursary awarded...
Every apprenticeship created...
Every young entrepreneur supported...
Every partnership between government, business, and educational institutions...

Is a continuation of the vision for which the youth of 1976 sacrificed so much.

The freedom they fought for now places a responsibility upon us to ensure that every young South African has access to opportunities that allow them to succeed.

One of the greatest challenges facing our country today remains youth unemployment.

Government recognises that economic transformation cannot happen through policy alone. It requires collaboration between government, educational institutions, organised business, and civil society.

Therefore, the Unilever TVET Cook Challenge demonstrates exactly what such collaboration looks like.

It provides young people with industry exposure.
It allows them to demonstrate their abilities before respected chefs and employers.
It rewards excellence with internships and career opportunities.
Most importantly, it builds confidence in these people that participated in this challenge.

For many young people, all they need is someone to recognise their potential.

Today's finalists have already demonstrated that they possess the discipline, resilience and determination needed to succeed in one of the world's most demanding professions.

They should be incredibly proud of reaching this stage.

The Ballot Box: Your Future Is Also in Your Hands

Programme Director,

As we commemorate fifty years since the youth of 1976 stood up for justice and equal opportunity, we must also remember that they fought so future generations could determine the destiny of this country.

Today, unlike the youth of 1976, you possess one of the most powerful democratic tools imaginable.

To every young South African who is eighteen years or older, I urge you to register to vote and to participate actively in our democracy. Do not leave the future of this country in the hands of others. The decisions taken through democratic processes influence education. They influence economic policy, the investment, the entrepreneurship, including the employment.

If you care about opportunities for young people, if you care about building an economy that works for everyone, then make your voice heard.

Democracy is strongest when young people participate.

Do not become spectators in the future of your own country.

Become active citizens. Register. And most importantly you participate in Vote.

Conclusion: Building The South Africa, We Want

As I conclude, let me once again congratulate every finalist gathered here today. Whether you leave here with first prize or not, you have already demonstrated excellence. Continue sharpening your skills and never stop learning. Use every opportunity that comes your way, build businesses that create jobs. Mentor those who come after you. Carry the South African flag with pride wherever your career takes you from today onwards.

The future of South Africa cannot be built by government alone.

It requires all of us.
It requires partnerships.
It requires hard work.
It requires active citizens.
And above all, it requires young people who believe that they can change the world.

Allow me to leave you with the timeless words of our founding democratic President, Nelson Mandela:
 
"It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor; that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the President of a great nation."

Therefore,

Continue dreaming.
Continue creating.
Continue believing.
Register to vote.
Participate in our democracy.

And together, let us build the inclusive, innovative, and prosperous South Africa envisioned by the youth of 1976 and promised by our Constitution, let us build a nation that indeed works for all.

I thank you.

Retired Constitutional Court Justice Baaitse Elizabeth Nkabinde has today, Wednesday, 1 July 2026, presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa the report of the Enquiry into the Fitness to Hold Office of South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke.

President Ramaphosa established the Enquiry on 29 September 2025 in terms of section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998.

The mandate of the Enquiry was to investigate and determine whether Adv Chauke was fit and proper to continue to hold such office in the context of certain serious allegations regarding his fitness and propriety to hold such office.

Its Terms of Reference were in line with the requirements of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, read with section 179 (3) of the Constitution.

President Ramaphosa placed Adv Chauke on suspension with effect from 20 July 2025, pending finalisation of the enquiry.

Today, President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation to Enquiry Chairperson Justice Nkabinde, assisted by Adv Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC and Attorney Matshego Ramagaga, for the work undertaken by the panel.

President Ramaphosa will now study the report and subsequently make a determination.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director;
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela;
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Mondli Gungubele;
Minister of Information, Communications and Technology of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Senator Savannah Maziya;
Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, Technology and Society for Google and Alphabet, Mr James Manyika;
Distinguished guests from fellow African countries;
Leadership of Google;
Leaders of business and industry;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning.

It is my privilege to address this first-ever Google Cloud Summit on the African continent. 
Today is about far more than a technology conference.

It is about where Africa chooses to position itself in the defining technological revolution of our lifetime.

Every great economic transformation has been powered by new infrastructure. New innovations. New ways of doing things.

Railways powered the Industrial Revolution. Electricity powered the twentieth century. Cloud computing and artificial intelligence will power the economies of the twenty-first century.

Africa intends not merely to participate in that future. We intend to help shape it.

The holding of this summit is a major milestone for Africa and South Africa.

The regional Google Cloud Summits are the premier technology and enterprise events for showcasing the latest innovations in cloud computing, AI and digital transformation. This event affirms Africa’s position as a core growth region for the global cloud ecosystem.

This is so because Africa is no longer simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere. We are becoming a place where new digital solutions are imagined, tested and scaled. 

A substantial part of the projected global cloud value sits in Africa, where the demand for cloud solutions and scalable AI is growing exponentially.

A 2024 McKinsey report found that cloud adoption in major African businesses was on par with, and in some instances even ahead of, adoption rates in North America and China.

South Africa and Google are a perfect match. South Africa combines world-class financial markets, sophisticated legal institutions, deep engineering capability, globally respected universities and a growing innovation ecosystem.

These are precisely the ingredients required for a thriving AI economy. 

Google Cloud is one of the largest global enterprise cloud providers. South Africa is Africa’s digital investment powerhouse and Africa’s largest cloud market.

We are a mature market for digital investment, with high internet penetration rates and strong regulatory frameworks. 

Beyond housing approximately 70 percent of Africa’s hyperscale data centre capacity, South Africa is also a major investment hub for tech start-ups.

This year’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index ranked a South African city, Cape Town, as the third highest ranked startup ecosystem in Africa.

As leaders, innovators and visionaries, we share a common belief in the transformative power of technology to spur economic growth and to propel human development. 

The objectives of this Summit deeply resonate with our national aspirations.

Earlier this year we held the sixth South Africa Investment Conference to attract investment into the productive sectors of our economy.

At this year’s conference, domestic and international investors expressed their ongoing confidence in South Africa as a premier investment destination.

This confidence is underpinned by the progress we are making in the structural reform of our network industries and transformation of our economy. 

A critical part of the structural reforms being coordinated through Operation Vulindlela is the creation of a comprehensive digital public infrastructure for South Africa that will serve as the backbone of our modern economy.

Secure, interoperable digital systems will support digitalisation across the public and private sectors, foster financial inclusion and scale up the delivery of public services.

A key strategic priority of our Government is inclusive growth and job creation, and we have been clear on the role a robust digital infrastructure must play in achieving this goal.

We are greatly encouraged that Google shares this view.

The investment announcements that will be made at this Summit are a vote of confidence in our economic trajectory.

They will catalyse job creation, support the growth of small and medium enterprises, and, above all, enhance our global competitiveness.

Cloud and AI are reshaping the global landscape at a pace unprecedented in human history. As South Africa, we stand ready to harness these shifts to transform our economy and society. 

AI is not simply another technological innovation. It is a general-purpose technology comparable to electricity, the internet and the steam engine. It will reshape every industry, every profession and every aspect of public life.

Countries that prepare today will define the prosperity of tomorrow.

These shifts present a key strategic opportunity for African countries to accelerate their technological evolution and to embrace the digital infrastructure of the 21st century in entirely new ways.

With the support of Google and our investment partners, we envision a South Africa where businesses and industry adopt cloud and AI-enabled services at scale, more rapidly and at a lower cost than would have been possible through legacy IT infrastructure.

We envision a South Africa where these technologies are rapidly deployed across the public sector, enabling us to modernise public administration, healthcare, education, transportation, public infrastructure and the delivery of basic services.

We see a South Africa where educational content will be provided through the cloud and delivered directly to the classroom using the latest technologies.

We envision a country where AI solutions are deployed for disease management and prevention, to manage the national energy grid, by farmers to predict weather patterns, and by scientists to guide our national climate response.

In addition to cloud and AI providing several solutions, they will ultimately enhance humanity's capabilities. Ultimately cloud and AI matter because they increase productivity.

For far too long, Africa has had to play digital catch-up with the world’s leading and most industrialised economies. We are now presented with a unique opportunity to be in the driving seat of our own industrialisation and growth.

