President Cyril Ramaphosa joins South African Catholics and adherents globally in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XV1.

His Holiness has passed away at the age of 95, close to 10 years after resigning from his role as head of the Catholic Church worldwide.

President Ramaphosa said: “South Africans share the sadness felt by millions of the Catholic faithful worldwide at the passing of the Pope Emeritus.

“In this season of Christian fellowship, the passing of His Holiness is certain to add to the intensity with which Catholic adherents and other communities of faith carried the Pope Emeritus in their prayers in the closing days of his life.

“We reflect with deep regard on the spirit leadership Pope Benedict XV1 provided to his Church and humanity more broadly.

“The prayers and concern expressed by millions for His Holiness in recent weeks and days will now sustain and comfort the faithful in this hour of grief.”


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

My fellow South Africans,

In a few hours we will ring in a new year.

It is a time for fresh starts in a number of aspects that affect our lives and for making resolutions to do things better.

It is also a time of hope – hope for a better life for ourselves, and for  things to become better for the country that we all love.

2022 has been a difficult year. It is a year during which South Africans continued to endure the hardships that are given rise to by unemployment, poverty and persistent inequality.

On top of all this we have had to deal with the rising cost of living and an energy crisis.

We have also been burdened by the loss of loved ones to a number of tragedies.

There have been devastating tragic events that have destroyed both lives and livelihoods.

These events have included floods, fatal vehicle crashes, deaths in taverns, dam wall collapses, drownings, fires in informal settlements and most recently, the terrible explosion of a fuel tanker in Boksburg in Gauteng that killed at least 34 people.

A number of young men have lost their lives during the summer initiation season, turning what was meant to be a time of joy and celebration into a time of sorrow.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the bereaved families.

May the Lord embrace and comfort all families who suffered loss as a result of these tragic events.

With all that has happened this past year, we must remain optimistic and have hope. For hope does spring eternal in the human breast.

Much as we are going through a stormy phase in the life of a country, storms do eventually pass.

Two years ago when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, I said that we would overcome. And we have.

The Covid-19 pandemic no longer determines how we live our lives.

We have been able to shelter society’s most vulnerable from its worst effects.

Our economy is growing again and is now larger than it was before the pandemic.

Over the past year, around 1.5 million new jobs were created.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has provided opportunities to more than a million citizens, is growing and thriving.

We are improving the business operating environment and attracting new investment.

We are undertaking reforms in the operation of our ports and railways, and in our telecommunications, water and electricity sectors.

We are working hard to end the crisis of load shedding.

We are increasing the amount of renewable energy on the grid

The benefits of this work may not be immediately felt, but we should expect that these efforts will steadily reduce the need for load shedding until it is no longer necessary.

Over the last year, there have been milestones in the fight against corruption.

The State Capture Commission handed over its final report and government has set out a plan for the implementation of its recommendations.

There have been several arrests, prosecutions and convictions for corruption and cases related to state capture.

Significant amounts of stolen funds have been recovered by state owned companies like Eskom and Transnet.

Just as the new year is a time for a fresh start in our personal lives, so too must it be for the life of our nation.

South Africans want to see our country’s electricity challenges resolved.

They want to see tougher action against corruption.

They want to lead lives of dignity and to have jobs.

They want to live in safety, freedom and peace.

We must build on the important work that has been done this past year to determine our actions in the next.

We must intensify the fight against poverty and inequality, unemployment, crime and gender-based violence.

This is what South Africans want and deserve.

Even as we face the challenges of today and tomorrow, the people of South Africa still hold fast to the belief in our nation’s greatness.

They are determined to see our country prosper and thrive.

As we look to the year ahead, we pay tribute to the many outstanding South Africans who have served our nation.

We pay tribute to the lifeguards, emergency workers, law-enforcement personnel, fire fighters, nurses, doctors and other health care workers.

We pay tribute to our educators, who have worked so hard to restore our classrooms as places of learning, and to the learners themselves who have given their very best in centres of learning.

