Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, respond to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly, Cape Town, on matters related to his Delegated Responsibilities.

In line with a constitutional mandate for Members of Cabinet to account to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance, Deputy President Mashatile will answer questions on issues related to the Government’s efforts in implementing rapid response interventions on service delivery and trouble-shooting service delivery hotspots in the country with the view of improving governance in municipalities across the country.

Following the recent announcement on the adjustment of fuel prices based on current local and international factors with effect from the 6th of May 2026, by the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Deputy President will apprise Members about Government’s interventions aimed at protecting and enhancing the long-term sustainability and profitability of small-scale farmers, particularly those located in rural and undeveloped provinces, in the face of persistent fertiliser and fuel price volatility. 

On the question of the roll-out of the District Development Model (DDM), the Members of Parliament will be updated on the effective and well coordination of the different spheres of government, which aim to improve the functioning of municipalities and challenges faced by communities. This includes efforts made to align budgets and investments in healthcare. 

The Deputy President will further respond to questions on Agriculture and Land Reform, and measures that are being implemented by the Security Cluster to deal with organised crime and gang related violence in the Western Cape.

The Oral Replies session will take place as follows: 

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 14h00 
Venue: Nieuwmeester, Dome, Cape Town

The session will be streamed live on Parliament TV (DSTV Channel 408), Parliament’s YouTube channel, Facebook and X (Twitter) pages. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Botswana which will culminate in the Sixth Session of the Botswana and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone.

On the two-day State Visit occasion from 20 to 21 May, President Ramaphosa and President Gideon Duma Boko will co-chair the Summit of the Sixth Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).

The Summit will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 20 May 2026, and the Senior Officials Meeting.

The primary objective of the State Visit and BNC is to deepen and strengthen the existing bilateral partnership between the two countries.  

The Sixth Session of the BNC represents a critical opportunity to reinforce the strategic partnership between South Africa and Botswana. 

While the relationship remains strong, it is evolving in response to new economic realities and shifting global dynamics.

A Business Forum that will be held on the margins of the BNC will strengthen private sector collaboration and facilitate business-to-business exchanges. 

South Africa and Botswana share a historically grounded and mutually reinforcing relationship, rooted in solidarity during the liberation struggle, when Botswana provided support to South African freedom fighters. 

This legacy, combined with geographic proximity and shared cultural and linguistic ties, has shaped a durable partnership that continues to expand across multiple sectors.

The BNC serves as a central institutional mechanism through which this relationship is structured and advanced, enabling coordinated cooperation and sustained dialogue at political, technical, and economic levels.

Bilateral trade and investment remain the cornerstone of the economic cooperation between the two countries. South Africa is Botswana’s largest trading partner, accounting for over 50% of Botswana’s imports.

In 2025, total bilateral trade amounted to approximately R 82 billion, with South Africa exporting goods to the tune of R73.5 billion to Botswana and with imports from the country amounting to R7.7 billion. 

South Africa is also Botswana's largest supplier of agricultural products.

In 2025, of the country’s R15 billion agricultural imports, R14 billion were from South Africa. 

South Africa has a significant corporate presence in Botswana with more than 100 South African companies operating across key sectors, including in financial and banking services, retail and wholesale, mining and mineral beneficiation, infrastructure, construction and logistics, freight, manufacturing and automotive value chains as well as the hospitality and tourism industries. 

South Africa’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have also developed a pipeline of projects for financing in Botswana.

The DBSA’s aggregate portfolio of investments under consideration in Botswana represents a total project value of approximately R6.5 billion, demonstrating meaningful scale and impact.

The two countries will explore renewable energy opportunities in support of Botswana’s effort towards increasing renewable energy to 50 per cent by 2030, creating opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy, grid integration, and capacity building. 

The State Visit takes place against the backdrop of a political transition in Botswana, following the transition to a new administration in October 2024.

The State Visit signals the new government’s intention to consolidate relations with South Africa while maintaining continuity in bilateral engagement. It also offers South Africa an opportunity to strengthen its strategic relations with Botswana. 