Technology will unlock entirely new industries, improve the competitiveness of existing firms and create opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs who today face barriers to entering the formal economy.

Bringing these world-class cloud capabilities to our shores will improve data security and ensure that our businesses – from the largest financial institution in this city to the tech start-up in Khayelitsha – have access to the same cutting-edge tools as their global counterparts.

This will enable us to build a digital economy that serves all our people.

Policy agility and responsiveness are a priority.

We are seeking to build a predictable, enabling regulatory environment that supports innovation, safeguards the rights and data of businesses and citizens, and ensures that AI is both developed and deployed responsibly. 

The expansion of our digital infrastructure brings to the fore important conversations around data sovereignty, human rights and the environmental footprint of our progress.

As we expand our data centre capacities to meet the demands of cloud computing, we must do so sustainably.

It should, however, be noted that our ambition is not simply to expand and host data centres.

Our ambition is to build companies. To produce researchers. To commercialise African ideas. To create intellectual property that competes globally.

Africa possesses unique challenges. But those challenges are also opportunities.

We are encouraged by the engagements taking place across the industry to ensure that our digital expansion respects fundamental rights, protects our environment and contributes positively to the host communities.

It is through collaborative dialogue between government, industry and civil society that we will successfully navigate these complexities.

Beyond creating an enabling environment, the South African Government is investing in its own cloud infrastructure, including the Sebowa Cloud at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which is a localised cloud and storage platform.

Around the world, governments are investing in critical cloud, platform and AI infrastructure to safeguard sovereignty and protect citizens' digital rights and agency over their data. In the digital age, sovereignty is measured not only by territorial borders.

It is increasingly measured by a nation's ability to secure its data, develop its own digital capabilities and exercise meaningful control over the technologies on which its economy depends.

I call on Google and other cloud providers to work with government to build sovereign digital and AI capacity that draws on both state institutions and private sector dynamism.

As we champion this digital transformation, we are mindful that the transition must be a just one. We cannot allow digital poverty to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots. 

This is why investments in human capital are just as important as investments in data centres and undersea cables. We must equip our young people with the skills they need to thrive in the workplaces of tomorrow.

We applaud Google’s decision to invest in comprehensive AI skilling frameworks and digital literacy programmes that empower our youth. 

This will ensure that South Africans are not mere consumers of technology, but active creators and innovators. 

This is a vision we hold not just for South Africa, but for the entire continent. Africa's true wealth lies not in our natural resources, but in the ingenuity and resilience of our people.

As we step boldly into the age of artificial intelligence, our aspiration is to anchor South Africa as a catalyst for the continent's digital ascendancy.

By building robust infrastructure to harness this technology, we are doing more than modernising our economy – we are taking a quantum leap into the future.
 
To the leadership of Google: we thank you for being a steadfast partner in Africa's development journey.

Your investments announced today will serve as a vital artery for our technological future.

Let us continue to work together to harness the boundless opportunities of the cloud and AI.

Throughout history, every generation has been called upon to build the infrastructure of its age.

Our predecessors built roads, ports, dams and power stations. Ours is the generation called upon to build the digital infrastructure that will power the African century.

Let future generations say that when the opportunity came, Africa chose ambition over hesitation, innovation over imitation and partnership over isolation.

Together we will ensure that the technologies shaping tomorrow are developed in ways that advance human dignity, expand opportunity and improve the lives of all our people.

That is the future we begin building today.

Let us ensure that in this new digital age, no person is left behind. 

Let us continue to work together. 

I thank you.

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will on Thursday, 2 July 2026, attend the Unilever TVET Cook Off Challenge Grand Finale in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Unilever TVET Cook Off Challenge is a program that will empower students from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges by providing a platform to showcase their culinary skills.

Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026
Time: 08h30
Venue: Unilever La Lucia Ridge Ground Floor HUB

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele 082 580 2213 MandisaM@presidency.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Pandemic, Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR), will on Thursday, 02 July 2026, undertake an African Union solidarity visit to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The high-level solidarity visit aims to engage with His Excellency President Felix Tshisekedi and demonstrate the African Union’s collective support for the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The mission will provide high-level political stewardship to strengthen a coordinated continental response to the Ebola outbreak, reinforce regional collaboration and cross-border preparedness, and mobilize political, technical, and financial commitments from African Union Member States and Partners.  These efforts are intended to support outbreak containment, strengthen public health systems, and enhance resilience against future public health emergencies.

The African Union PPPR Champion provides political leadership and oversight of the continental Ebola response, promotes solidarity with affected countries and frontline responders, and leads efforts to replenish the African Epidemic Fund.  Over 100 million dollars has been pledged by AU Member states, and the Champion plays a key role in sustaining political commitment and ensuring these pledges are translated into funding.

Globally, countries and partners have pledged over U$910 million towards the Ebola response.  South Africa has committed U$13,5 million as announced by President Ramaphosa 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

The Presidency invites members of the media to the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Ministers and Deputy Ministers, which will take place this afternoon, Wednesday, 01 July 2026 in Pretoria.

The Swearing-in Ceremony will take place as follows:
Date: Wednesday 01 July 2026
Time:15h30 (media to arrive at 14h00)
Venue: Media Centre, Union Buildings, Pretoria 

Members of the media wishing to cover the ceremony should send their details to Patience@presidency.gov.za / 083 376 9468.

The proceedings will also be live streamed on all PresidencyZA social media platforms.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be making changes to the national executive following consultation  with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance as a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

These changes will affect the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Trade, Industry and Competition, Electricity and Energy, Higher Education, and Water and Sanitation. 

Accordingly, President Ramaphosa will in line with section 91(3)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“the Constitution”) appoint: 

Mr Willem Aucamp as the Minister of Agriculture,

Mr David Maynier as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Furthermore, in accordance with section 93(1)(a) of the Constitution, President Ramaphosa is appointing the following Deputy Ministers:

Mr John Steenhuisen as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition,

Ms Alexandra Abrahams as Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy,

Mr Jack Bloom as Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation,

Mr  Yusuf Cassim as Deputy Minister of Higher Education. 

In the vacant Ministry of Social Development, President Ramaphosa has appointed Ms Dina Pule as the Minister of Social Development in accordance with section 91(3)(b) of the Constitution.

President Ramaphosa wishes all the incoming Ministers and Deputy Ministers well in their roles. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director;
Gauteng Premier, Mr Panyaza Lesufi;
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa, Minister Solly Malatsi;
CEO of BrainSAT Technologies, Mr Adam Essa;
Distinguished Guests;

Good Evening,

Before I proceed with the main address, allow me to reaffirm that as Government we are deeply conscious of the challenges our nation faces. We are working tirelessly to address issues of illegal migration, ensuring that our borders are managed effectively and that the rule of law is upheld. This is not only about protecting our sovereignty, but also about demonstrating that Government listens, cares, and acts in the best interests of all South Africans.

Equally, we are speeding up programmes to build a growing economy that creates jobs for our people. It is this commitment to inclusive growth and opportunity that inspired me to accept the invitation to be here today. Tonight’s occasion is not only about technology, but also about the broader vision of a South Africa where every citizen has the chance to thrive.

I am very proud to be here tonight at the Launch of BrainSAT Satellite Services and Thuraya Satellite Phones. Tonight, we are not just introducing technology, we are witnessing the writing of a new chapter in South Africa’s digital journey.
 
As we turn this page, we cannot forget the lessons of the recent past. Many of us will recall the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Space42 pioneered a Proof-of-Concept using satellite technology to connect remote clinics to the internet.
 
What was once an emergency lifeline has now become the foundation for a future of universal access, reminding us that innovation born of crisis can become the architecture of renewal. 

Two years later after the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2024, we journeyed to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a Working Visit. I was accompanied by the then Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini; the then Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Ronald Lamola; and the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Mondli Gungubele.

South Africa maintains positive diplomatic relations with the UAE, evidenced by frequent high-level visits and strong economic collaboration that benefits both nations. 

The UAE is a crucial investor in the South African economy, particularly in transport, logistics, and renewable energy sectors, demonstrating the robust bilateral partnership between the two nations.
 
In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$5.22 billion, emphasising the UAE's strategic significance as an economic partner for South Africa in the Middle East and indicating potential for further trade and investment collaboration.