We thank the hard working staff, businesses and suppliers who keep our streets clean, who transport commuters, and who provide our homes with various services.

We applaud the farmers and farmworkers who produce our food.

We thank those who opened their hearts to victims of tragedy and helped wherever and however they could.

Our humanity and our unity during times of hardship is what makes us who we are.

Let us enter 2023 with the courage and resilience for which we are known.

Let us keep going and keep on trying, no matter how difficult it gets.

By working together, we can and will rebuild our country., We can and will improve our economy and improve the lives of our people.

Wherever you are at this time, I wish you a happy, prosperous and peaceful new year.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of global football icon and social activist, Pelé.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento has passed away at the age of 82 after an extended illness.

President Ramaphosa offers his deepest sympathy to Pelé’s family and friends and to the Government and people of Brazil.

The President has expressed his condolences in letters to President Jair Bolsonaro as well as incoming President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva.

The only 3 time FIFA World Cup champion, Pelé dazzled both fans and competitors alike with a skillful and entertaining style of play that made him a global star and icon of excellence in football.

He was a campaigner for improved social conditions in his home country and internationally, and served as Minister of Sport in Brazil from January 1995 to April 1998.

Pelé visited South Africa in 1995 and met President Nelson Mandela. The two global figures expressed profound admiration for one another based on their common social and political causes.

President Ramaphosa said: “During the eight decades of his life, Pelé not only filled football stadiums with exhilaration but he filled hearts and homes with hope and the knowledge that adversity was surmountable.

“He was a global inspiration who embodied the best that sport has to offer as an exhibition of physical endeavour and as a means to transform individuals and entire societies from within.

“His endurance and impact on the field of play inspired the resilience with which Pelé worked for peace and justice globally.

“Pelé will be missed by multiple generations of people worldwide who were touched by his life even if they never set foot in a stadium.”
 

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa says racism has no place in South Africa and racists must expect harsh consequences in terms of the law.

The President commends the South African Police Service for opening dockets and launching investigations into a reported case of suspected racism at a Free State holiday resort on Christmas Day.

The complaint entails an alleged assault – widely accessible for viewing on social media platforms – on black teenage boys by white adults who appear to argue that the boys are not allowed in a swimming pool reserved for white users.

President Ramaphosa said: “Our Constitution means exactly what it says when it declares that South Africa – and that means all of South Africa – belongs to all who live in it.

“As black and white South Africans, we should be united in condemning all manifestations of racism and attempts to explain or defend such crimes. Racism is not a problem to be fought by black South Africans only.

“We must also be united in ridding our society of the violence we see in the videos of the incident at the Free State resort, whether such violence comes with racism or not.

“It is deplorable that adults dealing with teenagers resort to violence with such disturbing ease, hurting people physically and offending provisions in our Bill of Rights around security of the person, including the right to dignity and being free of violence.

“Under the rule of law, we must let investigations take their course but under the rule of law we can and must also declare that racism has no place in our society and racists have no place to hide.

“We must defend our continuing national mission of ridding our society of the divisions and the hurts of our past.”
 

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the continued loss of life following the explosion of a truck near the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital on Saturday, 24 December 2022.
 
To date, 18 people have lost their lives, a significant number have been injured and the hospital and surrounding public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.
 
The President’s thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have perished in the incident and the President wishes the injured persons speedy and full recovery.
 
President Ramaphosa said: “The nation’s hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating incident.
 
“Such events take on greater sadness and tragedy when they occur at this time of year when all of us pray for safety and look forward to the togetherness and comfort of extended time with family and friends.
 
“In this instance, the loss of life is rendered more intense because some of the victims were hospital patients, hospital staff and children, while firefighters are counted among the injured.”
 
“While we await the outcome of investigations into this tragedy, this incident does, like so many others, call on all of us to show due care and to avoid risk when we are out on our roads which we share as a public amenity.”
 
The President has expressed his appreciation for for the rescue and recovery efforts by Government agencies and services as well as organisations such as Gift of the Givers.
 
