Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Members,
Fellow South Africans, 

Allow me to thank the members of this House for what has been, for the most part, a debate of substance on Vote 1.
 
This debate has demonstrated that while we may differ on matters of policy and politics, there is broad agreement on the challenges confronting our nation and on the urgency with which they must be addressed.

South Africans expect of all of us not simply to diagnose the country’s problems, but to work together to solve them. They expect leadership, accountability and results.

It is with that responsibility firmly in mind that the Presidency approaches its work every day.

For Parliamentary oversight to be effective, it is necessary to engage not just with the grand vision, but also with the granular detail that will determine whether such a vision succeeds or fails. 

Many issues were raised during the course of the debate yesterday and it is not possible in this reply to reflect on all of them.

However, as we conclude this debate on the Presidency Budget Vote, there are some fundamental assertions that must be made.

We should state that this Presidency is resolutely focused on the task of growing an inclusive economy and creating jobs.

We are not distracted by the clamour of some political parties for attention. We are not distracted by political theatre or electoral posturing.

We will not be sidetracked by narrow agendas that have nothing to do with the needs, interests and concerns of the people of South Africa.

As an institution and as the people who lead it, we are focused on the work that must be done to move with greater urgency and purpose to transform our economy.

This determination is shared across government. It is shared by most of the Members of this House, and it is certainly shared by the people of this country.

Economic growth is not an abstract concept. 

It is about whether a young person can find work. It is about whether a small business can expand. It is about whether investors have confidence to build factories, establish enterprises and create opportunities.

Our task is therefore not simply to grow the economy. It is to ensure that growth is inclusive, sustainable and capable of transforming the lives of ordinary South Africans.

As Deputy Minister Morolong said, building a common future for all South Africans is our overriding priority.

We can assert with confidence that we are building a Presidency capable of driving transformation across society.

In many ways, we are having to rebuild the Presidency as an institution with the resources, capability and intent to provide strategic direction and coordination.

The Presidency is not intended to replace departments or duplicate their responsibilities.

Its purpose is to ensure coherence across government, to drive implementation, to remove obstacles to progress and to ensure that the priorities of the nation are translated into measurable outcomes.

In a complex and rapidly changing world, the centre of government must have both the capability and the authority to coordinate national efforts around growth, jobs, service delivery and social development.

During the state capture era, power tended to be concentrated at the centre of government not to advance the public good but to facilitate patronage. And, as the State Capture Commission found, to shield wrongdoing.

This was true across many parts of the state. The State Capture Commission also found that efforts were made to undermine and repurpose institutions like the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Revenue Service.

In a number of departments and state owned enterprises key to economic growth and social development, service delivery was considered secondary to the adjudication of massive tenders to favour vested interests.

Institutions responsible for safety, security and intelligence were politicised and weakened.

To understand the role, approach and priorities of the Presidency at this time in our country’s history, it is necessary to recognise where we have come from.

Coordinating the repair of the damage wrought by state capture from the centre of government has been, and will continue to be, a critical function of this Presidency.

Having strategic functions like structural reform, state security or investment driven from the centre of government is common practice in a number of established democracies. 

South Africa is not alone in coordinating issues of national consequence from the centre of government. 

The challenges facing modern states are increasingly complex, interconnected and cross-cutting. 

Economic growth, energy security, infrastructure investment, climate adaptation, national security, logistics reform and public employment cannot be effectively addressed by individual departments acting in isolation.

As a result, many successful democracies have strengthened the coordinating role of the centre of government to ensure policy coherence, implementation discipline and accountability across the state.

The Presidency's role in South Africa should therefore be understood not as the centralisation of power for its own sake, but as the coordination of national priorities that require collective action across multiple departments, spheres of government and social partners.

The centre of government becomes the place where obstacles are removed, competing priorities are aligned and implementation is monitored to ensure that national objectives are achieved.

The Presidency has used this approach – working together with departments and other state entities – to, among other things, mobilise investment, manage the COVID-19 pandemic, tackle gender-based violence and overcome the energy crisis.

The Presidency has devoted much effort to rebuild the relationship between the state and other social partners. 

The change has been most evident in the relationship between government and business.

During the era of state capture, relations between the Presidency and business were opaque and advanced the interests of a connected few.

Today the Presidency is working with business in a structured partnership to advance growth, attract investment, create jobs and move South Africa forward. 

This partnership is conducted in a spirit of collaboration, mutual respect and transparency. 

The partnerships we have built with business, labour, civil society, community organisations and development organisations have proven invaluable both in times of crisis and in times of reconstruction.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to the load shedding crisis, from the just energy transition to the Presidential Employment Stimulus, we have forged strong and enduring partnerships.

We can confidently assert that the achievements of this Presidency are meaningful and measurable.

Budget debates are an exercise in assessing whether public resources are translating to public value. 

We must therefore ask: what is the value of the work we have done as government, through the leadership of the Presidency, to end load shedding?

Over the course of nearly two decades, load shedding cost our economy billions of rands a year in lost output. 

Through the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, through Eskom’s generation recovery programme, through the massive investment in renewable generation, we have in effect brought load shedding to an end.

By the same measure, what is the value of the work underway to restore stability in other key state-owned enterprises?

For years, corruption, dysfunction and mismanagement at Transnet was a severe constraint on growth. It has taken a great effort, involving partners across government and across industry, to turn the situation around.

Transnet is now registering a steady increase in rail volumes and vessel traffic through its ports. Its financial position is improving and in the last financial year, cargo volumes through its ports showed its strongest growth in 15 years.

These gains have been reinforced by the work of Operation Vulindlela, which continues to remove long-standing structural constraints to growth.

Reforms in the electricity sector, telecommunications, logistics, water and the visa system are improving the conditions for investment and economic expansion.

These reforms are not always immediately visible, but they are steadily reshaping the foundations of our economy and strengthening South Africa's long-term growth prospects.

Some Honourable Members asked what the value of investment conferences, envoys and task teams is.

Eight years ago fixed investment in the country had all but stalled, business confidence was low and the relationship between government and the private sector was characterised by mistrust.