Our working visit was not only to strengthen ties but also to seek knowledge, to secure our digital sovereignty, and to ensure that South Africa would not stand at the margins of the digital revolution.

During the visit, we engaged with telecommunications and digital economy experts, aligning with South Africa's governmental objectives for enhancing technological and digital infrastructure towards Meaningful Universal Connectivity (MUC).
 
The MUC initiative aims to ensure citizens have access to affordable connectivity anytime, anywhere, with the necessary skills and devices to engage safely in the digital economy. 

Notably, the visit included direct engagement with innovative capabilities from Space42 and BrainSAT Technologies, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

The MoU represent more than a formal agreement. It is a commitment to bring world-class satellite and digital communications solutions to South Africa in service of our people. Tonight, here in Johannesburg, we see that commitment becoming a reality.

The launch of BrainSAT Satellite Services and Thuraya satellite phones mark an important milestone in our nation's pursuit of secure, resilient and reliable satellite connectivity. 

It is a powerful reminder that when vision aligns with partnership, progress is inevitable. This collaboration is a clear indication of South Africa’s readiness to embrace the digital future as well as positioning our country as a leader in Africa’s digital marketplace.

For us as Government, this launch is more than the unveiling of devices. It is about preserving dignity and ensuring that every child, whether in a rural village or a bustling city, has equal opportunities to learn, to dream, and to succeed.

We want a young boy in a rural village, who once had to walk kilometres just to borrow textbooks from a distant school library, to now have full access to digital connectivity. From his home, he should be able to log into online learning platforms, attend virtual classes, and connect with mentors across the world.

We also want an elderly woman, who used to wait weeks or even months for her children working in the city to visit, to now speak with them daily through video calls. She should be able to receive telehealth consultations without leaving her home and take part in community forums online at the comfort of a home.

As Government, we want these stories to become the lived reality of everyone in remote areas, where connectivity is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all and where opportunity reaches every household, every child, and every elder.

Most importantly, we want to ensure connection availability across South Africa’s most connectivity-dependent sectors such as energy, mining, maritime, and humanitarian operations. Satellite connectivity is essential for maintaining operational continuity and safety in extreme conditions. 

Collaborations with Government and Private Entities will ensure that critical sectors stay connected, thus advancing technological innovations while also protecting the essential lifelines of the economy and society.

However, we must understand that connectivity alone is insufficient. Connectivity must benefit everyone because it is a key engine of upward mobility in this digital age. 

As Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council, I carry the responsibility to ensure that our young people are not left behind in this digital revolution. That is why I call on BrainSAT and Thurya to invest deeply in training programmes, apprenticeships, and skill development initiatives.

If we equip our youth with the expertise to design, maintain, and innovate within this sector, we secure South Africa’s digital future while empowering a generation to lead in the knowledge economy.

Our partnership must therefore be more about capacity-building, job creation, and nurturing talent so that our youth stand at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation.

As a government, we are dedicated to enhancing public service accessibility for millions of South Africans. To achieve this, we have implemented the Roadmap for Digital Transformation in Government, aimed at simplifying access to essential services, including grants, ID applications, payment collections, and school registrations. 

The roadmap outlines a strategy for modernising service delivery through investments in shared systems, improved coordination, and the elimination of access barriers.

The launch of Thuraya Satellite Phone and BrainSAT Satellite Services will support the roadmap for digital transformation by providing a resilient infrastructure that supports modern and accessible public services. 

This technological foundation is designed to bridge the digital divide, enhance resilience, and empower citizens, allowing them to access government services with dignity and ease.

Furthermore, the Government views connectivity through the lens of the South Africa Connect programme, which aims to provide universal broadband access to all schools, health facilities, and Government institutions. This initiative focuses on creating an integrated "network of networks" to ensure that connectivity meets the cost and quality requirements of citizens, businesses, and the public sector.

The SA Connect initiative aims to enhance connectivity in remote areas of South Africa through a satellite-based communications network. This complements broadband services and addresses the digital divide in society. 

The National Satellite Communication (SATCOM) strategy, developed by the DCDT with various partners, focuses on establishing a South African-owned satellite system to achieve this goal. Additionally, the SATCOM strategy addresses several government priorities, and the deployment of the satellite system.