The truck driver has been arrested on suspicion of culpable homicide while the national and provincial departments of health have assessed damage to the hospital.
 
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has begun the process of relocating families whose homes have been destroyed by the blast.
 
The President said: “As Government, we are taking all necessary actions to bring relief to persons affected by the incident and we draw inspiration in our own efforts from the demonstrations of ubuntu we are seeing on the part of communities and community-based organisations.
 
“While these interventions bring us hope and light in our darkest hour, we must always live by the resolve to prevent such catastrophe from taking place in the first place.”
 

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

THEME: “National Unity, Healing, and Renewal”.

Fellow South Africans,

Dumelang, Molweni, Sanibonani, Goeie Dag, Thobela, Lotjhani, Ndi masiari, Nhlekanhi.

We will soon be at the end of what has for many been a difficult year.

In our communities, at our places of work and study, and in our homes, South Africans have had to confront many challenges.

We have had to deal with the devastating effects of the COVID pandemic, with rising food and fuel prices, with catastrophic flooding in parts of the country and with ongoing load shedding.

It is therefore particularly distressing that, amidst all these challenges, there have been several incidents of racism and intolerance.

We have witnessed racists acts in our universities, schools and other public places.

While it is deeply disturbing that these attitudes continue in our society, we must take encouragement from the fact that the perpetrators of racism have found neither sympathy nor condonation from broader society.

Time and again, our nation has shown its true character in times of need.

In the darkest days of the pandemic, during last year’s unrest and in the aftermath of the floods earlier this year, South Africans came together.

Communities reached out to each other.

The same can be said for the incidents of racism that took place this year.

Civil society mobilised against the racists.

Pressure was placed on the institutions involved to take swift and appropriate action.

Acts of racism will not be suppressed, buried, or rationalised.

They will be publicised, filmed, and put on full public view for all to see.

This speaks to the energised and conscientised society we have become.

We are a society that stands firmly for justice.

Non-racialism and non-sexism and respect for diversity begins with our Constitution, but it does not end there.

On this Day of Reconciliation, we reaffirm our commitment to live by the values of nonracialism and non-sexism.

No matter how great the difficulties we may be facing, we cannot turn on each other.

It is up to each one of us, whether as families, as parents, as educators or as communities to do more to build bridges of understanding.

It cannot be that bringing about reconciliation should be the responsibility of the formerly oppressed.

Instead of retreating into our cocoons of race, language, ethnicity, and class, let us use today, and indeed every day, as an opportunity to play our part.

The actions we may take may seem small, like learning a South African language we do not know, or they may be significant, like joining the government’s land donation programme.

As much as it is government’s responsibility to promote and advance national reconciliation through progressive policies and education, reconciliation must begin with the individual and with our own attitudes.

While challenges still remain, the South African people want to live alongside each other in peace.

We should not despair at the actions of the few who still cling to the attitudes, behaviour, and language of the past.

The great writer Alan Paton once said that reconciliation is not about forgiving and forgetting as if nothing wrong had ever happened.

It is about forgiving and going forward; about building on the mistakes of the past to create a new future.

Despite the national trauma and great crime that was apartheid, we have come a long way in bringing about reconciliation amongst South Africans.

Today, and every day, let us look to the future with optimism.

It is our collective hope that the new year will bring peace, progress and prosperity for every South African man, woman, and child.

In a society of common prosperity there is no room for prejudice of any kind.

It is the society we must hasten to build, working together.

I wish all South Africans a blessed and peaceful Reconciliation Day.

I thank you for your attention.

President Cyril Ramaphosa rejects with the utmost contempt Mr. Jacob Zuma’s abuse of legal processes and perversion of the ‘nolle prosequi’ (private prosecution) provision.

In accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act, a private prosecution can only be instituted after the individual prosecuting has obtained a certificate of non-prosecution. The certificate serves as a legal confirmation that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will not proceed with the prosecution following its consideration of the charges. 

Mr. Zuma has not provided such a certificate with charges in the name of President Ramaphosa. The summon served to the President is hopelessly sub-standard and demonstrate absolute disregard of the law.  

Mr. Zuma charges that President Ramaphosa is an “accessory after the fact” in a criminal offence alleged against Advocate William Downer – the allegation is that Advocate Downer improperly shared information, in terms of the NPA Act. Mr Zuma’s charges are based on an accusation that President Ramaphosa failed to act after Mr. Zuma complained about improper conduct by Advocates Downer and Breitenbach. These charges are completely spurious and unfounded. 

President Ramaphosa promptly responded to Mr Zuma’s letter indicating steps he had taken, including referring the matter to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola who bears the oversight responsibility over the NPA. President Ramaphosa requested Minister Lamola to refer complaints of improper conduct against Advocates Downer and Breitenbach to the Legal Practice Council.
 
President Ramaphosa does not interfere in the work of the NPA, nor does he have the power to do so. The President responded to Mr Zuma and took appropriate and legally permissible action. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency and National Treasury have yesterday, Wednesday 14 December 2022, released a progress report on the implementation of economic reforms to mark two years since the establishment of Operation Vulindlela.

Operation Vulindlela was established in October 2020 as a joint initiative of The Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms. By fostering collaboration and coordination across Government in support of the reform agenda, Operation Vulindlela has achieved significant progress in a short space of time.

The report provides a detailed update on progress in the implementation of priority reforms in the electricity, transport, water, and telecommunications sectors as well as reforms to the visa regime. 

It highlights the following key achievements to date:

- Paving the way for private investment in electricity generation for the first time, with reforms underway to establish a competitive electricity market

- Clearing the backlog of water use licenses and re-engineered the license application system, unlocking billions of Rands in investment

- Ending a more than ten-year delay in the auction of high-demand spectrum, enabling substantial new investment in telecommunications

- Facilitating the introduction of private sector participation in container terminals, to crowd in investment and improve the efficiency of port operations

- Undertaking a comprehensive review of the work visa system, with recommendations to overhaul the work visa system and attract skills and investment

- Published a new Critical Skills List for the first time since 2014, with new occupations in IT and other sectors with a need for skills

- Adopted a new National Rail Policy to guide the modernisation and reform of the rail sector, including the introduction of third-party access to the rail network

- Developing and/or passing legislation to create a transport economic regulator, reform the electricity sector, and establish a National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency.

The report also provides details on new reforms which have been prioritised by Operation Vulindlela to drive inclusive economic growth, including creating an enabling legislative framework for hemp and cannabis, developing a devolution strategy for passenger rail, and addressing the backlog of title deeds for subsidised housing.

The full report can be downloaded at https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/operation-vulindlela.

Joint statement issued by:

Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President
media@presidency.gov.za / +27 (82) 835-6315

Cleopatra Mosana, Head of Communications in the National Treasury
cleopatra.mosana@treasury.gov.za / +27 63 686-8413

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission (“JSC”) and in terms of section 177(3) of the Constitution, decided to suspend Judge President Mandlakayise John Hlophe from his duties pending a decision of the National Assembly as contemplated in section 177 of the Constitution.

In order to ensure continuity and stability in the work of the divisional high court, the suspension which is in effect immediately, is on condition that Judge President Hlophe completes all part-heard matters and reserved judgments.

President Ramaphosa received the JSC report on the 27th of July 2022. Due to the long history and complexity of the matter, President Ramaphosa took time to carefully consider all the permutations of the JSC recommendations, including obtaining guidance from an independent legal opinion. 

The President fully appreciated the need to balance Judge President Hlophe’s rights with those of the public and the interest of the Judiciary as a whole.

Section 177 (3) of the Constitution provides that the President, on the advice of the JSC, may suspend a judge who is the subject of a procedure in terms of subsection (1) that deals with the removal of a judge who is found guilty of gross misconduct.  

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal (“JCT”) concluded that Judge President Hlophe’s conduct breached the provisions of section 165 of the Constitution by improperly attempting to influence the two Justices of the Constitutional Court to violate their oaths of office. The JCT established that Judge Hlophe’s behavior seriously threatened and interfered with the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of the Constitutional Court and further undermined public confidence in the judicial system. The JSC has referred the matter to Parliament for the National Assembly to institute impeachment proceedings against Judge President Hlophe.

In May 2008, 11 Justices of the Constitutional Court lodged a complaint with the JSC against Judge President Hlophe for his improper attempt to influence the outcome of certain cases pending before the Constitutional Court in favour of former President Jacob Zuma.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson,
Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale,
National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola,
Instructors, commanders and personnel of the Tshwane Police Training Academy,
Representatives of Community Policing National and Provincial Boards,
All stakeholders and guests,
The newly trained constables on parade, their families and friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today is a special day for our new police recruits, who now undergo the passing out parade after the completion of their training. 

This is a culmination of a long and demanding training programme.

Your success attests to your grit, determination and sacrifice to ultimately reach the finishing line.

Congratulations to you and to your other colleagues who will be holding the passing out parade at different training centres across the country this week. 

This is a job that demands commitment beyond the call of duty.

It is a role that will test your resolve in fighting crime, upholding the law and making South Africa a safe and peaceful country. 

Safety and security affects so many other areas of life.

Safety and security is necessary for economic growth and social development, for better education and health outcomes, and for social cohesion. 

When crime is high, small businesses cannot thrive because they have to spend more resources on security, and it is difficult to persuade companies to invest here. 

Crime affects the safety, well-being and cohesion of our communities.

It affects the delivery of services and the functioning of public institutions.

If we do not tackle crime, we will not be able to build the better society that we seek. 

It is for this reason that during the State of the Nation Address in February this year, we made a commitment to recruit and train an additional 12,000 new police personnel. 

Today is a great milestone in the implementation of that commitment, as the SAPS’s ‘Project Ten Thousand’ comes to fruition. 

As Minister Cele indicated, we have a 9,252 new police constables who have successfully completed the required nine months of intensive training at the various police training academies across the country and at the SANDF facilities in the Northern Cape. 

This is in addition to the 495 constables who successfully completed the shorter six months programme in September. 

We applaud the SAPS for its recruitment strategy, which saw qualified forensic scientists, criminologists and policing science experts joining the service.

During the State of the Nation Address, I also said that the staffing of the SAPS Public Order Policing Unit will be brought to required levels, with appropriate training courses in place. 

This was in direct reference to the findings and recommendations from the report of the Expert Panel into the July 2021 Civil Unrest. 

In this regard, 4,000 recruits will be deployed to the Public Order Policing Unit. 

Some of the newly-qualified constables will be deployed to other specialised units within the SAPS.

These include the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unites to bolster our capacity to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. 

Other constables will be deployed at frontline service delivery points at crime-heavy police stations. 

All of the new constables will be joining the Safer Festive Season Operations that are already underway. 

These operations will be important to combat violence against women and children and aggravated crime like robberies and carjacking.

These operations will include enhanced border security, enforcement of legislation and municipal by-laws and road safety enforcement. 

To the new constables gathered here today, this parade affirms that you are ready to join the SAPS to help eradicate crime, to serve and protect the people of South Africa and make them safe and secure. 

Wear this blue uniform with pride and dignity, abiding by the SAPS Code of Conduct and committed to the service of the people.

As you commence with your workplace duties after today, it is important that you remain vigilant, agile and alert at all times.

Take a firm stance against corruption or unethical conduct, and against any actions that could erode the faith of the nation in our police service. 

Work with communities to address their problems.

You are as strong as the communities you are deployed to serve. 

Finally, I congratulate the trainees who have been recognised by the respective Academy Commanders as having performed best in the areas of Street Survival, Law, Physical Training and Drill. 

We believe that you will continue to distinguish yourselves in the service as you did in your training. 

I wish you all well in your careers in the police service. 

Serve your country with pride and commitment. 

I thank you.