It is envisaged that the two countries will, during the upcoming engagements focus on High Impact Priority Projects. A number of new agreements will also be signed during the visit. 

The State Visit and BNC schedule will take place as follows:

Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Royal Area Conference Centre, Tlokweng.
Media programme and social media streaming: (Subject to change)

Wednesday 20 May 2026 media programme: Day One

Airport arrival and State Visit ceremony: 15H00 (photo streaming)

Tour of the Botswana Vaccine Institute: 16h00 (photos/video streaming)

State Banquet: 19h00 

Thursday 21 May 2026 media programme: Day Two

Official Opening of the 6th Session of the Bi-National Commission: 10:00

(Media to be present for the opening session and thereafter exit)

Closing Ceremony of the Bi-National Commission: 13h00

Remarks by President Ramaphosa and by President Boko

Media engagement:
Photo opportunity for signing of Agreements
Media Q&A Session
Official photo opportunity
Departure (photos to be shared on social networks)

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Members of Parliament,
Chancellor of the National Orders, Ms Phindile Baleni,
Members of the Advisory Council on National Orders,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Recipients of the National Orders and their families and friends who are with us here today,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans, 

We have gathered here this morning to honour those among us who, in many diverse ways, have shaped the country that we call home.

This occasion calls to mind the words of the American poet William Ralph Emerson in his work titled: ‘A Nation’s Strength’. 

He writes that a nation’s strength is not found in fortune, pride or even the sword: 

“Not gold, but only men [and, we add, women]
Can make a people great and strong;
Men [and women] who for truth and honour’s sake
Stand fast and suffer long. 

“Brave men [and women] 
Who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly, 
They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.” 

Today we honour men and women who have lifted to the sky our greatest aspiration: to build a democratic South Africa founded on equality, justice and dignity for all.  

It is an aspiration carried by our forebears long before democratic South Africa was born.  

When the first democratic Constitution of South Africa was signed into law 30 years ago, this aspiration became the cornerstone of an edifice that had been built by generations of patriots. 

Like those patriots, the people that we honour today have helped to give life to the dream of a free and just South Africa.  

Their activism has extended to music, politics, sports, literature, culture, medicine, science, education and the advancement of human rights.

In their many fields of endeavour, they have made an invaluable contribution to our national life. 

By honouring them today, we are recognising that the pillars of our democratic order are deep, firm and unshakeable because of the many great South Africans who built them. 

The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to South Africans who have excelled in the fields of the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.  

The fact that so many of the recipients of National Orders this year are musicians, filmmakers, authors, playwrights and athletes reflects the enduring ability of sports, arts and culture to capture the hopes and triumphs of a nation.

It is a testimony also to the diversity and richness of the South African experience and the many ways in which the life of our nation is interpreted and expressed.

The Order of Mapungubwe recognises South Africans who have attained excellence and exceptional achievement for the benefit of the country and beyond. 

The achievements of all our recipients this year speak to our country’s growing international standing as a global centre of scientific and medical best practice.

Their achievements remind us that scientific endeavour is inseparable from the pursuit of human progress and well-being.

We seek knowledge not for its own sake, but to protect lives, to improve health and to build a better life for all.

The Order of the Baobab recognises South Africans who have played a formative role in business and the economy, in science, medicine and technological innovation, and in community service.  

This year’s recipients have made their mark across a range of fields that were the building blocks for the society we have today. 

The Order of Luthuli recognises dedication to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

It recognises the men and women whose activism lit the path to our freedom and to those who continue to keep that flame burning. 

This National Order is one we particularly cherish, for we are determined to honour our veterans and stalwarts while they still walk among us. 

Though the passage of time has robbed us of many of the brave men and women who were at the forefront of the struggle for liberation, we celebrate those who are still here: to tell their stories and to impart a living legacy to the next generation.

I would like to acknowledge the families present here today and thank them on behalf of all South Africans for lending us these great sons and daughters of the soil.

By bestowing this award, we affirm once more that the story of our freedom should not pass into distant legend but should continue to be carried by successive generations into the future. 

The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo recognises eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa.

We did not win our freedom alone. 