The benefits of having a South African-owned satellite system included improved efficiencies in service delivery in rural areas, catalysed economic growth, the development of new industries and markets, the creation of new skills, and increased access to broadband.

We understand that digital connectivity is essential in the modern global ecosystem, as it transforms industries and empowers individuals by breaking geographic barriers. It drives technology and data into practical solutions such as remote education, telemedicine, digital banking, and online trade.

It is the power that ensures our SMMEs are no longer confined to the marketplace of the street corner but are able to trade online, reaching customers far beyond their immediate community.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
It is equally important that international companies partner with local enterprises, for it is through such collaboration that the benefits of global innovation are firmly rooted in local empowerment.
 
By working hand in hand with South African companies, these partnerships ensure that advanced technologies are not only introduced but translated into opportunities that strengthen communities, build capacity, and safeguard our nation’s development. This ensures that the benefits of global innovation are rooted in local empowerment.

It is commendable that Space42 brings us world-class infrastructure: the Thuraya-4 NGS satellite, the Foresight SAR constellation, and Yahclick broadband. BrainSAT guarantees the translation of these global innovations into local empowerment. Together, these solutions have the potential to redefine the landscape of connectivity in South Africa, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of geography, can participate fully in the digital age.

As I have often said, reliable broadband and satellite connectivity are not merely technological advances; they are instruments of inclusion. In rural villages, townships and remote communities, they bridge the divide between isolation and opportunity. 

This is the foundation of a resilient digital economy. It equips farmers with real-time weather and market intelligence, enables small businesses to compete in the digital marketplace, and provides young people with access to the skills and opportunities that will define the jobs of the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, digital transformation is no longer a choice, it is an economic imperative. Around the world, it is driving investment, accelerating innovation, creating sustainable employment and improving the delivery of public services. Satellite communications are equally strategic, extending connectivity to underserved communities, strengthening national resilience, and ensuring that no South African is left behind.

Together, digital innovation and satellite connectivity form the foundation of inclusive growth, digital sovereignty and shared prosperity. The partnership between BrainSAT and its collaborators represents more than the launch of new technologies; it represents an investment in our people, our economy and our future.

Let us therefore embrace this moment with confidence and purpose. Together, we can build a digitally connected South Africa that not only transforms lives at home but also contributes meaningfully to Africa's digital future.

I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 01 July 2026, officiate the first Google Cloud Summit in Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

The Google Cloud Summit brings together global technology innovators, African policymakers, and industry captains.

The event is designed to showcase the transformative potential of Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

The Summit is convened under the theme “Google Cloud is building for Africa”, which will encompass launching new investment announcements in South Africa.

In March this year, President Ramaphosa convened the 6th South Africa Investment Conference under the 3 D’s framework, namely; Decarbonisation, Digitisation and Diversification, with the Ease of Doing Business being a cross-cutting theme.

The President also launched the second Presidential investment mobilisation drive with a target of R2 trillion in new investment from 2026 to 2030.

Google’s investment announcements are designed to directly support South Africa’s investment drive, advance The Presidency’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) agenda, and reinforce collaborative public-private efforts around AI skilling and national policy development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

President Ramaphosa will officiate and deliver keynote address to the Google Cloud Summit and investment announcement as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 01 July 2026
Time: 09h00
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Friday,  03 July 2026, deliver a keynote address at the Chery International Factory Acquisition Celebration in Tshwane, Gauteng Province.

The acquisition by Chery International represents a significant transition in ownership and a new chapter in the facility’s operational future. It also  supports economic growth, job creation, and localisation. 

The automotive sector remains one of the critical pillars of South Africa's industrialisation programme. This investment in particular aligns with Government's commitment to attract investment that supports inclusive economic growth. It reinforces South Africa's position as the automotive gateway to the African continent.  

Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Friday, 03 July 2026
Time: 14:00 (Media to arrive at 13h00)
Venue: Rosslyn Production Facility, Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng Province.

For more information and accreditation, please contact, Mr Sthembiso Sithole (Presidency) on 078 356 4355 or Ms Verene Peterson (Chery International) on 083 226 3344.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Presidency