President Cyril Ramaphosa will this afternoon, 26 January 2023, address the nation on the International Court of Justice order.
The President will address the nation as follows:
Date: Friday, 26 February 2024
Time: 16h00
SABC will provide a feed to all media and PresidencyZA will live stream the proceedings.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa - media@presidency.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will tomorrow, 23 January 2024, brief the media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan.
Members of the media are invited to attend the briefing as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Time: 11:30 for 12:30
Venue: Boardroom 159, Union Buildings, Pretoria
Live Streaming details:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA
Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity |Cell: 082 084 5566 / tsakane@presidency.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
President Cyril Ramaphosa, today, 20 January 2024, arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa, to attend the inauguration and swearing-in of President-elect, His Excellency, Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
South Africa continues to play a constructive role in the pursuit of peace and security as well as the post conflict reconstruction and development in the DRC and the Great Lakes region.
President Ramaphosa's attendance of the Inauguration and the swearing-in ceremony will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the strategic nature of the cordial bilateral relations between South Africa and the DRC as well as consolidation of bilateral cooperation.
The bilateral cooperation between South Africa and the DRC is conducted through the Bi- National Commission (BNC), which is convened at the Heads of State and Government level as provided by the establishing agreement of 2004. The 12th Session of the BNC was held in Kinshasa, on 06 July 2023 and was co-chaired by H.E Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and H.E. President Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by his newly appointed Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Mr Jeff Radebe.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@enquiries.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
His Excellency Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Tuesday, 23 January 2024 welcome His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, on a courtesy call at the OR Tambo Official Residence in Pretoria.
The Duke of Edinburgh is on a working visit to South Africa on 22 and 23 January 2024.
The visit follows the successful State Visit that His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook to the United Kingdom in 2022 at the invitation of King Charles III.
The visit is also indicative of the strong bilateral relationship that the United Kingdom and South Africa share.
During his visit, His Royal Highness will meet stakeholders from WWF South Africa, Endangered Wildlife Trust, GreenMatterZA, TRAFFIC, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Birdlife, and Conservation South Africa.
Prince Edward will also meet the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, for a tour of the Pretoria National Botanical Garden and will be accompanied on the tour by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) CEO, Mr Shonisani Munzhedi.
This follows President Ramaphosa’s visit to the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, in November 2022 and will mark the long-term collaboration between Kew and SANBI to ensure the survival of South Africa’s rich plant diversity.
The Duke will also meet the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande at a dinner marking the deep partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom in the field of Science and Innovation.
In addition, the Duke of Edinburgh will meet awardees of the President’s Awards, the international arm of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, of which President Ramaphosa is a Patron. Both countries share a strong commitment to youth empowerment.
During the courtesy call, Deputy President Mashatile will also hold discussions with the Duke and his delegation on key areas of importance in the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Media enquiries: Mr Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 081 307 9233
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the unprecedented success recorded by the Matric Class of 2023 is evidence of the determination and ambition of learners and of a nation that values its youth.
The President offers his warm congratulations and that of Government to the Class of 2023 and the extended support system of educators, parents, school governing bodies and health care providers who carried this cohort of learners through the COVID 19 pandemic when they were in earlier grades.
The 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) overall pass rate reached 82.9%, compared with 80.1% in 2022, and 76.4% in 2021.
This is an improvement of 2.8%, and 6.5% from the pass rates achieved by the Classes of 2022 and 2021 respectively.
In real numbers, 572 983 candidates passed the 2023 NSC exams.
As a percentage, the 2023 pass is the highest in the history of the NSC.
Similarly, Bachelor passes as well as passes with distinction produced by the Class of 2023 stand out as the highest in the history of NSC exams.
President Ramaphosa said: “The Class of 2023 has given itself and the nation great cause for pride and belief that our investment in education is the key to moving our country forward.
“The 2023 matric results show that we are a nation that takes care of its young people and that our young people are taking care of their future through their resilience and their dedication to learning.
“The matric results are an irrefutable indicator of our comprehensive national development during 30 years of freedom and democracy.
“Our success in education must motivate us to achieve even greater things in all areas of our development.”
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@enquiries.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Your Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda and Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Your Excellencies, Ministers and Ambassadors,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Uganda for the warm reception we have received here in the Pearl of Africa.
We thank our former Chairperson, His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for steering our Movement for the past three years.