The investment drive we launched then has made a significant difference.

Of the total of R1.5 trillion in investment pledges over the first five years, a total of R634 billion has already been invested in new factories, new production lines, new mines, renewable energy plants, data centres and new machinery.

These investments have sustained and created employment, have developed valuable skills, provided opportunities to emerging businesses and supported livelihoods in communities across the country.

This year’s South Africa Investment Conference recorded the highest cumulative value of pledges to date, encouraging us to set our ambitions even higher.

Several Members raised the challenge of youth unemployment.

We recognise that unemployment among young people remains one of the greatest threats to our country's future prosperity and social stability.

As we create the favourable conditions under which investment can take place that creates jobs at scale, the Presidency has been centrally involved in undertaking mass public employment.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus, coordinated through the Presidency, has created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus continues to demonstrate that public support for employment is a vital part of our overall employment strategy and can create opportunities for meaningful work and create real social value in the process. 

Last year, the Basic Education Employment Initiative provided work experience for nearly 200,000 young people in schools across the country, with support also provided to social employment, the creative sector, metros and the National Youth Service. 

The National Pathway Management Network continues to expand with more than 900,000 young people joining SA Youth mobi in the last year, increasing the number of young people on the platform to 5.7 million.

While public employment programmes provide important opportunities, our ultimate objective is to create a growing economy capable of generating sustainable employment at scale.

We must also appreciate the contribution of the social wage towards inclusive economic growth, social development and improved livelihoods.

We spend more than 60 percent of our budget before interest costs on the social wage. This is an investment in our people.

Studies have shown that social grants have enabled beneficiaries to pursue diverse livelihoods, to start and sustain small businesses, to search for employment and to invest in a child's education.

Recipients of the Child Support Grant complete significantly more years of schooling and consistently achieve higher test scores at school.

Of all the investments we are making, the most enduring and impactful is the investment we are making in our children.

The Presidency was centrally involved in developing the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children, which was approved by Cabinet in December 2025.

Central to this strategy is our mission to end child stunting. In line with the commitment made in SONA, we have established an inter-departmental task team and are setting up mechanisms to engage civil society, business and trade unions to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition.

This is taking place alongside the commitment of substantial new resources to ensure that every child benefits from early childhood development.

We want our children to have both the food and the intellectual stimulation to grow their brainpower and their bodies to full potential.  

Another question to ask in this Budget Vote is what is the value of the work we have done – driven from the Presidency – to root out corruption and state capture?

The State Capture Commission estimated that more than R57 billion in public funds was lost through state capture. 

However, the true cost of state capture to the economy – in lost investment, higher borrowing costs, collapsed institutions, and foregone growth and jobs – is much greater.

Work has begun in earnest to recover as much of the stolen funds as possible.

As I reported yesterday, recoveries by law enforcement linked to the work of the Commission now stand at over R17 billion.

As a result of Presidential Proclamations, the SIU has recovered R1.3 billion in cash and assets in the past financial year alone. 

A number of Honourable Members correctly pointed out that corruption weakens the capacity of the state, undermines public trust and diverts resources away from the needs of our people.

The fight against corruption is therefore not simply a governance issue. It is a development issue, a service delivery issue and a moral imperative.

Beyond the recovery of stolen funds and the prosecution of wrongdoing, we are working to build institutions that are transparent, accountable and resilient against future abuse.

We are working hard to strengthen consequence management, improve procurement oversight and promote ethical leadership across the public sector.
    
Several speakers raised concerns about crime, violence and the effectiveness of our criminal justice system. These concerns are both legitimate and urgent.

Every day, South Africans experience the devastating consequences of violent crime, organised criminal activity, gender-based violence and the exploitation of vulnerable communities.

As we said in the State of the Nation Address, the fight against crime cannot be approached as a routine function of government. 

It must be approached as a national priority requiring urgency, coordination and sustained effort.

That is why we have placed specific focus on tackling organised crime, reducing gun violence and restoring stability and security in communities ravaged by gang warfare.

The South African Police Service has achieved much success with its specialised task forces and units to deal with specific forms of criminality, and will continue to refine this approach.

A number of Members reminded this House that the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable.

The scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains one of the greatest challenges confronting our nation.

We agree with the Honourable Members who said that the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide must be established without delay and will give the matter priority.

As I said yesterday, government remains committed to strengthening prevention efforts, improving support services for survivors, enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice response and addressing the social conditions that contribute to violence against women and children.

This work requires the collective effort of government, communities, faith-based organisations, civil society and the private sector.

Madam Speaker,

We can state with conviction that, as a nation, we look to the future with confidence because we have seen what we are capable of.

Five months from now, South Africans will participate in local government elections where they will signal with their votes how they want their municipalities to be run. 

The elections will be overseen by the Independent Electoral Commission, one of our finest and most trusted institutions constitutionally mandated to safeguard democracy. 

It was quite disappointing to hear aspersions being cast on the IEC by a member of this House. 

Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, this country has held seven national and provincial elections and six local government elections. 

Without exception, all of them were declared free and fair, and took place under conditions free from violence. 

At a time when there is democratic backsliding in many parts of the world, that participatory democracy remains strong in this country is a credit to our constitutional order – and to the work of the IEC. 

I urge members of this House and indeed all South Africans to rally behind the IEC as we prepare to head to elections. 

These elections are taking place at an important time, as we work to fashion a new approach to local government.

The Draft Revised White Paper on Local Government, which has been developed through extensive consultation, proposes far-reaching changes to governance arrangements.

These are intended to reduce overlapping powers and functions, and ensure that each municipality is able to fulfil the responsibilities assigned to it.

In particular, we need to re-organise how water and electricity services are delivered. 

We continue to move forward in establishing a utility model which allows water and electricity services to be ring-fenced, professionally managed and able to invest in essential infrastructure. 

With the proposed changes, municipalities will be held to stricter account on how they spend public money.

Effective local government is critical and necessary for the progress of our country.

We all carry a responsibility, wherever we are, to ensure that local government works for all South Africans.

Thirty-two years after the achievement of democracy, South Africa remains a country where political contestation takes place openly, where the courts are independent, where the media operates freely and where citizens are able to hold those in power accountable.

These are achievements that should never be taken for granted and which all of us have a responsibility to protect.

Honourable Members,

Reference was made by a number of speakers to the Section 89 process that Parliament has embarked upon following the Constitutional Court judgment.

My approach to this matter is guided – as it as always been – by the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. 

The institutions of our democracy must be allowed to perform their work without interference and without intimidation.

I will continue to uphold the principles and safeguard the integrity of my office. I will respect the work and authority of Parliament and abide by the rulings of our courts. 

I have every confidence in the constitutional processes of our country and will continue to respect and abide by them.

We will not allow anything to slow the momentum of growth and transformation that, with each passing day, is gaining more and more pace.

Honourable Members,

South Africans do not judge government by the speeches we make or the debates we have in this House. 

They judge us by whether they feel safe in their homes, whether they can find work, whether services are delivered, whether corruption is punished and whether their children can look to the future with hope. 

Those are the standards by which this Presidency wishes to be measured, and those are the outcomes towards which we direct all our efforts.

South Africa has faced many challenges over the course of its democratic journey.

We have confronted division and instability. 

We have confronted corruption and state capture. 

We have confronted a devastating pandemic and an unprecedented energy crisis.

Each time, through determination, resilience and collective effort, we have prevailed.

Today we are seeing the results of that effort.

Investment is growing.

Infrastructure is being rebuilt.

Energy supply has stabilised.

Institutions that were weakened are being restored.

Opportunities are being created for millions of South Africans.

While much work remains to be done, we can say with confidence that our country is moving forward.

Let us therefore reject pessimism and cynicism.

We must draw strength from what we have achieved together and from what remains possible.

We should continue to work together to build a South Africa that is growing, inclusive, prosperous and united.

A South Africa in which every person can realise their potential.

A South Africa that works for all leaving no one behind.

I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 04 June 2026, host His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya on a State Visit at the Union Buildings in Tshwane.

South Africa and Kenya enjoy long standing mutually beneficial and cordial relations that were re-established in 1994. South Africa values Kenya as a strategic partner in the East African region and the continent.

The strategic importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries underlines South Africa’s intentions to elevate the nature of the relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership.

South Africa and Kenya have to date signed 28 Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding in various fields including, Agriculture, Sports, Education, Home Affairs, Defence and Correctional Services, Water and Sanitation, Government Printing Works, Tourism, Trade Industry and Competition, Transport and Environment.

The two countries undertook reciprocal State Visits in 2021 and in 2022.

Kenya is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners in Africa, outside of the Southern African Development Community.

There are more than 60 South African companies operating in Kenya, with investments in various sectors of the economy.
 
President Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s delegation to the Official Talks with President Ruto where discussions will range between bilateral, multilateral, economic, regional and continental issues.

The  official talks will be followed by a  Business Forum. 

The Business Forum will focus on deepening economic cooperation, facilitating business partnership and exploring statergies for unlocking the full potential of trade and investment between the two countries in mutually beneficial strategic sectors. 

The media programme for the State Visit is as follows: 
WELCOME CEREMONY
Time:  09h30 (Media to arrive at 07:00)
Venue:  Union Buildings 
Date: Thursday 04 June 2026 
 
SOUTH AFRICA – KENYA OFFICIAL TALKS
Time: 10h30
Venue: Union Buildings
Date: Thursday 04 June 2026
 
MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY AND MEDIA BRIEFING
Time: 12h30
Venue: Union Buildings
Date: Thursday 04 June 2026

SOUTH AFRICA - KENYA BUSINESS FORUM
Time: 16h00
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg 
Date: Thursday, 04 June 2026

Note to Media: The accreditation process for this event has been concluded by the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS).

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will host a Youth Dialogue and Luncheon with matric learners from Gugulethu.
The dialogue is part of government's efforts to engage young people on issues affecting their future and to inspire active participation in building a prosperous South Africa. The engagement will provide learners with an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with the Deputy Minister about their aspirations, challenges, opportunities, and the role they can play in shaping the country's future.

The details of the dialogue are as follows:
Date: 3 June 2026
Time: 12:30
Venue: Capetonian Hotel, Cape Town

The Deputy Minister will engage directly with matric learners from Gugulethu on matters relating to education, youth development, leadership, and South Africa's future.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will officially hand over a newly refurbished house to youth beneficiaries from previously disadvantaged backgrounds in Nyanga, Cape Town.

The handover is a collaborative initiative between the Presidency and the Mellon Housing Initiative aimed at improving access to dignified housing and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

Details of the handover ceremony are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Time:11:00 – 12:00
Venue: New Cross Roads, Nyanga, Cape Town

The event will feature remarks by Deputy Minister Nonceba Mhlauli, representatives of the Mellon Housing Initiative, and the beneficiaries of the project.

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

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria

Madame Speaker,
Your Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Chief Whip,
Honourable Members of the House,
Fellow South Africans,

Good evening,

I rise in support of Budget Vote: The Presidency. I do so with a clear understanding of the moment we are in as a country. 

South Africans are not asking government for more slogans. They are asking for work that can be seen, felt and trusted. 

They are asking for a government that delivers on its promises; a government that does not work in fragments; and a government that is able to move from planning to delivery with urgency and discipline. 

Essentially, South Africans want a Government that works for all, especially its young people who constitute 59% of the country’s total population. 

The youth of this country have for the past 50 years since June 16 1976, and beyond; demonstrated that they do not lack ideas, talent, and courage to stand up for their future. What they lack is access. 