We were carried by a great tide of human solidarity that stretched across our continent and the globe. 

We owe a great debt to the many leaders, peoples and nations who supported us.

By honouring them with National Orders we reaffirm our enduring commitment to peace and friendship with all nations, based on our shared values of equality and dignity.

We welcome our recipients of the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo who are with us today and the families of those who have passed away.

On the day that the Constitution was adopted 30 years ago, I said that it is the mirror of South African society, reflecting both the history from which we have emerged, and the values of human dignity, equality and freedom we now cherish. 

By equal measure, those men and women who are today are being bestowed with the highest accolade this country can give, are also a mirror of South African society.  

Their life works and their achievements reflect those same values we hold dear and that continue to guide us along our journey as a people. 

Just as our constitution was written from the contributions of millions of South Africans, it is the people of South Africa who decide who is bestowed with a National Order.  

In a land of innumerable heroes and heroines, the South African people have decided that it is these men and women they will lift to the sky. 

This is the greatest honour.  

Under the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), I now confer the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo.

The recipients shall henceforth be honoured as esteemed Members of the Orders.

The people of South Africa salute them all.

I thank you.

In my capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I commend the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda for their swift leadership and transparency in declaring the Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Kampala, Uganda, following laboratory confirmation. Early detection, rapid reporting and decisive action remain critical to containing outbreaks before they escalate into a wider regional crisis.

We stand in solidarity with the Governments and peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, particularly affected communities and frontline health workers. I also commend neighbouring countries that have moved rapidly to strengthen preparedness, cross-border surveillance and emergency coordination.

I further commend the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, under the leadership of the Director General, Dr Jean Kaseya, working together with the World Health Organisation, for its rapid support to affected countries, regional coordination efforts and mobilisation of partners around a unified continental response, building on the successful continental incident management model deployed during the mpox response. I also welcome the efforts of national authorities, Africa CDC, the World Health Organisation and partners to strengthen surveillance, laboratory systems, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, risk communication, case management and access to appropriate medical countermeasures.

I call on the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to sustain strong political leadership and continue working closely with frontline responders and communities in an environment of trust and transparency to stop these outbreaks at their source and prevent further spread.

Ebola does not respect borders. In a region marked by high population mobility, insecurity and humanitarian movement, the risk of regional spread is significant and demands urgent, coordinated action. I therefore urge affected and at-risk countries to intensify cross-border collaboration, strengthen surveillance at formal and informal points of entry, and ensure rapid information sharing, particularly in areas affected by insecurity and population displacement. As the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, I make a special plea to ensure that women, children and adolescents’ are not left behind and that routine services do not backslide as we handle this crisis.

These outbreaks are also a reminder that, despite the decline in Official Development Assistance, Africa must continue investing — including through increased domestic financing — in resilient public health systems and regional health security architecture. Preparedness requires sustained investment in national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, laboratory and genomic surveillance networks, trained health workforce and rapid response capabilities.

I therefore call on African Union Member States and international partners to strengthen support for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through timely financing, technical assistance, medical countermeasures and direct support to affected communities. Solidarity must translate into concrete action.

As African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I will continue working with the African Union Commission, Heads of State and Government, Africa CDC and partners to ensure that Africa’s response remains coordinated, adequately financed and anchored in the principles of solidarity, health security and sovereignty.

The peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and the wider region must not face this threat alone. Africa has the experience, institutions and resolve to contain these outbreaks. What is required now is urgency, unity and collective action.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Topic: do young people have a role in shaping government

Programme Director,
Pastor Dube,
All the Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,
Educators, parents and community members,
And most importantly, the young people,
I greet you all in the wonderful name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, amen.
 
It is a great honour to join you on this Seventh-day Adventist Community Day here at Maragon Mooikloof. Today, we gather as a community of faith to reflect on the journey our country has travelled over the past 32 years since democratisation.

The faith community has always formed an important cornerstone of our democratic dispensation. It was also through the church that the fight for freedom was fought, where the church became a front of resistance and organisation. Three decades on, the church continues to form part of our country’s social fibre particularly ensuring that we build a nation that works for all.

