President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening, 31 August 2023, address the nation on the outcomes of the 15th BRICS Summit and on the outcome of the panel investigation into the docking of the Lady R vessel in South Africa.

eNCA will provide a feed to all media and PresidencyZA will also live stream the proceedings.
 
The address is scheduled to take place at 20h00.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

In view of the fire disaster in Johannesburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his address to the nation. 

The President will, this afternoon, conduct a site visit to Marshalltown to receive a briefing on the emergency and recovery operations and on the support the government is providing to the affected families.

Time: 17h30 
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 03 September 2023, join families of police officers and reservists who lost their lives in the line of duty, at the annual South African Police Service (SAPS) Commemoration Day.

The event will take place at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Memorial Site at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

This year’s event commemorates 34 members of the SAPS who have fallen in the line of duty in the 12 months between 01 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. 

Members of the media wishing to attend the event are requested to submit credentials to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on 082 040 8808

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Sunday, 03 September 2023
Time: 09h00 for 10h00
Venue: SAPS Memorial Site, Union Buildings, Pretoria

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the media are reminded that no drones will be allowed for the duration of the programme.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Friday 1 September 2023, convened a meeting of the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane. The meeting commenced with the observance of a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the recent building fire in Johannesburg. 

“We are meeting here just a day after a catastrophic building fire in central Johannesburg claimed the lives of more than 70 people. As we await further information on the cause of the fire and the huge loss of life, we must ask hard questions about the effectiveness of our interventions to improve the living conditions of our people. As we grieve this devastating loss, let us learn from this tragedy and make sure that it never happens again,” said President Ramaphosa.

The PCC is the President’s platform for consultation and engagement with provinces and local government in order to raise matters of national interest, ensure alignment of strategic priorities, strengthen coordination, and discuss performance. The PCC transcends local boundaries and coordinates action across spheres of government in a holistic and transversal manner.

The meeting attended by Premiers and members of Cabinet deliberated on service delivery constraints and proposed interventions; the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM); and corrective action plans to address the worst performing municipalities in terms of the Blue Drop and Green Drop assessments of water and wastewater treatment quality. 

The meeting reaffirmed the need to continue enhancing intergovernmental coordination, with a particular focus on infrastructure development and related financing mechanisms in view of the constrained fiscal environment. The meeting also welcomed proposals on the institutionalisation of the District Development Model and the roll out of the DDM support tool that will enable more focused and improved serviced delivery.

On the ongoing fight against crime, the PCC resolved to strengthen the partnership between law enforcement agencies and the various provincial crime fighting initiatives to address illegal mining, intimidation of contractors and other security threats, and to bolster community based crime fighting capacity.  
  

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening, 3 September 2023, address the nation on the outcomes of the 15th BRICS Summit and on the conclusion of the panel investigation into the docking of the Lady R vessel in South Africa.

eNCA will provide a feed to all media and PresidencyZA will live stream the proceedings.
 
Time: 20h00
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and President of the G20,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Representatives of International Organisations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are delighted that the G20 has accepted the African Union as a member of the G20.

Global reconstruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies.

Developing economies are bearing the brunt of climate change, despite carrying the least responsibility for this crisis.

As African and other developing economy countries, we face the task of meeting our climate commitments in the midst of significant developmental challenges like poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable consumption and production and resource scarcity are challenges that can only be addressed collectively and with a great deal of solidarity.

South Africa calls for an enhanced and expanded Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

This must be supported by the concrete policies and actions outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.

Access to adequate and predictable financial resources from a variety of public and private sources is critical if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Development partners need to both meet their existing commitments and upscale Official Development Assistance. Ordinary people see billions of dollars being spent on the weapons of war instead of addressing development challenges.

In particular, development partners need to meet their commitments to capacity building and infrastructure development in low- and middle-income countries.

No country is spared the effects of climate change. It is therefore vital that we respond collectively, decisively and with urgency to this existential crisis.

It is vital that industrialised countries, which have the means and which carry the greatest responsibility for climate change, support sustainable development in developing economies.

For us to realise the vision of People, Planet and Prosperity, we need to meet our respective commitments and responsibilities. 

In so doing, we will be helping to create a world that is more equitable, more resilient and more sustainable.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow , 04 September 2023 ,embark on a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnagagwa.

The Presidential Inauguration Ceremony will take place at the National Stadium in the capital city  Harare. 

The Republic of South Africa congratulated the government and the people of The Republic of Zimbabwe for organizing and holding the harmonized elections to elect the President, National Assembly and Local government representatives, which took place on 23 and 24 August 2023.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and President of the G20,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Representatives of International Organisations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

South Africa welcomes the Indian Presidency’s efforts to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The achievement of the SDGs must remain at the centre of international financing discussions to ensure that finance is mobilised in sufficient quantities and of suitable quality to support development in low- and middle-income countries.

We continue to face an unsteady global economic recovery. As policy makers, we therefore need to be flexible and respond quickly and appropriately to risk. 

Multilateral cooperation is critical to addressing food and energy insecurity.

As African countries, we support a discussion on policy options to address the effects of volatility in food and energy markets.

Our experience of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic sends a clear message that global health security is paramount. 

There is need to develop robust global one health surveillance systems that promote effective collaboration at national, regional and global level. 

We urgently need a coordination mechanism that supports the sharing of information and resources, research, outbreak investigation and response. 

We must be committed to strengthening the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and support ongoing engagement on how this proposed architecture will be funded.

South Africa welcomes the Indian Presidency’s focus on women’s empowerment as part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

South Africa has embarked on a journey of ensuring the empowerment of women. The education of girls must be prioritised. We must act to end gender-based violence and enable women to enter the mainstream of economic activity. 

We are indeed One Family. 

As G20 nations, we must drive the transformation of economies and societies in pursuit of mutual prosperity, inclusive growth and a shared future.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will outline progress on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, in the implementation of lifestyle audits for members of the executive and the enhancement of service delivery to communities.
 
The President will outline the government’s approach on these and other matters in a Questions for Oral Reply session in the National Assembly, Cape Town.
 
President Ramaphosa will provide an update on the progress of lifestyle audits in line with his commitment to transparency and accountability.
 
The President will also set out the significant economic benefits South Africa has derived from its participation in the BRICS group and how this is contributing to the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
 
The President will address questions around unwarranted attacks on the judiciary that go beyond reasonable criticism and the importance of preserving the integrity of the administration of justice.
 
The President will also shed light on efforts to enhance cooperative governance among the three spheres of government.
 
Building on the success of the Presidential Izimbizo held across provinces, the President will outline how the engagement between government and communities can be used to expedite the delivery of essential services to communities.
 
Date: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Time: 14h00–17h00
Venue: National Assembly, Cape Town
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined to suspended Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane the constitutional processes that pertain to her suspension or potential removal from office and which therefore prevent her from reporting for duty.

President Ramaphosa set out the conditions preventing the suspended Public Protector’s return to office in a letter to Adv. Mkhwebane dated 04 September 2023.

The President was responding to a letter he received from Adv. Mkhwebane earlier on the same day and in which she expressed her intention to report for duty today, Tuesday, 05 September 2023, until the expiry of her term of office on 14 October 2023 or any lawful removal in terms of Section 194 of the Constitution, whichever happens first.

The President has pointed to Adv. Mkhwebane that her intention to return to work is misconceived.

This is due to the fact that the proceedings initiated by a Committee of the National Assembly which has inquired into Adv. Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office have yet to be completed.

Now that the Committee has adopted its report, the proceedings which were initiated by the Committee will be finalised either when the National Assembly does not adopt a resolution calling for the removal from office of Adv. Mkhwebane, or if the National Assembly does adopt such a resolution.

In his letter, the President said: “It is therefore patently clear that the process initiated by the Committee is not completed, (as your letter suggests) when the enquiry by the Committee has been finalised.

“In the circumstances, you have no right or entitlement in law to return to office pending the decisions to which I refer above.

“In the circumstances, while I thank you for your courtesy in informing me of your intention, your interpretation of the Presidential Minute and my letter is wrong, and your intention to return to office is misconceived.

“Your letter states that you were advised on 24 August 2023 that the Committee had completed its part of the process, and that its report would be tabled in the National Assembly. You waited until today to inform me of your intention to return to office tomorrow. Such precipitate action is unjustified on any basis.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria