President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family of anti-apartheid activist and former President of the South African Council on Sport (SACOS), Mr Frank van der Horst, who has passed away at the age of 86.

The President extends his condolences to the friends and associates nationally and globally of Mr Van der Horst as well as the generation of athletes who practised their sport while Mr Van der Horst led the non-racial sports movement.

Established in 1973, SACOS fought against racial segregation in South African sport and campaigned for equal access to facilities under the slogan “No normal sport in an abnormal society”.

SACOS worked closely with civic organisations, youth movements, trade unions and underground liberation structures on numerous campaigns and protests.

SACOS resisted South Africa’s participation in international sport with only white athletes.

Through its recognition by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, the United Nations Committee Against Apartheid Sport and the global anti-apartheid movement, SACOS exercised sport as a platform through which to highlight the impact of apartheid on all areas of the lives of oppressed communities.

President Ramaphosa said: “The passing of Frank van der Horst makes us recall an era of grassroots, non-racial and inter-sectoral resistance to apartheid, and international support for our struggle.

“As part of the generational leadership of Norman Naidoo, Hassan Howa, Morgan Naidoo and Joe Ebrahim, Frank van der Horst made a crucial contribution as SACOS President to the sustained political pressure faced by the apartheid system in its closing decade.

“Today, South African sport continues to benefit from Frank van der Horst’s and SACOS’s legacy in the form of administrators who played their sport under the SACOS banner and now lead sports development in our country as well as federations and teams who are welcome throughout the world.

“As a nation, we are grateful for a struggle Frank waged with courage, principle and clarity. His values and the example he set will sustain us while he rests in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his warm congratulations to President Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa also congratulates the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on exercising their democratic right during the two rounds of the electoral process which took place on 28 June and 5 July 2024.

South Africa and Iran enjoy cordial bilateral relations and are celebrating in 2024 the 30th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations established in 1994.

President Ramaphosa affirms that South Africa will continue working with the Islamic Republic of Iran to deepen cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels to promote global and regional peace, security, stability, and to achieve economic development for the benefit of both countries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the need for South Africa and Iran to continue collaborating closely in promoting the agenda of the Global South through shared membership in groupings such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the BRICS, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, as well as other formations.

President Ramaphosa wishes President Pezeshkian good health, fortitude, strength and success for his tenure as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the deaths of four South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who passed away overnight on Friday, 05 July 2024, while on duty to combat illegal mining.

As Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the families of the victims as well as to their commanders and colleagues.

The President’s thoughts are with the team of soldiers who discovered their deceased colleagues in a container at a disused mine shaft at Orkney in the North West Province.

While police are investigating the matter, the deceased troops, who showed no injuries and were fully kitted and armed, are believed by the police and the SANDF to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from a fire they made to keep warm. 

The troops were part of Operation Vala Umgodi which is directed at combating illegal mining.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa was honoured yesterday evening, Sunday, 7 July 2024, with a phone call from His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt who warmly congratulated President Ramaphosa on his new term of office.

President El-Sisi shared with President Ramaphosa his expectation that South Africa and Egypt will continue to cooperate on issues of common interest.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi’s good wishes and agreed on the importance of continued partnership between our two countries on matters of bilateral, continental and multilateral interest.

Of particular significance to the two leaders is the need to work together on the Palestinian issue and the crisis in the Gaza strip.

The Presidents committed themselves to deepening the fraternal ties between Egypt and South Africa as part of advancing continental solidarity.

President Ramaphosa and President El-Sisi were also in agreement on the expansion of trade, mutual investment and other areas of economic cooperation between the two states.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa and newly elected British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have expressed their shared commitment to deepening relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom in several areas of cooperation, including the just energy transition.

Prime Minister Starmer placed a call with President Ramaphosa this morning, Sunday, 7 July 2024, to express his interest in working closely with South Africa as part of executing the strong mandate given to the Labour Party in the general election on Thursday, 4 July 2024.

President Ramaphosa congratulated Prime Minister Starmer on his electoral victory and said the Statement of Intent framing South Africa’s Government of National Unity incorporated many objectives shared by the two new administrations.

The two leaders viewed today’s discussion as a continuation of the deliberations in which they engaged in November 2022 when President Ramaphosa visited London on the first State Visit hosted by His Majesty King Charles III. Sir Keir Starmer was at that time the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

President Ramaphosa described the bilateral relationship as a special bond and said South Africa wished to see greater alignment with the UK at the national and multilateral level, with South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 in 2025 providing one such opportunity.

President Ramaphosa foresees closer cooperation with with UK in the political, social, people-to-people, diplomatic, trade and investment and climate change domains.

The Prime Minister agreed that the G20 would be a platform for advancing shared interests in climate change, economic growth and the eradication of inequality.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on his appointment to the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Starmer assumed the position on 05 July 2024, following the general elections held on 04 July 2024.

President Ramaphosa said he looks forward to working with Prime Minister Starmer to enhance the strong, historic relations between South Africa and the UK.

South Africa and the UK are strategic partners with a broad and vibrant relationship, led by a commitment to liberal values, democracy and the rule of law.

The UK is one of South Africa’s largest bilateral trading and investment partners and remains South Africa’s number one source of long-haul tourism in the world.

South Africa and the UK collaborate in various multilateral fora to advance shared ideals and objectives.

In 2022, President Ramaphosa was the first Head of State to undertake a State Visit to the UK following an invitation from His Majesty, King Charles III.

The State Visit was an important and momentous occasion to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

President Ramaphosa said he looks forward to working with Prime Minister Starmer to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and to address current global political and security challenges.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more stable and reliable electricity supply. I am pleased to announce that we have reached 100 consecutive days without any load shedding.  

This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all those involved in the energy sector. I want to express my sincere appreciation to ESKOM, its competent employees, and all stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring that we maintain a consistent power supply for our nation.

The absence of load shedding not only benefits our economy and businesses but also enhances the quality of the lives of our citizens.

As we celebrate this milestone, let us remain committed to the continuous improvement of our energy infrastructure, the diversification of our energy sources and the promotion of sustainable practices.  

Together, we can build a resilient and efficient energy sector that meets the needs of our country now and in the future.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this achievement. Let us strive to maintain this positive momentum in our quest for energy sovereignty.

Thank you.

Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, will be convening a media briefing on Monday, 08 July 2024, at the GCIS in Pretoria.

The briefing will focus on electricity distribution and generation performance.

The Minister will be joined by Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Ms Samantha Graham- Maré.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend:

Date: Monday, 08 July 2024
Time: 09h00 (media setup from 08h00)
Venue: Auditorium, Tshedimosetso House, GCIS, Pretoria

RSVP: Kindly RSVP by providing your details (Name, Surname, ID number, and Media House) to Kutlwano@presidency.gov.za
Deadline: Sunday, 07 July 2024 at 10h00

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, on 082 084 5566 / Tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Ministry of Electricity and Energy
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, will on Thursday, 4 July 2024, brief media on the Government of National Unity following the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new members of the National Executive on Wednesday, 3 July 2024.  

Members of the media are invited to cover the media briefing as follows:

Date: Thursday, 4 July 2024
Time: 10h00
Venue: Imbizo Centre, Parliament Precinct, Cape Town 

Live Streaming details:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA   
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA   
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA 

NB: Journalists attending physically are requested to send RSVPs to takalanim@gcis.gov.za

Media enquiries: Nomonde Mnukwa - Acting Government Spokesperson, on 083 653 7485

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System

Cape Town