Through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) as launched by President Ramaphosa in 2020, we are actively expanding that door to access. The recently released Q3 results for 2025/26 demonstrate real, quantifiable momentum in our drive to transition young people from learning to earning:
• In the third quarter alone, the PYEI facilitated 294,530 new earning opportunities. 
• By the end of Q3, more than 5.77 million young people had registered on the SA Youth platform, and over 4.8 million on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system. 
• Since its inception, the PYEI has facilitated access to more than 2.36 million earning opportunities.
• Importantly, over 70% of the opportunities accessed through SA Youth have been taken up by young women, helping close historical gender gaps.
• The Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund exceeded its targets this quarter, enrolling over 9,170 young people and successfully placing more than 7,200 into employment. This is funding real outcomes. 
• The Revitalised National Youth Service continues its rapid expansion, having placed 132,784 young people in paid service opportunities to date, with additional 100 000 opportunities currently available on SA Youth.Mobi. We therefore call upon youth between the ages of 18 and 35 to participate in this programme focused on community service, skills development and gain meaningful work experience. 

The success of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) demonstrates the impact of deliberate policy choices made by the ANC-led government. 

The Youth Employment Service (YES), a private sector led initiative in partnership with the Presidency, has created over 228 000 youth jobs with an absorption rate of 60% into fulltime employment post the programme. 17% of YES Alumni have started their own business with the support of the programme across sectors. 

These are real measurable outcomes Honourable Khanyile. The reports are released quarterly and readily available on the StateOfTheNation website. I would invite the honourable member to make use of this information to avoid quoting incorrect figures as she did earlier today. 

Through sustained investment in youth employment and empowerment programmes, partnerships with the private sector, and the allocation of public resources to create opportunities for young people, this government has enabled hundreds of thousands of youth to gain work experience, skills, and pathways into the labour market. 

The PYEI is not an accidental success; it reflects government's commitment to tackling youth unemployment through targeted intervention and innovation. At a time when youth unemployment remains one of South Africa's greatest challenges, the programme stands as evidence that government action can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.

This evidence does not stand in isolation, it speaks to the 32 years of effective governance which has made South Africa a far better country it is today. 

The propagandists want us to believe that this country has gone backwards but in actual fact, the numbers as released by Statistics South Africa in the General Household Survey last week tells a different story. 

Therefore, Honourable Members, allow me to recount the story of the Republic of South Africa in numbers – (and I urge Honourable Litchfield-Tshabalala to listen closely as I know that research is not their strong point, corruption is.)

• South Africa’s total life expectancy at birth increased from 55.2% in 2002 to nearly 67% in 2025.
• 84% of households live in formal dwellings and with more than half of these households owning their homes. This is empirical evidence that we are housing the nation. 
• Earlier the President recounted that we have gone for over a year without loadshedding. In addition, 94.9% of South Africa’s households have access to electricity. 
• On access to water and sanitation, 87.4% of South African households have access to piped water with 8.1 million more households having gained piped water since 2002. 
• 84% of households now have improved sanitation.
• On education, 96.6% of school participation is achieved by age 15.
• 52.9% of South African adults now have at least Grade 12, with an enrolment of 1.9 million students in our public institutions of higher learning as at 2024.
• On connectivity, 93.8% of households have access to a functional telephone (cellphone or landline), with 85.6% of households having access to the internet. In actual fact, our State Owned Telkom have declared R559 million in dividends to government in the past financial year. 

This, ladies and gentlemen is the story of South Africa in numbers, with the Presidency at the apex of driving this delivery through effective coordination. It is a story of a nation in progress with real tangible development in the lives of our people as affirmed by the Honourable Daniels. 

The Honorable Trollip stood here and purported to do an assessment of Chapter 9 Institutions. 

Let us assist him in his assessment of the work of the Presidency with the relevant FACT!

The Constitutional Court, the Public Protector, the Auditor-General, the South African Human Rights Commission, the Independent Electoral Commission, and the broader suite of Chapter 9 institutions — were authored, established and resourced by the African National Congress in Government. The Constitution itself was, in its principal authorship, is the work of this very President. 

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture — chaired by then-Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo — was established by in January 2018, on the recommendation of the Public Protector. Six volumes of findings were delivered between January and June 2022 with over 17 billion recovered by the state to date.

It is the most exhaustive corruption inquiry in the history of the Republic. 

The Commission of Inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation (the Mpati Commission), chaired by Judge Lex Mpati and reporting in 2020, cleansed the governance of the largest asset manager on the continent.

The Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance at the South African Revenue Service (the Nugent Commission), chaired by Justice Robert Nugent in 2018, restored the integrity of SARS and recovered tens of billions of Rand in revenue.

The Toy Soldiers spoke about taxes having forgotten that the reason we have a SARS to speak about today, is because of this very Presidency. Those who sought to cripple this institution now sit in the opposition benches and want to lecture us about progressive taxes. 

The Instruments of the anti-corruption architecture in our country all happened under President Ramaphosa. 

The Special Investigating Unit and its Tribunal; 
The Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority, elevated to permanent statutory status as the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) by the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act of 2024; 
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks); 
The Asset Forfeiture Unit;
The Financial Intelligence Centre; 
The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2030 and the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council were adopted under President Ramaphosa. 

Honourable President,

Many of those who called you Mr Commission of Inquiry when you established the Madlanga Commission, claiming that it is a delay tactic and waste of funds, are now at the forefront of saying it must continue indefinitely. We of course welcome the change of heart. It is indeed a function of democracy to change your mind when presented with new evidence. 

Mr President, you have stayed true to the promise you made when you came into office when you said – “the era of impunity is over.”

Your Presidency has in truth been characterised by the fact that no one is above the law, including yourself, which is what you have asserted since incumbency. 

So there is no crisis Hon Mesheo, the instruments of accountability created by this government shall continue to work. 

Conclusion

Honourable Members, South Africans will not judge The Presidency by the number of meetings convened. They will judge us by whether government works better when it matters most.
• They will judge us when a young person is searching for a pathway to work.
• They will judge us when a woman seeks protection and justice. 
• They will judge us when a community faces service delivery failure. 
• They will judge us when reform commitments must become visible progress. 
• They will judge us when public expenditure must translate into public trust. 

Our duty is to shorten the distance between commitment and consequence. This Budget Vote is therefore a vote for a Presidency that coordinates with purpose, monitors with discipline, supports reform with urgency, and places the lived experience of South Africans at the centre of its work. 

It is a vote for a government that must move faster, work together better and account more honestly. 

I submit. 

On 21 May 2026, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an Order setting a deadline of 22 November 2027 for South Africa to file its Reply to Israel’s written pleading – submitted in March 2026 – in the case of Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). Israel will then have until 22 May 2029 to submit a Rejoinder. The ICJ’s Order follows a meeting of the representatives of the parties and the President of the Court in The Hague on 29 April 2026, called by the President of the Court to discuss the next procedural steps in the case. 

A second round of written pleadings is common in ICJ cases; in fact, in all previous cases brought under the Genocide Convention, parties have submitted a Reply and a Rejoinder. Moreover, as Israel has now objected to the jurisdiction of the Court in its Counter-Memorial, submitted in March 2026 – and not, as contemplated in the Rules of Court, “as soon as possible, and not later than three months after the delivery of the Memorial” (i.e. January 2025) – South Africa will now have to address these objections to the Court’s jurisdiction in its Reply.

In terms of the Rules of Court, the written pleadings remain confidential until the Court determines otherwise. At the time of filing its Counter-Memorial Israel’s counsel publicly declared that “its Counter-Memorial [proves] its legitimate objectives in the war have always been to eliminate the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist organizations”. Whether or not Israel’s war on Gaza is authorised by, or has complied with, the international law regarding self-defence, as claimed by Israel’s counsel, South Africa’s response is a simple one: self-defence is not a defence to genocide, there is none. 

What is more, Israel remains bound by the three provisional measures Orders issued by the ICJ – at the request of South Africa – that seek to ensure the protection of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, which the Court has determined are under “real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice”. These Orders oblige Israel, amongst other things, to ensure that its military does not commit any genocidal acts in Gaza, to ensure “without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision…of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”, ensure the “unimpeded access” of UN commissions of inquiry, fact-finding mission and other investigative bodies to the Gaza Strip.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Members of the media,

Today marks the fourth day of our visit to India.

We had a highly productive first leg of our Working Visit to the Republic of India here in New Delhi, together with the delegation of Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

We have come to the capital of India to build on the long-standing friendship and partnership between our two countries. Currently, India ranks among the top 10 investing countries in South Africa.

The purpose of this visit has been to strengthen our trade and investment relations. As such, we engaged business associates, current investors in South Africa and India, and those who want to invest in our country.

During the first leg of our Working Visit, we had high-level bilateral meetings with His Excellency Vice President Chandrapuram PonnusamiRadhakrishnan and a courtesy call on Her Excellency Mrs. Droupadi Murmu, which reinforced the strategic partnership between South Africa and India and its shared democratic values. We also discussed trade, investment, skills development, and infrastructure.

Our meetings reaffirmed our historic common bond of cooperation and friendship between South Africa and India and the deep cooperation in the areas of trade diversification, investment promotion, skills development, and multilateral cooperation in such areas as BRICS, IBSA, the G20, and the United Nations.

Our engagements have also sought to align our cooperation with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, ensuring that our partnership contributes to inclusive growth and renewal within the context of global South cooperation.

I engaged with leading Indian corporations and business associations. This included delivering a keynote at the Global Trade and Technology Council of India (GTTCI) Business Round Table. We understand that GTTCI is an apex business chamber and trade organisation founded in 2021 to promote bilateral trade, technology exchange, and global investment between India and the rest of the world.

I also met with the National Association of Software Services Companies (NASSCOM), which operates as a nonprofit organisation and serves as a key entity within the Indian technology sector.

There was consensus on South Africa and India transitioning from dialogue to action, aiming to transform historic solidarity into a future-oriented partnership centered on innovation, industrialisation, and shared prosperity.

Further engagement includes meeting with companies investing in the following sectors: energy, water, infrastructure, and agriculture as well as ICT.

Specifically, we engaged with companies such as Mahindra Group, Jindal Power, IGT Solution, SBU Head Thermax, UFlex, and others. 

Our discussions focused on expanding investment footprints in South Africa in sectors such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure. 

We also discussed the possibilities for collaboration in the increase and diversification of exporting agricultural products and agro-processing, beneficiation of key minerals, and vaccine manufacturing.

Key outcomes of the visit include:

- Reaffirmation and resetting of the Strategic Partnership between South Africa and India, anchored in shared prosperity and innovation.

- Commitments by Indian industry leaders to expand investments in South Africa, particularly in clean energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, and automotive components.

- Progress on trade facilitation, including India’s notification of in-transit cold treatment for South African citrus exports, a milestone for our agricultural producers.

- Strengthened cooperation in multilateral forums, with alignment on reforming global institutions and advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063 alongside India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

- Enhanced people-to-people ties, recognising the deep cultural and historical bonds between our nations.

This visit has laid a solid basis for greater cooperation and development of a better future for all. It has positioned South Africa as India’s gateway into Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area, while reinforcing our role as a reliable partner in advancing the development agenda of the Global South.

As part of the second leg of this visit, tomorrow we will be at Hyderabad, where we will engage further with leaders in the pharmaceuticals and information technology industries.

Our discussion will seek to reinforce South Africa’s vision of inclusive growth and shared prosperity, underscoring the country’s readiness to deepen partnerships that advance innovation, expand opportunities for youth, and strengthen the bonds of solidarity between South Africa and India.

I committed myself to growing investment in South Africa and to building mutually beneficial relationships with India, rooted in shared prosperity. Our business in South Africa and India will be facilitated.

As the second Deputy President of South Africa to visit India, I want to affirm that though this trip is my first visit, it is the beginning of many to come.

I look forward to returning to India in the near future to further strengthen our relations, deepen our economic partnership, and advance sustainable development. We will endeavour to facilitate a trade and investment interface between South African and Indian people.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Government and people of India for their warm hospitality.

I thank you.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,    
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Members,
Fellow South Africans,

Thirty years ago, the people of South Africa adopted a Constitution that transformed our country from a divided past into a democratic future. 

That Constitution remains our national covenant. It is the foundation upon which we are building a society founded on freedom, dignity, equality and opportunity for all.

The Constitution mirrors the hopes and aspirations of the millions of South Africans who played a direct role in drafting it. 

Our Constitution reflects the desire of our people for a government that is responsive, open and accountable. 

The Constitution reflects our people’s desire for a democracy where all three spheres of government serve the public interest, where power is exercised in accordance with the law, and where those entrusted with authority are subject to scrutiny and oversight.

This Presidency Budget Vote is the first to be considered since the National Assembly’s Committee on The Presidency was established in December 2025.

The Presidency welcomes the establishment of the Committee and members of this House can be assured of our full support for its work. 

Strengthening parliamentary oversight is good for transparency, accountability and our democracy. 

The Presidency occupies a unique place within Government in that it is not a service delivery department. 

The Presidency does not build roads, deliver water or supply medicines to clinics. 

The Presidency is not simply a coordinating institution. 

It is the strategic centre from which Government drives implementation, resolves blockages, mobilises partnerships and ensures that the commitments we make to the people of South Africa are translated into tangible results. 

The Presidency’s key role is:

Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation. 

Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. 

Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

The Presidency ensures that the efforts of departments, provinces, municipalities and social partners are coordinated, focused and directed towards the achievement of our developmental objectives.

Because The Presidency’s role is strategic rather than operational, its budget necessarily differs from those of frontline departments. 

Unlike frontline departments whose budgets are primarily directed towards service delivery, The Presidency's mandate is to provide strategic leadership across the entire State.

Its resources are therefore invested in long-term planning, policy coordination, evidence-based decision-making, performance monitoring and implementation oversight. 

These functions are indispensable to ensuring that public resources are used effectively, that Government programmes deliver measurable outcomes and that the priorities of the nation are translated into action.

During the course of this financial year, The Presidency will focus its work on the priorities set out in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The first priority we set out in SONA is to grow the economy and create jobs.

Following years of challenges, our economy is on the mend. 

The macroeconomic environment has improved, tax collection revenues remain strong, public finances are in better shape and national debt has stabilised. 

Last week, the ratings agency Moody’s lifted South Africa’s rating outlook from stable to positive. This comes six months after S&P lifted South Africa’s credit rating for the first time in two decades. 

With dedicated investment expertise, The Presidency continues to coordinate the national investment drive. 

In March, we held a successful 6th South Africa Investment Conference, where we secured pledges in excess of R890 billion in industries across the economy.

Significantly, a substantial portion of investment commitments were from domestic investors. When local investors show confidence in the prospects of the economy, international investors follow suit.

Economic growth is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to create work, restore hope and expand opportunity. Every investment secured, every infrastructure project completed and every reform implemented must ultimately improve the lives of ordinary South Africans.

The Presidency is also working with the relevant department to protect jobs in the auto, cement, steel and other distressed sectors.

We have embarked on the largest infrastructure build in South Africa’s history. 

Over the next three years, the state will be investing R1 trillion in building and refurbishing roads, dams, schools, hospitals and clinics, as well as energy, logistics and transportation infrastructure.

The Presidency is coordinating efforts to broaden markets for South African goods.

We are strengthening our trade relations with our main trading partners, including a number of countries on the African continent, the European Union, the United States and China, while expanding the diversity and volume of our exports to other parts of the world.

For close to two decades, load shedding was one of the single largest constraints to economic growth and social development.

Through the National Energy Crisis Committee – and thanks to the efforts of Eskom, Government departments and social partners – the country has recorded more than a year without load shedding. 

Eskom has returned to financial and operational viability. 

New capacity continues to be added to the national grid including from renewables.

We are now working to bring load reduction experienced by communities in many municipalities to an end.

Through the focused work of Transnet, supported by the National Logistics Crisis Committee, the performance of our railways and ports is improving.

This is helping to ease longstanding bottlenecks across key economic sectors like mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

We are also seeing progress in other economic sectors.

For example, between January and March this year, agriculture recorded an 11 percent increase in export earnings compared to the same period last year. 

South Africa is now the world’s largest exporter of citrus by volume.

Access to productive land is essential to further grow our agricultural output, create jobs and lift people out of poverty. 

Over time, government has acquired around 2.5 million hectares of land under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy programme. 

This land has generally been leased to beneficiaries on a short-term basis, which limits their ability to borrow money, invest in the land, grow agricultural production and contribute to the rural economy. 

As part of our efforts to revitalise rural economies, to strengthen land rights and support the inclusion of black farmers in commercial agriculture, we have embarked on a concerted programme to release this land with title deeds to deserving beneficiaries. 

The Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development will outline the details of the programme to convert agricultural leases to title deeds.

In other areas of the economy, such as tourism, there is significant growth. 

South Africa recorded 10.5 million international tourist arrivals last year, which is the highest number of visitors on record.

And in the first quarter of this year, tourist arrivals were up by more than 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

These are some of the indicators of progress in pursuit of inclusive growth that creates jobs. 

They are the building blocks upon which investments are being secured and opportunities are being created for the people of South Africa.

Even while there is clear progress, events far from our shores are threatening to slow our emerging economic recovery.

The attack by the United States and Israel on Iran – and the conflict that has now engulfed much of the region – has set off a global oil crisis. 

The effects of the surge in oil prices – and of other critical supplies like fertiliser – are likely to undermine much of the progress we had made in bringing down inflation and the cost of living.

Together with disruptions to the global economy, these developments are likely in the immediate term to slow economic growth and hamper our efforts to create jobs.

We should anticipate that conditions will be difficult for the next while.

These developments are unfolding as the latest employment figures from Stats SA show a decline in employment in the last quarter.

We know from experience that it often takes time for investment to translate into economic growth, and for growth to translate into jobs. 

But we must still be deeply concerned about the decline in employment, because it is about people’s lives and livelihoods.

These difficulties underline the urgency of the work we are doing. We must move faster and with greater focus to implement our priority actions.

Another of the priorities we identified in SONA is to fight crime and corruption. 

We continue to rebuild and strengthen our law enforcement agencies, security services, National Prosecuting Authority and specialised anti-corruption bodies.

A critical area of focus is the South African Police Service.

We look forward to receiving the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System which is chaired by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

The findings and recommendations of the Commission are expected to bolster our efforts to strengthen the SAPS.

The work of the Commission is already having an impact.

Following the submission of the Commission’s first interim report in December last year, the South African Police Service, working with the National Prosecuting Authority, set up a special task team to investigate referrals arising from the Commission. 

This task team has begun its work in earnest and has already brought a number of cases to court.

We must be unequivocal: public office is a public trust. 

Those who abuse public resources for private gain betray the Constitution, undermine development and steal from the poor.

There will be no tolerance for corruption, regardless of position, status or political affiliation.

The Presidency continues to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.

Of the 60 actions contained in our implementation plan, 80 percent are complete, substantially complete or on track. 

The recoveries by law enforcement linked to the work of the Commission now stand at over R17 billion.

Ten new Acts have been passed to close the gaps that state capture exploited.

These include acts to enable prosecution-led investigation of corruption, reform public procurement, professionalise public administration and overhaul our intelligence services.

Cabinet recently approved for public comment a draft Bill to amend the Protected Disclosures Act. This Bill aims to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers and is a vital pillar of our fight against corruption.

The Presidency is at the forefront of mobilising South Africans from all walks of life behind the national effort to end violence against women.

It exercises stewardship over the implementation of the National Strategic Plan to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

In November last year, gender-based violence and femicide was classified as a national disaster, and Cabinet has approved an action plan to tackle this crisis and commit the necessary resources.

Prevention is our priority. We are therefore increasing our efforts to promote positive masculinity, focused on boys and young men in schools, communities and organisations.

We continue to strengthen the response of the police, prosecutors and courts, and are improving support and care for survivors of gender-based violence.

Another important area is the economic empowerment of women through capacity building, improved access to public procurement and greater involvement in the value chains of key industries.

As we work to build a safer, more stable and more prosperous society, we need to address the challenge of migration.

When it is well managed and regulated, migration can help drive growth and opportunity for South Africans. 

However, we need to deal with illegal migration.

We have seen how illegal immigration can put pressure on our public services and undermine our efforts to create decent work.

As announced in SONA, Government is taking decisive action to address this challenge. 

We are cracking down on violations of immigration laws.

We are increasing our inspections of workplaces and prosecuting employers who violate our labour laws.

We are strengthening border security, stamping out corruption in the immigration system and closing the loopholes in fragmented immigration laws. 

We must be clear: every person in South Africa – whether they are citizens or foreign nationals – must respect our laws, and the rights of every person in our country must be upheld.

We must never give in to violence, xenophobia or vigilantism. 

As a society, we must stand against all forms of disinformation, incitement, racism and ethnic mobilisation.

We will strengthen and enforce our laws, while upholding the Constitution and the human dignity of all. This will enable us to deal with illegal immigration without turning against one another.

Another critical priority we outlined in the State of the Nation Address is to urgently resolve the water crisis affecting many parts of the country.

Drawing on our experience in ending load shedding, we have established the National Water Crisis Committee.

Coordinated from the centre of Government, the committee has begun implementation of the National Water Action Plan to address weaknesses in the management and delivery of water services.

Through the plan, we will pursue both immediate relief and lasting structural reform.

In the short term, national Government will intervene directly in municipalities facing acute water failures using existing constitutional and legislative powers.

Over the medium to long term, the water delivery model will be overhauled. 

Municipalities will be required to ring-fence water revenues so that what consumers pay for water is reinvested directly into fixing pipes, reservoirs and pumping stations.

We are also working to overhaul local Government so that it works for the people.

This is vital if we are to improve people’s lives. 

The true test of government is not what happens at the Union Buildings or in the Houses of Parliament. 

The true test is whether water flows from a tap, whether a streetlight works, whether refuse is collected, whether a road is maintained and whether a community feels safe. 

That is why fixing local Government is among the most urgent priorities of this administration.

It is vital to growing our economy and creating jobs. 

If the conditions for investment in our cities and towns are unfavourable, if there is a lack of electricity or water or poorly managed infrastructure, investors simply take their business elsewhere. 

That is why we continue to prioritise the revitalisation of local Government and to support efforts towards finalising the revised White Paper on Local Government.

As we undertake the far-reaching reforms outlined in the White Paper, The Presidency is using the working group model to support large metros. 

This model brings together The Presidency, municipalities, provincial government, business, SOEs, organised labour and representatives from civil society to implement priority interventions to turn municipalities around.

In 2024, we established the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, and in March last year, the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group.

Across all the metros in the country, we have prioritised key reforms to ring-fence revenue in the trading services. 

These reforms will enable greater investment in water, energy and waste management infrastructure to meet the growing service delivery demands in our cities. 

Another priority from the State of the Nation Address is to tackle youth unemployment and overhaul skills development in the country.

The Presidency is the coordinator of the Presidential Employment Stimulus and the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.

For the current financial year, we will be expanding the National Youth Service under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention to 100,000 community service youth employment opportunities.

The Presidency also supports the Youth Employment Service initiative led by the private sector, which connects unemployed youth with work experience opportunities.

The on-the-job training and skills development that beneficiaries receive through these programmes improves their labour market prospects and prepares them for opportunities to become entrepreneurs. 

We are implementing the commitments I made in SONA to overhaul the skills system. 

We are working to transition TVET colleges to offer occupational qualifications with embedded workplace experience, allowing more graduates to transition into employment.

We are also working to rationalise and reform the SETA system to strengthen industry ownership and reorient the Levy-Grant Incentive structure.

Community Education and Training colleges are being strengthened as pathways into livelihoods, micro-enterprise and second-chance education.
 
We are focusing on outcomes-based funding by reforming the National Skills Fund and scaling-up of the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund.

Building a capable, developmental state is both a SONA priority and one of the three strategic priorities outlined in the Medium Term Development Plan.