We are therefore humbled to join you and hope that this shall be the first of many encounters we have together.

We meet today to ask a fundamental question: Do young people have a role in shaping government? The answer is clear and unequivocal. Yes, they do. Young people play a very important role in shaping government, shaping society and shaping the future of our nation. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are active citizens, innovators and changemakers today. The youth debate that took place earlier this morning is testament to the fact that South Africa does not have a shortage of vibrant youth leaders who have ideas to influence, change and lead us into a new era.

Ladies and gentleman, South Africa is a young nation. In 2026, our country is home to approximately 21 million young people between the ages of 15 and 34. This represents 33.1 percent of our total population. In other words, one in every three South Africans is a young person. This is not a small group. It is a powerful force for energy, creativity, innovation and nation-building. If one-third of our population is young, then young people must be central to every important decision about the future of South Africa.

This year, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone: 30 years of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Our Constitution has protected the rights and freedoms of all who live in this country. It affirms the dignity of every citizen and guarantees the right to participate in democratic life. Our Constitution does not place young people on the sidelines. It places them at the heart of democracy.

Young people must participate in all processes of government across all three spheres: national government, provincial government and local government. They must contribute to policy development, public consultations, municipal planning, budgeting and accountability. Government works best when citizens are involved, and democracy becomes stronger when young people speak and leaders listen.

South Africa's history teaches us that young people have always shaped the destiny of our country. The youth of 1976 changed the course of our history through their courage and sacrifice exactly 50 years ago. The young voters of 1994 helped build our democratic South Africa. Today's generation continues to lead in entrepreneurship, education, science, social activism and the creative industries. The question is not whether young people can shape government. The real question is whether they are ready to seize every opportunity to do so. And if they are not, what challenge does that present us as government to prepare the youth for that future?

A powerful example is the recent draft national policy on Artificial Intelligence. Government released the draft for public comment. Although it was later withdrawn for further refinement, it raised an important question. When the policy is published again, will young people be ready to study it carefully, understand its implications and make meaningful submissions? Artificial Intelligence will influence jobs, education, healthcare, security and the economy. Young people are the generation that will live with the consequences of these decisions, and their voices must be heard. This principle applies not only to Artificial Intelligence but to every major policy that affects our country.

Beloveds, we cannot discuss the future of young people without acknowledging the challenge of unemployment. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa reminds us that youth unemployment remains one of the greatest challenges facing our nation. These numbers are difficult and deeply concerning, but this challenge is not insurmountable. Youth unemployment is not a problem for young people alone. It is a national challenge that requires all hands on deck. Government, business, labour, civil society, educational institutions, faith communities and families all have a role to play. Young people themselves must continue to prepare, participate and persevere.

Government has introduced important initiatives to support young people. The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, or PYEI, connects young people to work opportunities, skills development and pathways into employment. The National Youth Development Agency, or NYDA, provides business grants, entrepreneurship training, career guidance and support for young innovators. These programmes are real opportunities. Young people should make use of them, and communities should help spread awareness about what is available.

We have also set up a SAYouth.Mobi which is a zero rated site where government deposits all youth empowerment related opportunities. Whether you are looking for a training opportunity, work opportunity, business investment opportunity or a community service opportunity to give back to your community, SAYouth.Mobi is designed for you – the youth of our country to make use of. We have thus far register over 4 million young people on the site who continue to find opportunities for empowerment. We encourage you to also register on this site for opportunities to find you.

Programme director,

May is also Child Protection Month. This important observance reminds us that every child deserves safety, dignity and care. The leaders we celebrate tomorrow are the children we protect today. Protecting children is not only a moral obligation; it is an investment in South Africa's future.

Young people must be at the centre of every endeavour of government. They must be central to technology and innovation. South Africa needs young programmers, engineers, data scientists and entrepreneurs who will build African solutions for African challenges.

They must also be central to agriculture. South Africa is now the world's leading exporter of citrus by value. This remarkable achievement demonstrates what is possible when innovation and hard work come together. Young people should be at the forefront of modern agriculture, food processing, agri-technology and export development.

Young people must also be central to sport, arts and culture. In music, we have seen Tyla rise to global prominence and make South Africans proud on the world stage. We have seen Amapiano become a worldwide cultural movement, created by our own young people and embraced across continents. These achievements show that South African talent can reach every corner of the world. We want many more young people to compose, perform, design, produce and tell our stories.

Young people must also lead in mathematics, science, medicine and education. There should be absolutely no limits to what a young South African can achieve. The next scientific breakthrough, global company, award-winning artwork or Olympic medal may come from a young person sitting in this audience today.

Ladies and gentleman, Faith communities such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church play a vital role in nurturing this potential. Through values-based education, service, discipline and compassion, you help shape responsible citizens who are committed to making a positive contribution to society. This partnership between families, faith communities, schools and government is essential. Together, we can ensure that every young person has the support and encouragement they need to succeed.

To the young people gathered here today, your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your participation matters. This is your country. Do not wait for others to shape your future. Read government policies. Attend public meetings. Submit comments. Volunteer in your communities. Start businesses. Pursue excellence in your studies. Serve with integrity and lead with courage.

South Africa needs your energy, your creativity and your commitment. As we celebrate 30 years of our Constitution, let us recommit ourselves to building a country in which every young person can thrive. We must build a country where opportunity is real, where talent is nurtured, where no dream is too big and where young people are not spectators but architects of our democracy.

So, do young people have a role in shaping government? Absolutely Yes! they do. They have a vital role, a constitutional role, an economic role, a cultural role and a moral role. Above all, they have the power to transform South Africa.

Let us place young people at the centre of every national endeavour. Let us listen to them. Let us invest in them. Let us believe in them. And let us work together to build the South Africa we all deserve.

I thank you.

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli will on Saturday, 16 May 2026, deliver an address at the Seventh-day Adventist Community Day to be held at Maragon Mooikloof in Pretoria.

The Community Day will bring together learners, parents, educators, faith leaders and members of the broader community to reflect on the role of young people in shaping South Africa.

The details of the event are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Time: 09:00
Venue: Maragon Mooikloof, Pretoria East

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Saturday, 16 May 2026, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government and the people of South Africa,  attend the State Funeral of the late former President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Festus Gontebanye Mogae.

Former President Mogae passed away last week at the age of 86. 

President Ramaphosa has conveyed his condolences on behalf of South Africa to former First Lady Her Excellency Mrs Barbara Gemma Mogae,  the bereaved family, President Duma Gideon Boko and the people of Botswana.

Details of the funeral are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Time: 05h00
Venue: University of Botswana, Gaborone.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane,
Premier of North West province, Mr Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premiers,
Mayors,
Traditional leadership present,
Delegates to the National Council of Provinces,
Fellow South Africans, 
 
Dumelang. Goeie môre. Sanibonani. Molweni. Avuxeni. Lotjhani. 
 
Good morning, 
 
It is a pleasure to be here in the North West for this important event. 
 
Taking Parliament to the People gives effect to the promise of our constitution that was signed into law thirty years ago. 
 
Our constitution declares that all South Africans have the right to participate fully in the life of our nation, that they should have a say in the way they are governed and that they should participate fully in all decisions that affect them. 
 
Just as millions of South Africans were part of drawing up the Constitution itself, participatory democracy is the foundation of the open, free, tolerant society we are striving to build. 
 
In 1994, our vision was to build a People’s Parliament that represents the people, where their voices are heard and that broadly reflects their will. 
 
Taking Parliament to the People is an integral part of that vision. 
 
Before we begin the order of proceedings today, we wish to pay tribute to the lives that have been tragically lost in the flooding in several provinces. 
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, with those who have lost their homes and with those whose businesses have been damaged. 
 
This natural disaster is a stark reminder of how vulnerable we are as a country and as a continent to the forces of nature and to the growing impacts of climate change. 
 
It calls on us to strengthen our emergency and disaster preparedness systems. 
 
We have to step up investment in climate resilient infrastructure. 
 
Most of all, we have to be regularly engaging with communities to keep them informed and empowered to respond effectively when such events occur. 
 
Over the past few days there have been a series of public engagements where we have been able to hear first-hand from our communities about the challenges they are facing. 
 
Elected officials are expected to report back to communities on what they are doing to address these challenges. 
 
I am pleased to hear that these engagements were well-attended and were vibrant and productive. 
 
What emerged from these engagements is that local government needs to be at the centre of our efforts to build a South Africa of equality and dignity for all.
 
In February this year, in the State of the Nation Address, I outlined our plans for the year ahead to give effect to the strategic priorities of the Government of National Unity. 
 
I outlined how we are driving inclusive economic growth that creates more jobs by expanding the productive capacity of our economy and attracting more investment. 
 
We are working to tackle poverty and address the high cost of living that is putting strain on individuals and households, particularly the poor and vulnerable. 
 
We are building a capable, ethical and developmental state that is able to deliver the basic services that are our citizens’ right. 
 
We are building a state that treats every South African with courtesy and respect, and that is free from corruption and mismanagement.
 
We have prioritised measures to address the water crisis affecting many municipalities across the country.
 
The National Water Crisis Committee has been established to coordinate the efforts of all departments and spheres of government.
 
We are dealing with the immediate challenges in the most affected municipalities, while changing the way that water infrastructure is funded and managed.
 
Two weeks ago, we held a historic meeting of all the mayors in South Africa to discuss the challenges facing municipalities.
 
At that meeting, we outlined the National Water Action Plan, which outlines the focused actions we will take to address the crisis.
 
We were encouraged by the enthusiastic and committed support of all mayors and all provinces to this critical work.
 
During the course of this week, our Ministers, MECs and Mayors have been engaging with communities on the specific initiatives to be rolled out, aligned with these strategic priorities.
 
What I wish to emphasise today, as we have done a number of times in the past, is that local government is where our ability and capability to achieve all these national priorities will be put to the test. 
 
Local government is the engine room of development. 
 
It is where national policies and provincial programmes are translated into action.
 
Local government is critical in ensuring that people have water and sanitation, electricity, roads, clinics and community services. 
 
Local government has a vital role in determining where companies choose to establish their offices, factories, shops and outlets.
 
When companies choose to close down and move elsewhere because of poor services, jobs and livelihoods are lost and the local economy suffers. 
 
When local government works, when municipalities are well-managed and deliver on their mandates, cities, towns and villages thrive. 
 
That is why fixing local government is among the foremost priorities of this administration. 
 
Even as local government faces serious challenges today, it has been one of the most effective instruments of transformation since the advent of democracy in 1994. 
 
Municipalities have helped expand access to water and electrification to communities that had been deliberately excluded under apartheid, including in the most rural reaches of the country. 
 
Local government has supported the delivery of millions of homes and helped built clinics, roads and other critical infrastructure. 
 
The Community Work Programme has created pathways for work, livelihood support and dignity for millions of unemployed South Africans. 
 
Local government will be a critical enabler of the most ambitious infrastructure build programme in our country’s history. 
 
Over the next three years we will be investing R1 trillion rand to build energy, water, transportation, logistics, IT and essential other infrastructure. 
 
This massive programme will create jobs, support local businesses and supplier development, and develop new value chains. 
 
We are on a concerted drive to attract investment into our economy. 
 
These potential investors need to know that they are bringing their investments to places that have reliable basic services, are well regulated and managed, and that are safe and secure. 
 
As such, local government doesn’t just support development. It is the axis on which our entire economy turns. 
 
We are determined that local government must rise anew from the ground up. 
 
Municipalities must be able to fulfil their role of building inclusive communities, expanding opportunity and upholding the dignity of all. 
 
To do so, it is not enough to merely paper over the cracks. Simply allocating more budgets or hiring more people is not enough, important though these may be. 
 
We have to fundamentally transform the way local government works and how it is structured. The structures developed in the past may not serve us anymore. 
 
We have to change how local government coordinates with national and provincial government for proper planning. 
 
We have to relook at the manner in which accountability and consequence management has been enforced in instances of non-performance. 
 
Above all, we have to reclaim the constitutional spirit that is meant to guide all the affairs of local government, where citizens are consulted and actively participate in decisions. 
 
A week ago, we released the reviewed draft White Paper on Local Government.
 
The changes proposed in the draft White Paper affect residents directly. 
 
They impact on people’s daily lives.
 
I therefore urge all South Africans to be part of the consultation process that is now underway.
 
The first issue we are addressing with the White Paper is governance arrangements. 
 
For decades, the district-local split has led to duplication, extra cost and overlapping powers and functions. 
 
When there have been failures, municipalities have been able to blame each other. The aim now is to create a system where roles, responsibilities and lines of accountability are clear. 
 
The second issue is to make intergovernmental coordination binding, in line with the Constitution. The different spheres of government will be expected to work together on resolving problems at local level instead of in silos. 
 
The third issue is to reform and tighten municipal finance systems. 
 
Municipalities will be held to stricter account on how and where they spend public money, particularly on maintaining essential infrastructure. 
 
The draft White Paper also proposes an overhaul of municipal billing and revenue collection. 
 
The fourth issue is to bring local government into the digital age. 
 
We are going to be focusing on digitisation and strengthening data systems that are able to facilitate and monitor service delivery.
 
Appointments to municipal offices are going to be professionalised and there will be tougher consequence management for corruption and maladministration. 
 
The people of South Africa want to see councils fixing potholes and delivering water, not fighting over gets one or another tender. They are also tired of being passed over for opportunities in favour of those with political connections. 
 
We must declare the days of patronage and factional politics in local government over. 
 
The days of those with political ambition colluding with corrupt business people to loot municipalities are over. 
 
We can no longer allow municipal infrastructure to be deliberately ruined so that preferred private companies can take over critical functions like providing water. 
 
This is the people’s government. Our task is to make it work for the people. Not for politicians. Not for connected businesspeople. Not for vested interests. 
 
Communities, businesses, civil society organisations and traditional leaders are our partners in rebuilding local government. 
 
For too long municipalities have gotten away with saying that they are committed to public participation because they placed an ad in a newspaper, had a public hearing or because they have a complaints line. 
 
Meaningful public participation in local government must be a structured partnership.
 
We are going to be looking at the different ways in which all of society can play a more direct role in shaping how local government is administered. 
 
Our country has entered a new era of hope and promise. 
 
Our economy is recovering. Investors are increasingly seeing South Africa as a favourable place in which to do business. 
 
Over the past few years we have faced moments where our resolve has been sorely tested, including a global pandemic and an energy crisis. 
 
By working together, we have been able to weather these storms and emerge stronger. 
 
Just as we have seen in recent days with South Africans opening their hearts to the victims of the floods, we are a resilient people capable of overcoming even what seem like insurmountable challenges. 
 
That is why I have no doubt that we will fix local government so it can assume its rightful place as the beating heart of our democracy; where lives are improved and transformed. 
 
As the National Council of Provinces, as the National Assembly, as provincial and local government and across the entire apparatus of the state, let us ensure that Taking Parliament to the People doesn’t end here. 
 
We must take our people’s concerns back to our offices, our legislatures and our councils, and act on them. 
 
When the next session of Taking Parliament to the People comes around, we must be able to show what we have done. 
 
This is about restoring confidence and trust in our government and our democracy. 
 
A government based on the will of the people is the promise of our democracy. 
 
It is the promise of our constitution. 
 
And as all South Africans, we must be determined to honour it, now and into the future. 
 
I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended, until 18 December 2026, the term of the judicial commission of inquiry probing alleged attempts to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. 

In May 2025, President Ramaphosa established the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations regarding efforts or attempts having been made to stop the investigation or prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases.

The establishment of the commission of inquiry is part of an agreement reached in settlement discussions in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes. 

The Commission recently requested an extension of its term of office for it to finish its work and submit a final report to the President.

Having considered the Commission’s request as well as submissions opposing and supporting the extension, President Ramaphosa has given the Commission until 18 December 2026 to submit its final report.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria