President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 27 April 2026, lead the national Freedom Day Commemoration to be held in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.

Freedom Day 2026 marks the 32nd anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic elections held on 27 April 1994 and stands as a testament to the country’s journey towards democracy, justice, equality and human dignity.

Freedom Day 2026 is commemorated under the theme, “Freedom and the Rule of Law: Thirty Years of Democratic Citizenship”.

The commemoration highlights three decades since the adoption of the Constitution and underscores the importance of constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, and democratic citizenship in shaping South Africa’s future.

This year’s national event takes place within the context of several significant national milestones, including the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, 70 years since the Women’s March if 1956, and 50 years since the Soweto youth uprising.

These milestones continue to shape South Africa’s democratic journey by inspiring continued transformation.

The Freedom Day commemoration will bring together all organs of state and all three spheres of Government, alongside representatives from civil society and various sectors, in a unified national celebration of the country’s democratic progress.

Freedom Month provides an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the gains of democracy, honour the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom, and recommit to building a united, inclusive and just society. It also serves as a platform to promote active citizenship, deepen understanding of constitutional rights, and strengthen social cohesion, particularly among young people.

The commemoration will feature ceremonial elements, including participation by the South African National Defence Force, adding to the significance of the national occasion.

President Ramaphosa will lead the Freedom Day Commemoration as follows:

Date: Monday, 27 April 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Saturday, 25 April 2026, arrived in the Kingdom of Eswatini as the Kingdom celebrates the 40th anniversary of the coronation of His Majesty King Mswati III, as well as the King’s 58th birthday.

2026 marks King Mswati III’s Ruby Jubilee as the Eswatini monarch as His Majesty commenced his reign in 1986. 

President Ramaphosa’s honouring of the invitation as a guest at the national celebration in the Kingdom of Eswatini underscores the strong and fraternal relations between South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini. 

South Africa and Eswatini share strong historical and cultural ties that were formally established at the end of the apartheid era in South Africa. 

President Ramaphosa’s schedule is as follows:

Date: Saturday, 25 April 2026
Time: 15h00
Venue: ICC, Mbabane, Swaziland

Media Programme

15h00: Arrivals/Livestreaming
Venue: ICC, Mbabane

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 join the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, for a Freedom Day BackChat Conversation focused on the constitutional rights of students and the responsibilities required to realise them.

Held as part of Freedom day activities, the engagement will be anchored on the theme:
“Beyond Fee-Free Education: Are constitutional imperatives Honouring the rights of students?”

This year’s BackChat shifts the focus from abstract notions of freedom to a more urgent and grounded inquiry: What does the Constitution promise students? What responsibilities does it impose on all of us? Where is the gap between that promise and lived realities of students and what must be done by government, institutions of higher education, and students themselves, to close it?

The conversation will interrogate whether the post-school education and training sector is fully honouring the rights guaranteed under the Constitution and what is required to give effect to these rights in practice.

BackChat platform will bring together a diverse cohort of students from universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and Community Education and Training (CET) institutions. The platform provides a space for open dialogue between students and government leaders to engage in conversation on important issues affecting students which can be used to formulate policies.

Media Participation:

Members of the media are invited to follow a live-streamed BackChat conversation in commemoration of Freedom Day, featuring the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, alongside the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela.

Date: Monday, 27 April 2026
Time: 18h00
Platform: YouTube (Live Stream)

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele on 082 580 2213 / MandisaM@Presidency.gov.za OR Matshepo Seedat on 082 679 9473 / Seedat.M@dhet.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor of Wits University,
Prof Joseph Stiglitz, in absentia,
Members of the Founding Committee of the International Inequality Panel,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Government representatives,
Representatives of civil society, academia and the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour to participate in this Consultative Council and meeting of the Founding Committee of the International Panel on Inequality.

The decision to establish the Panel is one of the most consequential outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Johannesburg in November last year.

This decision arose from an appreciation by leaders from across the world that inequality severely constrains social and economic development.

Indeed, inequality is one of the greatest threats to human progress. It retards human development and progress because where inequality exists, opportunity is scarce. Where opportunity is scarce, potential is wasted. And where potential is wasted, progress is not just slowed—it is stopped.

Inequality literally entrenches poverty across generations. It results in one’s starting point in life being a handicap and results in inferior schooling, nutrition, lack of networks that make upward mobility difficult or impossible. This prevents humanity’s progress.

Humanity cannot advance for as long as vast swathes of humankind people are denied the fundamental requirements of a decent life – water, food, shelter, education, employment, security.

Humanity cannot advance when the talents, capabilities, creativity and energy of billions of people remain untapped and their potential remains unrealised.

By the same measure, humanity cannot advance in a world that is deeply unjust and where so many people are unable to exercise the fundamental human rights that are their due.

It was to address this global crisis that I established the Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality as part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

Under the leadership of Prof Joseph Stiglitz, the Extraordinary Committee did extraordinary work. It produced a seminal report that will form the cornerstone of the global fight for equality into the future.

Drawing on extensive evidence and a broad range of views, the report outlines in clear and precise terms the scale, drivers and consequences of rising inequality.

It is astounding that between 2000 and 2024, the richest 1 percent of people in the world captured 41 percent of all new wealth.

The poorer half of humanity captured just 1 percent of new wealth.

The committee’s report provided evidence that inequality is a threat to democratic freedoms, to economic growth and to general well-being.

It would be a mistake to think that inequality is bad only for the poor.

Inequality threatens the stability of societies and the sustainability of economies.

It worsens the effects of climate disasters and steadily makes the planet less inhabitable for all people.

The Extraordinary Committee was correct when it said that the world is facing an inequality emergency.

The International Panel on Inequality represents a concrete opportunity to confront this emergency.

It is an opportunity to bring together governments and peoples from different countries to help the world to understand and address inequality.

No nation can overcome inequality alone.

We need coordinated multilateral action, rooted in solidarity and shared responsibility.

We need a collective architecture of reform, credible monitoring and actionable insights to guide governments, multilateral agencies, academia and civil society.

Since the publication of the G20 Inequality report last year, the principles set out in the report have been endorsed by the African Union, several world leaders, more than 700 economists and inequality experts, and over 30 former world leaders.

I would like to make special mention of those leaders who have been particularly supportive of the work towards the establishment of the panel: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, President Lula da Silva of Brazil and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway.

The struggle against inequality featured prominently at the 4th meeting of the ‘In Defence of Democracy’ initiative in Barcelona last weekend.

At the meeting, leaders from across the world recognised that persistent inequality, social, economic and political exclusion, and lack of opportunity create fertile ground for extremism, polarisation and the erosion of democracy.

The leaders welcomed coordination with international initiatives addressing inequality and social cohesion, specifically mentioning the International Panel on Inequality presented during the South African G20 Presidency.

The Panel will therefore begin its work amid a gathering groundswell of global activism for a more inclusive, equal and just world.

It will provide the rigorous analysis and credible evidence that is needed to ensure that this sentiment is translated into actions that fundamentally and sustainably reduce inequality within and between countries.

That is why the work of this Consultative Council is so important.

All those gathered here, from South Africa and across the world, are expected to propose an agenda for the first wave of work of the International Panel on Inequality.

The Consultative Council is expected to identify the critical areas for focus within four key themes taken from the original report: the scale and dimensions of inequality, drivers of inequality, consequences of inequality and finally policy options.

We expect this Consultative Conference to deliberate on the gaps in our knowledge in these areas and prioritise the key questions that we need to answer to address these gaps.

Thank you to all of the experts who are attending in person and to those who will be participating virtually. Thank you for sharing your time, expertise and passion.

We encourage all world leaders and all governments to actively support the establishment of the Panel as a permanent international body.

Once established, once equipped and supported, this International Panel will be one of the most effective instruments the global community has to direct efforts to substantially reduce inequality.

But we must recognise that the panel can only take us so far.

As communities, as social formations, as governments and as multilateral institutions, it is up to us to take forward the struggle for more equal societies and for a just and inclusive global order.

The International Panel on Inequality can provide the evidence we need. It can develop the analysis and make the policy recommendations.

But it is up to all of us to act, to act together and to act with great urgency.

We need to advance on all fronts.

At a domestic level, countries need to be investing in the education and health of their people, prioritising the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. They need to provide quality public goods and services that improve living conditions and create opportunities.

Laws, policies and regulations need to protect workers, constrain excessive corporate power, create employment, safeguard the environment and ensure that taxation is progressive and redistributive.

On a global level, we need to transform the rules and institutions of global financial governance to direct their resources towards the needs and circumstances of developing economies.

The commitments that have been made towards those countries that bear the burden of global warming need to be fulfilled and further enhanced.

If we are to overcome global inequality, developing economies need to have the space, the means and the capability to undertake just energy transitions appropriate to their national development paths.

Just as inequality fuels conflict, so conflict deepens inequality.

It is therefore of the utmost importance that the global community rallies around efforts to resolve the conflicts that are today afflicting the world and to put in place credible mechanisms to prevent conflict into the future.

We need to restore the UN Charter to its rightful place at the centre of international relations and to reform institutions like the UN Security Council so that they can be reliable guarantors of peace.

We establish this International Panel knowing that inequality is deepening.

We do so out of grave concern for the quality of lives of billions of people and the prospects for meaningful human progress.

Yet, although the challenges are great, we see a rising tide of activism and a renewed determination across the world to confront and overcome this crisis of inequality.

As we undertake the important preparatory work to put this International Panel in place, we are full of hope and expectation.

We are convinced that through our collective efforts we are firmly on the path towards a better, more just and more equal world.

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Chairperson of the National Business Initiative, Mr Cas Coovadia,
CEO of the National Business Initiative, Ms Shameela Soobramoney,
Members of the NBI Executive Committee,
Members of the business community,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening, 

It is truly a privilege to pay tribute to an organisation that has been instrumental in shaping South Africa’s democratic journey. 

For the past thirty years, the National Business Initiative has been a respected voice of responsible business action and a powerful agent for change. 

It was launched in 1995, at a time when all of society was being called upon to step forward to build a new nation. 

The formation of the NBI signalled that progressive South African business was ready to be active partners in nation-building and to help define the contours of a new, inclusive economy and society. 

This vision continues to guide the work of the NBI today. 

To fully appreciate the NBI’s contribution to the democratic project, one has to go back to the late 1980s, to the early talks between organised business and the liberation movements in exile. 

As one researcher put it, it was during this period that the beginnings of a transformed corporate paradigm were initiated. 

Both sides recognised the need for partnership. 

These engagements culminated in formation of the Consultative Business Movement, the forerunner to the NBI. 

The Consultative Business Movement would go on to play a formative role in the pre-1994 transition period by helping open channels of dialogue between business and the government in waiting, and by actively supporting the peace negotiations. 

The Consultative Business Movement provided the secretariat and administrative support to the CODESA processes that began in December 1991 and later to the Mult-Party Negotiating Forum. 

It actively supported the work of the Independent Electoral Commission and mobilised private sector support for the Reconstruction and Development Programme. 

When the Consultative Business Movement merged with the Urban Foundation in 1995 to form the NBI, it represented rebirth but also continuity. 

The organisation had already cemented its reputation as a credible, non-partisan and pragmatic partner in the cause of building a new South Africa. 

The NBI has been able to respond to the complexities and changing dynamics of our society. 

The NBI has pioneered initiatives in support of transformation, improved service delivery, training and skills development, job creation, safety and security and many others.

Whether through the formation of Business against Crime, the Education Quality Improvement Partnerships, support to the Youth Employment Service or the groundbreaking CEO Initiative, the NBI has been at the forefront of innovation. 

The NBI has a proud history of supporting pathways for employment. The organisation’s Skills and Youth Employability programme has become even more critical at a time when we have to urgently align the skills being produced by our institutions of higher learning with those needed by the economy of the future. 

This pathfinding work is anchored in a deep appreciation that creating a sustainable, equitable and thriving economy relies on collective action. 

As the Government of National Unity, our apex priorities are driving inclusive growth and job creation, addressing poverty and the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

We strive to do so in a challenging context, in which we have had to confront the effects of state capture, an energy crisis, crime and corruption, and service delivery failures. 

Overcoming these challenges will require of us the mettle that helped dismantle apartheid. 

It will require the spirit of collectivism that defined our transition. 

We do so at a time when our economy is showing promising signs of recovery. 

Growth is improving, investment is expanding and more jobs are being created. 

National debt has stabilised and our sovereign outlook has improved. 

The reform agenda being driven through Operation Vulindlela has gained significant momentum, enabling growing confidence in our economic trajectory. 

We have restored sound governance to a number of our state-owned enterprises, including to Eskom, that last year returned to profitability for the first time in eight years. 

The energy crisis is largely behind us, and we are laying the groundwork for a transformed, competitive and sustainable electricity market. 

We are also seeing marked improvement in the performance of our rail and port systems. 

We have just held a successful sixth South Africa Investment Conference, where we secured a record R890 billion in investment pledges, with a substantial share of these being domestic in origin. 

The state has announced plans to embark on a R1 trillion infrastructure build over the next three years. This is the largest infrastructure build programme in our country’s history. 

As investors look to South Africa with renewed interest as favourable destination, we remain committed to a structural reform agenda that is institutionalised, that is making measurable progress, and that it is supported by a strong regulatory architecture. 

Although we are greatly concerned by the economic and social impact of the uncertain global environment, we are firmly on course to overcome remaining challenges with logistics, to deal decisively with crime and corruption, to reform and transform the water sector, and, most critically, to fix local government. 

I would like to use this opportunity to welcome the NBI’s Technical Assistance and Mentorship Development unit to Operation Vulindlela Phase 2, where it will be lending critical support to our efforts to strengthen municipal service delivery. 

Our foremost task at this time is to stay the course, to focus on implementation, and to do so at scale. 

Our task is to deepen our collaboration in pursuit of the shared future we envisioned back in 1994. 

It is to achieve change that both improves the business environment and benefits all of society, knowing as we do that these are not mutually exclusive. 

In his State of the Nation Address in February 1996, President Mandela spoke of a new patriotism having taken root across the land and of the importance of partnership to addressing and overcoming society’s most pressing challenges. 

The NBI was born of this spirit and actively embraced it. 

Three decades on, the NBI with its deep institutional memory and sterling track record of implementation, continues as it has done since 1995. 

It has carried its mandate through moments of hope and of strain. 

The journey of economic transformation has been longer, more complex and at times more contested than anticipated. 

As the structural reforms take root, as investor confidence returns and the green shoots of growth break ground, there can be no better time to seize this window of opportunity. 

As a bridge-builder during the political transition, we call on the NBI to help us complete the bridge we set out to build in 1994. The bridge from the promise of our Constitution to meaningful and tangible economic transformation. 

We thank you for your enduring contribution to South Africa’s democratic journey.

May you continue to build, to convene and to lead for many years to come. 

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 24 April 2026, deliver a keynote address to the public Global Inequality Dialogue at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. 

During its 2025 G20 Presidency, South Africa commissioned the first-ever global inequality report from a committee of independent experts led by Nobel Laureate, Joseph Stiglitz.

The key recommendation from the report was the establishment of an International Panel on Inequality (IPI).

It is intended that the panel, which was inspired by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will monitor trends and assess drivers and consequences of inequality.

The founding International Panel on Inequality Committee (IPI) is convening for the second time with leading academics and think tanks over two days from 24 -25 April 2026 at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits University.

The gathering will deliberate on the structure and governance of the IPI and will be accompanied by a public Global Inequality Dialogue.

Nobel Economics Laureate, Professor Joseph E Stiglitz, UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, and distinguished experts Dr Adriana Abdenur and Professors Jayati Ghosh, Imraan Valodia, and Wanga Zembe-Mkabile will join representatives of the Panel’s founding governments - Brazil, Norway, South Africa and Spain - in two panel sessions to discuss the state of global inequality. This platform will also engage on progress towards establishing an International Panel on Inequality.

Having received the endorsement of the African Union, South Africa will present a draft resolution on the establishment of the International Panel on Inequality for adoption by the United Nations General Assembly during its 80th resumed session in 2026.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the public Global Inequality Dialogue as follows: 

Date: Friday, 24 April 2026 
Time: 11h30
Venue: Wits School of Governance and Business School, Parktown, Johannesburg 

Media wishing to cover the public address physically are advised to register on the link below and should note that allocations for media are restricted due to the venue. Live Streaming of the President’s address to public Global dialogue will be broadcast on all Presidency digital platforms. 

Media RSVP link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MUtcF4qCpJ

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Minister of Police, Mr Firoz Cachalia,
Deputy Ministers,
Members of the media,
Fellow South Africans,

In the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) in February, I said that our primary focus this year is on stepping up the fight against organised crime, corruption and violence.

For this fight to be successful, it is vital that our law enforcement agencies are capable, ethical and effective. It is vital that they have the confidence and the trust of the South African people.

We have worked hard over the last few years to rebuild our law enforcement agencies and security services in the wake of state capture, to restore their credibility and integrity.

We have taken measures to uncover malfeasance and investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the ranks of the police and other institutions.

 These measures have been necessary to ensure accountability and to devise remedial action to prevent the abuse of office and the theft of public resources.

It is in pursuit of these objectives that I established a commission of inquiry under Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to investigate allegations of police collusion in organised criminal activity. The work of the commission is ongoing and we look forward to its recommendations.

In all these efforts, we have promoted respect for the rule of law and upheld the principle that law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies must be able to act without fear, favour or prejudice.

It is this principle that informs our response to the appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court earlier this week of the SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, on charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

In consideration of the seriousness of these charges and the critical role of the National Commissioner in leading the fight against crime, I have agreed with General Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case.

To ensure stability and continuity in the South African Police Service, I have appointed Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as the Acting National Commissioner of Police.

Lt-Gen Dimpane is currently the Divisional Commissioner for Financial Management Services of the SAPS and has a long and distinguished career both in the SAPS and in other public institutions. 

Having been in the police service for close on two decades, she has extensive experience in policing, strategic management, financial management and governance. Lt-Gen Dimpane has a reputation for professionalism and integrity.

I am confident that she has the qualities and the standing necessary to provide effective leadership to the SAPS during this challenging period.

Lt-Gen Dimpane will be supported by a strong team of experienced and dedicated police leadership throughout the country.

She will lead a police service that, notwithstanding substantial challenges, is comprised of men and women who are committed to serving the people of this country and the cause of justice.

A key area of attention for the Acting National Commissioner and the police leadership is to urgently address weaknesses in the procurement of goods and services.

In the report of the Zondo Commission and through the proceedings of the Madlanga Commission, procurement has been identified as the source of corruption, abuse of office and instability within the police service.

The Minister of Police will support the work that the SAPS leadership must now undertake to insulate procurement processes from any form of manipulation. This work will feed into the broader restructuring of public procurement that was announced in SONA.

The Acting National Commissioner will be expected to sustain the momentum of our national fight against crime and corruption.

There has been a reduction of contact crime over the last two financial years, largely due to the focus on police visibility. 

Focused initiatives to address gender-based violence and femicide, as well as the implementation of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy remain central to our ongoing fight against the scourge of violent crime. 

The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster has made great progress towards the adoption of an Organised Crime Strategy, for which significant resources have been allocated from Departments in the Cluster as well as from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account. 

Important steps have been taken with regards to organised crime, including gang violence, illegal firearms, illegal mining, drug trafficking and kidnappings. These efforts have been strengthened by collaboration between the SAPS and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The SAPS Task Team investigating matters arising from the Madlanga Commission has made significant progress, leading to a number of arrests. We commend the team and wish it continued success. 

As we embarked on the task of rebuilding our law enforcement agencies and security services, we knew that it would be a difficult undertaking.

We have been guided at all times by the need for transparency, accountability and respect for due legal process.

It is understandably a cause of great concern for all South Africans that the National Commissioner of Police is in court facing criminal charges.

However, we should not allow this development to weaken our determination or diminish our ability to fight against crime and corruption. We should not allow anything to destabilise the police service or undermine the morale of those entrusted to protect our people.

We must hold firm to the values of our Constitution and, in this case as in all cases, allow the law to take its course.

Minister Cachalia and Acting National Commissioner, Lt-Gen Dimpane, will be holding a briefing soon to outline further actions that will be taken to stabilise the SAPS and strengthen its work.

I wish Lt-Gen Dimpane and the entire SAPS leadership well in building on the progress that has been made in our fight against crime.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening, Thursday, 23 April 2026, deliver a keynote address at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the National Business Initiative (NBI) in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Held under the theme, “30 Years of Collective Leadership by Business through Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive South Africa”, the event marks three decades of partnership between business, government and civil society in advancing the country’s economic transformation and development.

Established in 1995 at the request of former President Nelson Mandela, the National Business Initiative has, over the past 30 years, served as a key platform for collective business leadership in support of South Africa’s socio-economic progress.

Through collaboration with Government, civil society and development partners, the organisation has contributed to initiatives that promote economic inclusion, youth employment, skills development, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

The 30th Anniversary Celebration will bring together leaders from business, Government, development institutions and civil society to reflect on the evolution of this partnership and to reaffirm a shared commitment to building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy.

President Ramaphosa will address the event as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
Time: 19h00
Venue: Nedbank Group Head Office, 135 Rivonia Road, Sandton, Johannesburg

Media enquiries: Ms Nabeelah Khan, NBI Communications Manager, on NabeelahK@nbi.org.za / Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by the Acting Minister of Police, Prof. Firoz Cachalia, will today, Thursday, 23 April 2026, address the media in a briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Media are invited to cover the briefing as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
Time: 16h00 (media to set-up at 14h30)
Venue: Media Centre, Union Buildings, Pretoria

NOTE TO MEDIA: Due to space limitations, Media Accreditation will be on a first come, first served basis. The media briefing will be live-streamed on The Presidency social media platforms.

Media RSVPs should to be sent to Patience Mtshali on Patience@presidency.gov.za / 083 376 9468.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Majesty King Letsie III,
The Right Honourable Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane,
Honourable Ministers,
Principal Chiefs of Madingoaneng and Mokhotlong,
High Commissioners and members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Representatives of the Implementing Agency,
Representatives of the Joint Venture Contractors and Design Team,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Dumelang Basotho ba batle.

The Senqu Bridge is a milestone in our longstanding collaboration. 

This bridge is testament to the deep-seated relationship between our two countries. 

Rising high above the river valley, located more than 2,500 meters above sea level, this bridge has been built to endure. 

It will serve many generations to come. 

Together with the two other bridges being constructed to span the Polihali reservoir, this bridge will improve travel across this part of the country, making transport easier and cheaper for communities, businesses and visitors. 

This bridge tells a story of determination in the face of complexity. 

The project has experienced a number of challenges. 

However, the project team who stayed focused. It has worked to ensure that no affected communities and no households are left worse off by this construction.

This reflects a shared commitment to development that is inclusive, fair and humane. 

The Senqu Bridge project has created employment for over 1,200 people, most of them Basotho. 

The project has employed local engineers, technicians and professionals from both our countries. 

The Young Professionals Programme, which is now part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, is introducing young graduates to the sector.

Through this programme, we are building the foundation for an infrastructure drive across our region and across our continent.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is one of the most ambitious and successful transboundary water projects in the world. It is the largest investment South Africa has ever made outside its borders.
South Africa is a water-scarce country and the waters of Lesotho’s highlands are vital to our country’s development. 

We remain forever grateful to the great Basotho nation for making water resources available to us.

Today’s event is another signal of our strong bilateral relationship. 

In April last year, Prime Minister Matekane and I co-chaired the 2nd Session of the Bi-National Commission between our two countries in Maseru.

We signed six bilateral agreements, covering areas of cooperation such as water and energy, capacity building and skills development, defence and social development. 

Importantly, the two countries agreed to redouble our efforts to deepen economic cooperation for the development and growth of our respective economies.

The next session of the Bi-National Commission will certainly register more progress as we deepen our cooperation in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications, finance industry and the services sector.

Your Majesty, Prime Minister, distinguished guests,

Being here is a reminder of how impressive the evolution of this kingdom has been since the courageous King Moshoeshoe ascended Thaba Bosiu Mountain and founded this great nation. 

The South African people will never forget the sacrifices Basotho made in contributing to our own freedom. 

South Africans and Basotho will forever be bound together, shaped by a common destiny, grounded in history, geography, language and culture.  

The building of partnerships is very important in a changing, complex and uncertain global environment. 

Guided by the spirit of Pan Africanism, South-South cooperation and solidarity, we are forging ahead to realise the vision of an economically integrated Africa as espoused by the African Union’s Agenda 2063. 

As a reaffirmation of our desire to further deepen cooperation, I am pleased to announce that South Africa will provide humanitarian assistance to the Kingdom of Lesotho to the value of R30 million from our African Renaissance Fund.

This will help Lesotho to strengthen its national response to HIV and tuberculosis in the context of dwindling levels of international humanitarian assistance. 

As the current interim Chair of SADC and Chair later this year, South Africa will continue to promote and champion regional initiatives to accelerate trade, investment and integration and to deepen people-to-people links. 

The finalisation of the Lesotho Highlands Water project is within sight.

We call on all implementing agencies, contractors and oversight structures to complete the Polihali Dam and Tunnel on time, within budget and to the highest standards. 

We acknowledge and applaud all who made this project possible and who have contributed to its completion under the stewardship of our respective Ministers. 

This project is more than infrastructure. It is more than steel and concrete.

It is a symbol of a deep and enduring partnership.

The Senqu Bridge is an example of what Africa can achieve when it believes in itself. 

It is in this spirit of friendship, cooperation and solidarity that I express sincere appreciation to Your Majesty, the Government and people of this remarkable Kingdom for your hospitality today.

Together, we are building bridges to the future.

Kgotso, Pula, Nala. 

Ke a leboha.

I thank you.