A strong, capacitated and professional Presidency is the engine room of the capable, ethical and, increasingly digital, developmental state we are striving to build.

We are undertaking a broad range of initiatives to strengthen accountability, promote participatory democracy and deepen intergovernmental coordination.

We are advancing participatory democracy through the Presidential izimbizo. 

Through the District Development Model, we are mobilising all spheres of Government and local stakeholders to coordinate planning, budgeting and service delivery implementation in local Government.

The Presidency has a central role in advancing South Africa’s global and continental agenda.

The President and Deputy President continue to participate in outward investment missions and business forums with key trading partners.

This is part of deepening economic diplomacy efforts to attract investment in key sectors such as agriculture, critical minerals and manufacturing value chains.

A central part of this work is the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which presents unprecedented opportunities for trade, investment and industrialisation across the continent.

We continue to support key initiatives of South Africa’s G20 Presidency. These include the International Panel on Inequality, which is in the process of being formally established.

This year, South Africa will be assuming the chairship of SADC and will focus on advancing stability, cooperation and integration across our region.

We will continue to be involved with diplomatic efforts in support of peace processes in areas such as the Eastern DRC and South Sudan.

We continue to use our membership of the G20, BRICS, the Non-Aligned Movement and other bodies to assert the primacy of international law and the centrality of the United Nations in global affairs.

We remain convinced that the right to sovereignty and self-determination be extended to all people, including the people of Palestine, Western Sahara and Cuba.

The country will soon also be embarking on the next phase of the National Dialogue as we strive to chart a new course for our country.

Between June and August this year, pilot dialogues will be held across the country. These will include ward-based engagements, digital engagements and sectoral dialogues.

I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa.

Honourable Members,

The State of the Nation Address sets out the line of march.

The budget process gives effect to Government’s plans and programmes for the year ahead.

We have sought to outline the role of The Presidency in driving the national priorities.

We have sought to demonstrate the value of this strategic coordination, the progress that has been made and how we plan to build on that progress in the year ahead.

The progress we have made to date is not a product of chance.

It is the result of deliberate state action to drive a structural reform agenda across Government and with business, labour and other social partners.

The progress we are witnessing owes much to strategic direction from The Presidency to unlock growth and restore investor confidence.

Even as our economy is recovering, there is much still to be done.

Our people need jobs and the economy needs to grow at a pace that will create them. 

Local Government must be fixed with urgency and the state of service delivery must be turned around.

Corruption must be uprooted. Crime must be stamped out.

Government must serve the people and treat them with respect and dignity.

Work must now continue in earnest. 

Let us not allow ourselves to be deterred by distractions or political intrigue. 

The National Executive, Parliament and our courts are mandated to serve the South African people and give effect to the promise of the Constitution. 

This must be our overriding priority.

As I conclude, I express my gratitude to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Deputy Ministers, Nonceba Mhlauli and Kenny Morolong.

I also express my gratitude to the Director-General in The Presidency and all the advisers and officials who make this important institution at the heart of Government work.

I hereby commend this Budget Vote of The Presidency to the National Assembly and look forward to the debate. 

I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will on Thursday, 04 June 2026, meet with Private Sector Captains of Industry in Johannesburg, with a view to strengthen the implementation of the country’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs. 

The engagement, hosted under the umbrella of the SANAC Private Sector Forum (PSF), will provide a high-level platform to explore opportunities for closing the funding gap left by external donors, through sustainable public–private financing models to accelerate the implementation of the NSP. 

South Africa continues to face a high burden of HIV and TB, with millions affected and ongoing new infections despite progress in treatment and prevention interventions. While the NSP provides a clear roadmap, challenges such as funding gaps, slow prevention progress, and high rate of new infections still persist. 

The HIV and TB epidemics also place significant strain on the economy by reducing productivity, increasing healthcare costs, and impacting key labour-intensive sectors, thus underscoring the need for stronger government–private sector collaboration.

The engagement will also mark the formal launch of the fully constituted SANAC Private Sector Forum across all nine provinces. It will further align expectations, commitments, and messaging ahead of key national and international funding milestones, including current and future Global Fund replenishments.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the high-level meeting as follows:

Date: Thursday, 04 June 2026 
Time: 17h00 (Media to arrive at 16h00)
Venue: Aspen Pharmacare, Healthcare Park, Woodlands Drive, Woodmead, Sandton

Dress Code: Business Formal/Traditional
 
Members of the media wishing to cover the event are kindly requested to RSVP with their full names, designation, media house and ID numbers to Simangaliso Motsepe (SANAC) at simangaliso@sanac.org.za by end of day Wednesday, 03 June 2026.

 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840, or Nelson Dlamini (SANAC) on 078 731 0313 / nelson@sanac.org.za 

Issued jointly by: The Presidency and SANAC
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday, 02 June 2026, table the 2026/2027 Presidency Budget Vote before the National Assembly in Parliament, Cape Town.

The Presidency’s focus is on growing the economy, reducing poverty and building a capable, ethical and developmental state as part of implementing the priorities of the Government of National Unity.

The Presidency Budget Vote for 2026/2027 includes specific allocations for key sub-departments within the Presidency, including State Security Agency, the Government Communication and Information System and Statistics South Africa. 

Centred in this year’s Budget Vote are priorities such as an intelligence-led approach to dismantle criminal networks, coordinating government communication for an informed, empowered citizenry as well as modernising national statistics. 

This is geared to help combat misinformation and advancing evidence-based decision-making in service delivery.

The President’s delivery of the Budget Vote address is customarily followed by a debate among Members of Parliament.

President Ramaphosa will reply to this debate on Wednesday 03 June 2026. 

The President’s Budget Vote tabling represents practical checks and balance on Parliament and accountability mechanism for the public to monitor how public funds and resources are allocated.

Details of the Presidency Budget Vote 2026/2027 are as follows:

Presidency Budget Vote:
Date: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Nieuwmeester Parking Dome, Cape Town

Reply to Presidency Budget Vote debate:
Date: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Nieuwmeester Parking Dome, Cape Town

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria