President Cyril Ramaphosa will tonight, 06 March 2023 via a televised address announce the new members of the National Executive in Pretoria.
 
The SABC will provide feed to all media and PresidencyZA will also live stream the proceedings.
 
The announcement will take place at 19h00.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya will today, 05 March 2023, engage with media on relevant topical issues of public and media interest.
 
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Sunday, 05 March 2023
Time: 12:30 for 13:00
Venue: Union Buildings, Pretoria
 
RSVP: Media wishing to attend the media briefing physically are requested to submit their details to Tsakane Khambane– 082 084 5566/ Tsakane@presidency.gov.za or Naledi Malatji on 078 633 6302.
 
A livestream link will be shared with all media who wish to follow remotely. 
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

PRESIDENT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME
 
TELEPHONIC CALL WITH BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT
This afternoon, President Cyril Ramaphosa will be on a telephone call with the 39th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency Mr Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

President Lula da Silva was officially sworn in as the current President of Brazil in early January this year, having served in this capacity even previously as Brazil’s 35th President.

The call and discussions cements the long standing friendship and cooperation between the two states.
 
South Africa and Brazil share a deep strategic partnership, at bilateral, inter-regional and multilateral levels in pursuit of the advancement of the development agenda of the South.

President Ramaphosa looks forward to hosting President Lula da Silva later this year, during the BRICS, wherein South Africa will assume Chairship of the group.  
 

ORAL REPLIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The President is scheduled to provide oral replies to questions in the National Assembly in Cape Town on Thursday, 09 March, for the first term of 2023.
 
Among the key issues that the President is expected to respond to, he will outline South Africa’s strategic areas of focus in its role as 2023 BRICS Chair. South Africa will be hosting the BRICS Summit later this year. The President is also expected to address matters concerning the fight against crime, the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) and the Expropriation Bill.
 

NELSON MANDELA YOUTH DIALOGUE
On Friday, 10 March 2023, the President will be part of Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue in Gqeberha where the announcement of fellowship for outstanding Young African Leaders will be made.
 
The President’s appointment of the NYDA Board of Directors coincided with the state visit to West Africa, where he requested the NYDA to develop a concept for a Pan-African Youth Dialogue called the Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue.
 
The event is as a result of the development of the concept with an intended outcome of a program that will benefit African youth in line with South Africa’s foreign policy.
 

PRESIDENTIAL WORKING GROUP ON DISABILITY
On Tuesday, 14 March, the President will chair the Presidential Working Group on Disability at the Union Buildings. This engagement underscores government's commitment towards the full empowerment of people with disabilities by identifying interventions that will change the lives of people living with disabilities for better.
 

CREDENTIALS
The President will also receive Letters of Credence from Foreign Heads of Mission who have arrived in South Africa to serve in diplomatic missions in the country.
The ceremony will take place on Tuesday afternoon, 14 March 2023.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this month of March 2023, host his Tanzanian counterpart, President Samia Suluhu Hassan for a State Visit scheduled to take place in Pretoria.

The State Visit will simultaneously include the hosting of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between both countries.

The Principals are also expected to address the South Africa-Tanzania Business Forum.

Members of the media are invited to apply for accreditation separately for the BNC, State Visit and Business Forum using the Accreditation Template provided.

Accreditation application and enquiries should be directed to:

Bi-National Commission: Kgopotso Rapakuana on 073 058 3876 / Rapakuanak@dirco.gov.za

State Visit: Shadi Baloyi on 072 571 6415 / shadi@presidency.gov.za and Naledi Malatji on 078 633 6302 / Naledi@presidency.gov.za 

Business Forum: Phumzile Kotane on 063 114 3704 / PKotane@thedtic.gov.za

NOTE: Deadline for accreditation application is Monday, 06 March 2023 at 16h00. Late applications will not be accepted.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Screening and Accreditation Template.xlsx

The Presidency wishes to advise that Deputy President David Mabuza has resigned as a Member of Parliament, ending his term as Deputy President of the country.

This follows his request to President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down from the position of Deputy President, which the President announced in his reply to the State of the Nation Address on 16 February 2023.

On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa has extended gratitude and appreciation to Deputy President Mabuza for his exceptional service to the country over the last five years.

“The Deputy President has undertaken the responsibilities of his office with dedication. I am grateful for the support he has provided to me throughout his term and for the leadership he has provided to the work of Government,” President Ramaphosa said.

“His contribution has been valued by the many constituencies with which he has engaged, including Traditional Leaders, Military Veterans, civil society formations and international bodies. As Leader of Government Business, he has ably managed the relationship between the Executive and Parliament, working to ensure that the transformative legislative programme of this Administration is advanced,” he said.

President Ramaphosa will make an announcement in due course about the appointment of a new Deputy President.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, will this afternoon, 01 March 2023, update the public, through a hybrid media briefing, on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s public programme.
 
The briefings are an interactive platform with the media, where the Spokesperson provides an update on the President’s public engagements programme  and addresses relevant topical issues of public and media interest.
 
Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Time: 13h30 for 14h00
Venue: Union Buildings, Pretoria
 
RSVP: Media wishing to attend the media briefing physically are requested to submit their details to Tsakane Khambane at 082 084 5566 / Tsakane@presidency.gov.za or Kearabetswe Mabatle on 066 219 2162.

Members of the media can also participate virtually via this following link: Presidential Spokesperson media briefing: https://youtube.com/live/684VrY1hkHY?feature=share
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency is aware of several media reports that have presented a gross misrepresentation of statements made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in an affidavit submitted in a court case, brought by the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and others, in respect of the current electricity crisis.
 
The statement in the affidavit that has been misrepresented relates to the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the President and other Government bodies. It seeks to clarify important legal issues about what is contained in and what is required by the Constitution.
 
This statement does not in any way diminish the commitment of President Ramaphosa and this Government to end load shedding as a matter of urgency.
 
Indeed, since taking office in 2018, President Ramaphosa has undertaken far-reaching measures to resolve an electricity crisis that stretches back more than a decade. These include:
 
- Reviving the renewable energy procurement programme, which has resulted in the addition of over 2,000 MW to the grid to date, and signing project agreements for a further 2,800 MW of projects from bid windows 5 and 6 of the programme.
 
- Removing the licensing threshold for embedded electricity projects and streamlining of regulatory processes, with the result that there are now more than 100 projects in the pipeline worth around 9,000 MW.
 
- Implementing regulatory reforms to allow municipalities to procure power independently.
 
- Driving a turnaround in the performance of Eskom’s power stations through more rigorous maintenance, the recruitment of experienced technical personnel, improving security and law enforcement at power stations, among others.
 
- Providing incentives to businesses and households to invest in rooftop solar and developing mechanisms to enable them to sell surplus power back into the grid.
 
- Undertaking a debt-relief arrangement for Eskom of R254 billion, which will enable the utility to make necessary investments in maintenance and transmission.
 
A National State of Disaster has been declared under the Disaster Management Act. This will enable additional measures to be implemented to mitigate the social and economic effects of load shedding and accelerate the measures necessary to close the shortfall in electricity.
 
These and other measures are clearly outlined in the same affidavit from which certain media outlets have selectively and inaccurately quoted.
 
As recently as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 9 February 2023, President Ramaphosa said the most immediate priority of Government is to restore energy security.
 
The intense focus that is being given to resolving this crisis – and the actions that have been taken so far – clearly show that neither the President nor Government has abdicated its responsibility for ending load shedding and setting the country on a path to energy security.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 3(9) of the Commission for Gender Equality Act, 1996 (Act No. 39 of 1996) as amended, appointed a new Chairperson and Commissioners for the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).

The CGE is established in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality in South Africa. 

The President has appointed the Commission’s Chairperson and Commissioners as follows:
 
- Adv Olave Nthabiseng Sepanya – Mogale as the Commission’s Chairperson on a full-time basis with effect from 01 March 2023 to 28 February 2028.
- Adv Thando Gumede as a full-time member of the Commission with effect from 01 March to 31 December 2027.
- Mr Bongani Glenton Ngomane as a part-time member of the Commission with effect from 01 March 2023 to 28 February 2028.
- Ms Leelambal (Prabashni) Subrayan Naidoo as a part-time member of the Commission with effect from 01 March 2023 to 28 February 2028.
- Ms Leonashia Leigh- Anne van der Merwe as a part-time member of the Commission with effect from 01 March 2023 to 28 February 2028.
 
 The President wishes the newly appointed members of the Commission well in their work and roles.

Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will host his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for a State Visit to Pretoria on Tuesday, 28 February 2023.

President Museveni’s visit is directed at consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries, with discussions between the two Heads of State encompassing political, economic, regional, continental and international issues.

President Museveni will be accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers and a business delegation who will participate in a Business Forum, scheduled to take place from 27 to 28 February 2023. 

President Ramaphosa and President Museveni will address the second day of the Business Forum; 28 February 2023 at the Gallagher Convention Centre at 14h00.

The Business Forum will offer the private sector in South Africa and Uganda a platform to explore trade and investment opportunities.

The Republic of Uganda is South Africa’s 15th-largest trading partner on the Continent and the second-largest in East Africa.

Between 2017 and 2021, total trade between the two countries reached a peak of R3 billion, which the two countries agree is well below potential.

South Africa’s exports to the Republic of Uganda increased from R2.18 billion in 2017 to R3.12 billion in 2018.

The value of South Africa’s imports from Uganda increased from R127 million in 2017 to R323 million in 2020.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa had more than 70 companies operating in Uganda. Businesses in the two countries are keen to expand their presence in one another’s markets.

The two Heads of State will witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation between the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC), Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL); MoU on Cooperation in Tourism; MoU on Cooperation in Transport Related Matters; MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Communication Technologies; MoU on Cooperation in the field of Correctional Services and Prisons; and the MoU on Cooperation in the fields of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel; the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan; the  Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Didiza; the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe; the  Minister of Transport, Mr Fikile Mbalula; the Minister of Tourism, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu; the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khumbuzo Ntshavheni; the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise; the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola, and the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. 

The last State Visit to the Republic of South Africa by President Museveni took place on 21 and 22 January 2011.

Members of the media interested in covering the State Visit and the Business Forum, are requested to populate and submit the attached Screening and Accreditation Form to Terrence Manase on 082 338 6707 / terrence@presidency.gov.za and Naledi Malatji on 078 633 6302 / naledi@presidency.gov.za by Thursday, 23 February 2023 at 11:00. 

NB: Late submissions will not be accepted.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Copy of Screening and Accreditation Template (4).xlsx

President Emmanuel Macron,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Summit is taking place at an important moment in the international climate discussions. 

The Summit is a valuable platform for engagement that needs to complement – but should not supersede – the discussions in the appropriate multilateral forums, particularly the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In November 2021, South Africa announced a historic Just Energy Transition Partnership with the governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union. 

This partnership was established to support South Africa’s just transition to a low-carbon economy and a climate-resilient society. The partners agreed to an initial commitment of $8.5 billion towards this goal. 

South Africa has since produced a Just Energy Transition Investment Plan that sets out the scale of financing need at approximately $98 billion. 

This investment plan would support investments in electricity infrastructure, support for communities and workers in coal mining areas, new energy vehicles, green hydrogen and skills development.

We have learnt several lessons during this process. 

Firstly, it is important that just energy transition partnerships are country-led and -owned. 

South Africa is undertaking this transition with a unique set of challenges that include high levels of poverty and an energy deficit. 

We have high levels of unemployment among unskilled workers, which makes potential job losses in the coal value chain more challenging. We have a constrained fiscal environment that limits the ability of government to provide social security in the event job losses. 

Secondly, more emphasis must be placed on the just component of the transition, in both the structuring of the investment plan and the corresponding financing package. 

Countries going through a just energy transition need to be clear about how they define ‘just’, particularly with respect to social impact. 

Thirdly, given South Africa’s current energy crises, we have come to realise that flexibility is key. 

Countries must be able to decide on a transition pathway that takes into consideration development objectives such as energy security. 

This brings me to my fourth point: just energy transition partnerships must translate into tangible financial support. 

The scale of financial support needs to consider the level of development of the countries and the magnitude of the required transition. 

For example, the current commitment of $8.5 billion from our partners is less than a tenth of what will be needed in the next 5 years for a meaningful and just transition. 

Grants need to form a substantial portion of financial support, and any debt-related terms should be more attractive than what the country could secure in capital markets.

It is important that the financing reflects the obligation of developed economies to finance mitigation and adaptation measures in developing economies. 

The financing must be predictable and certain. 

My fifth point is that the transition process needs to support green industrialisation through the transfer of technology and skills. 

In closing, a just energy transition requires long-term partners that will support developing economies as they move towards sustainable and green economic growth and development. 

I thank you.