We wish our new Chairperson, His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, all the best and convey our full support as Uganda takes over the chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 plus China.
This Summit takes place at a time when the world is faced with many challenges exacerbated by geopolitical dynamics and conflicts in various regions of the world.
The wars taking place in Ukraine and Palestine are causing grave humanitarian and health crises and contributing to international instability.
The supremacy of multilateralism as embodied by the United Nations Charter and international law is being undermined exactly when it is needed most.
At a time when the world appears to be once again divided between east and west, the Non-Aligned Movement should continue to assert its independence based on our common values.
South Africa remains steadfast in advancing its non-aligned approach in the maintenance of international peace and security and advocating for inclusive dialogue and the peaceful political settlement of disputes.
The countries of the world are interlinked and interdependent as never before.
They are linked through technology, trade, global value chains and international capital flows. They share common challenges of climate change, pandemics, terrorism and illicit financial flows.
This requires a globally-agreed set of rules that applies equally to all, and that establishes room for development for the poorest and most disadvantaged.
This interconnected world calls for a collective determination to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to address the economic, social, health and environmental challenges that every country faces.
We need to give dedicated attention to the reform of global governance institutions, including the United Nations.
We must give meaning to the principle of sovereign equality of nations and ensure that the voice of the African Continent and the Global South is strengthened in the broader multilateral system.
As the Non-Aligned Movement, we must continue to work together in support of:
- the right to self-determination of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara;
- the lifting of the economic blockade against Cuba and unilateral sanctions against Iran, Venezuela and Zimbabwe;
- reaffirmation of the inalienable right of access to nuclear materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes;
- upholding the centrality of the UN Charter and international law in the peaceful resolution of conflict;
- defeating the scourge of terrorism and its root causes; and,
- the alleviation and eradication of poverty and underdevelopment.
South Africa calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza.
We call for the release of all hostages and the resumption of talks on a just solution that will end the suffering of the Palestinian people.
We further call for unhindered and expanded humanitarian access to allow for vital aid and basic services to meet the needs of everyone living in Gaza.
As a consequence of the ever-worsening situation of the people of Gaza, South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice to issue provisional measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza.
This is necessary to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people.
South Africa recently made financial contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency and the UNHCR to support their humanitarian operations in Gaza and the broader Palestinian refugees.
In addition, many ordinary South Africans and NGOs have mobilised resources to assist the people of Gaza.
The conflict has again illustrated the inadequacy of the United Nations, in particular the UN Security Council, in maintaining international peace and security.
We should establish a system of global governance that is fair and equitable, and has the capacity to respond to the needs of all persons in situations of threat and harm.
As the Non-Aligned Movement, we should not only adhere to the equality of nations, but also to the equality of human beings.
A world free of domination by the strong and powerful is as important as a world free of sexism.
We must remain committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls and achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality.
We must reaffirm our commitment to disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control as a necessary contribution towards the achievement of a secure world for all.
Now is the time for the Non-Aligned Movement to strengthen cooperation.
Now is the time to draw fully on our founding principle of solidarity and to enhance our commitment towards development, peace, security and human rights.
If we do so, if we move forward with unity and purpose, we will emerge from the difficulties that confront us all much stronger than ever before.
I thank you.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has this evening, 18 January 2024, arrived in Kampala in the Republic of Uganda to attend the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, to be held on 19 to 20 January 2024 under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.”
The summit is preceded by a meeting of the NAM Ministers held from 17 to 18 January 2024.
The NAM Summit is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement and holds the Summit every three years. The Summit is also the occasion when the Movement formally rotates its Chair to the Head of State of the host country of the Summit, who then holds office until the next Summit. Azerbaijan has been the Chair since 2019 and will hand over the position to Uganda in 2024 for the next three years (2024-2027).
The Government of Uganda has identified five focus areas and priority goals of its Chairship and they are; regional and international peace and security; the international fight against terrorism; international migration and humanitarian crises; human trafficking and drug smuggling; as well as Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the two-day Summit, Azerbaijan as the outgoing Chair of the NAM will report on the activities of the Movement during its three-year chairship. The President of the Republic of Uganda, Mr Yoweri Kagura Museveni, will be elected by acclamation as Chair of the NAM.
It is expected that the Summit will adopt the Kampala Final Outcome Document, the Kampala Declaration, and the NAM Ministerial Declaration on Palestine.
With its 120 Member States, the NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the UN, making it an important role player in global and multilateral affairs. Since its inception in 1961, the Movement has played a crucial and obvious political role in representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in the eradication of colonialism, supporting struggles for liberation and self-determination, the pursuit of world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global order.
Following the 19th NAM Summit, Uganda will also assume the Group of 77 (G77) Chairship and host the G77 Third South Summit from 21 to 23 January 2024.
With the theme “Leaving No One Behind”, the Third South Summit hopes to bring a new cooperation dynamic among the 134 Member States of the Group of 77 in a more competitive world. The Summit is aimed at boosting South-South cooperation including in the areas of trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty eradication, and digital economy.
The South Summit is the supreme decision-making body of the Group of 77 plus China. The Group of 77 plus China is the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
South-South cooperation remains an important pillar for strengthening the economic independence of countries of the South as a complement and not a replacement to North-South cooperation. South Africa participates in the work of the G77 to ensure its strength, unity and cohesion in pursuit of the vision of a fair and equitable multilateral system.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor will accompany and represent President Ramaphosa at the G77 plus China
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Programme Directors,
Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul,
Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi,
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MECs,
Executive Mayor of the Francis Baard District Municipality, Cllr Unondumisa Buda,
Executive Mayor of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, Cllr Kagisho Sonyoni,
Representatives of government institutions and state-owned entities,
Lede van ons gemeenskappe,
Goeie môre, Dumelang, Molweni. Good Morning.
Dit is ń ware plesier om vandag in Roodepan te wees met die gemeenskappe van die Noord-Kaap.
I would like to greet you all as the communities of Roodepan, of Kimberley and of the Northern Cape.
The mega-housing project that we are launching today is the biggest in the history of the Northern Cape.
Over the course of the next 12 to 18 months, in a programme valued at R1 billion, over 4,000 houses will be built in municipalities across the province.
This project is going to help reduce the housing backlog in the Northern Cape, as more people have access to housing in urban and rural areas.
The most vulnerable in our society will be prioritised as beneficiaries of this mega-housing project.
We will strive to ensure that the elderly, child-headed households, military veterans and persons with disabilities get priority in the allocation of these houses.
What is significant about this project is that it will also address the housing needs of the so-called ‘missing middle’, people who have a form of income but do not qualify for either subsidised housing or home loans with commercial banks.
The project will also be allocating funds to eradicate informal settlements and unsuitable housing structures like mud homes.
This project is going to create work and business opportunities in the Northern Cape across its lifespan.
These opportunities will be in the construction itself, in the sourcing and production of building materials, in the laying down of bulk infrastructure, in the supply of professional services and other economic activities associated with the project.
We will be prioritising women and youth-owned businesses.
We are determined that it will be Northern Cape residents and Northern Cape businesses that will benefit from the opportunities that will be created.
The province has put measures in place to ensure these housing projects are delivered within the projected timeframes, according to budget and without any wastage or corruption.
We know that right here in Roodepan and in other parts of the municipality there are social housing structures that were not built according to quality standards, or are facing challenges with wastewater drainage and groundwater seepage.
This will not be allowed to happen again.
We are going to ensure that the contractors appointed to this project observe the highest construction standards.
This year, we celebrate 30 years since achieving our democracy.
Although we still face great challenges, the progress we have made as a country in expanding access to housing has been remarkable.
Last year, Statistics South Africa released the results of Census 2022, which give an indication of the strides we have made in improving the lives of the South African people.
When the census was conducted in 2022, nearly 9 out of every 10 households were living in formal dwellings.
When the first census in a democratic South Africa was held in 1996, only 6 out of every 10 households lived in a formal dwelling.
In South Africa today, 8 out of every 10 households have access to piped water either inside their home or in the yard.
These are achievements we must celebrate.
Just over a century ago, the great son of the soil after whom this municipality is named, Sol Plaatje, published his book, titled Native Life in South Africa.
In the book, he writes about the conditions in the so-called native locations, over-crowded places of despair for a people “driven from their homes, their homes broken up, with no hopes of redress”.
Sol Plaatje writes about the oppressive laws of the day, where the inhabitants of these native locations could not as individuals own land or gain separate title as owners.
In many cases, lack of space in these locations forced people to go and settle on the farms of white farmers, further entrenching their insecurity of tenure and diminishing their prospects of having a place they could call home.
For decades, this is how most of the people of this country lived.
Black people could not own land or homes in most urban areas. Many had to rent flats and houses from the apartheid state in the locations designated for their race.
Some became family homes, in which generations were raised, but were never owned by their inhabitants. In other cases, permits were granted to build houses in the townships, but the state still owned the land on which they were built.
Since the advent of democracy, it is these indignities that we have been working to correct.
Over 4.7 million housing opportunities have been provided since the advent of democracy. This includes stand-alone houses, multiple storey and multi-unit buildings and serviced stands.
Security of tenure has been granted to the many households who live in pre-1994 government rental houses.
We have given subsidies and transferred title deeds to approximately 376,000 qualifying beneficiaries of these homes.
We have been working to eradicate spatial inequality by building socially and economically sustainable human settlements close to places of work, study and recreation.
The launch of this project today is a further demonstration that we are making good on our commitment to fulfil the human rights of all South Africans.
Providing houses for the poor and vulnerable who are dependent on government support requires innovative funding mechanisms.
We have to mobilise resources in partnership with financial institutions, especially development finance institutions.
By leveraging the Human Settlements Development Grant, the Northern Cape has secured funding through a loan facility of National Treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa to build these top structures and housing units.
This loan will further be augmented by funding from the fiscus and the provincial government to achieve the total project value.
This will significantly shorten the time it takes to build these houses.
I want to commend Premier Zamani Saul, Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Northern Cape Provincial Government and National Treasury for making this approach possible.
I want to further commend all who have been involved in the preparatory work to ensure that the bulk infrastructure is in place.
Today is a great day for the people of the Northern Cape.
We are here to make good on our commitment to improve your lives and to leave no-one behind.
With this project we will be taking another important step towards securing the future of the people of the Northern Cape.
Through this project, thousands of families will now have a home they can call their own, an asset that can be used to improve their lives and access financing for their needs, and a home that can be passed on to future generations.
In this, the 30th year of our freedom, let us look to the future with hope as we work to build a better South Africa.
Let us continue our work to build a South Africa in which there are houses, security and comfort for all.
I thank you.
President Cyril Ramaphosa today, 17 January 2024, chaired a meeting of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) to discuss current economic developments and measures to support economic growth and job creation.
Members of PEAC commended the progress made in advancing economic reform, including in the energy, transport, and telecommunications sectors, as well as in rebuilding state institutions that were weakened by state capture.
The recently released results of Census 2022 show that the quality of life has improved for millions of South Africans since the previous census, including through expanded access to education, water, electricity, housing, and other basic services.
Despite the progress made in putting in place fiscally, socially and environmentally sound economic policies, PEAC noted that significant challenges remain.
In its assessment of the current economic environment, PEAC highlighted fiscal risks, the poor performance of state-owned enterprises, ongoing load shedding, historical underinvestment in infrastructure, and rising levels of crime as the most urgent obstacles to growth.
PEAC welcomed the actions currently underway to address these challenges, and discussed proposals to strengthen state capacity, professionalise the public service, and improve the governance of state-owned enterprises.
Further proposals included a proactive green industrial strategy to harness South Africa’s significant renewable energy resources, support for small businesses and the informal sector, and measures to accelerate implementation of the Energy Action Plan and end load shedding.
Finally, PEAC discussed South Africa’s role in advocating for the reform of the international financial architecture. PEAC further supported the call for appropriate financing mechanisms to support the climate transition in developing countries.
The analysis and recommendations provided by PEAC continue to play a key role in informing government policymaking.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 18 January 2024, launch a housing project in Kimberley, Northern Cape, that will deliver more than 4 000 housing units during the life of the venture.
The project's goal is to produce 4 168 houses, with 2 500 slated for delivery within the next year.
During the launch, the President will perform a sod-turning ceremony at a site secured by the Department of Human Settlements.
This location will host fully subsidised houses and diverse housing opportunities, including First Home Finance and social housing.
Working with National Treasury, the Northern Cape provincial government has sought a R600 million loan from the Development Bank of South Africa to supplement its baseline grant allocation for housing.
The housing units established in this project will address the pressing need for housing opportunities in the province, where approximately 162 informal settlements and nearly 80 000 households lack adequate housing.
Presently, 18,000 serviced stands across the province are prepared for the construction of housing structures.
Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Time: 08h00
Venue: Kimberley: Roodepan Land Parcel, opposite the Roodepan Police station
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
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