National and provincial Government leaders have given residents of the Cape Winelands District an undertaking to address challenges communities face with crime, health and labour in the Cape Winelands District in the Western Cape.

These commitments were represented by more than 4 000 residents who attended the sixth District Development Model Presidential Imbizo led by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Drakenstein Local Municipality town of Paarl today, Friday, 19 May 2023.

The district includes towns such as Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worcester, Ceres, Tulbagh, Robertson and Montagu.

The district economy is built around agriculture, including the production of wine, fruit and vegetables, as well as tourism and innovation, with the University of Stellenbosch as the leading academic institution.

Communities in the District are, however, affected by different degrees of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

During today’s Imbizo, residents were afforded extended time to put grievances, questions and proposals to the President, the Premier and Ministers who formed part of this interactive engagement with citizens and stakeholder groups.

Residents who had travelled from all parts of the district raised issues such as unemployment; loadshedding; the movement of undocumented persons into the district for seasonal work in the agricultural sector; violence in communities, including at schools; the destruction of family life by drug addiction; dropout rates in basic education, and others.

Among the responses provided was an undertaking by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, is to visit a police station in the district where residents are demanding greater responsiveness from the South African Police Service.

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, has assured residents that the Province will direct more funding towards dealing with health challenges in the District.

Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, acknowledged residents’ concerns about undocumented workers taking up work on farms and said his Department was working with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service to address this challenge.

The Imbizo identified issues in the Cape Winelands District that hamper service delivery and economic opportunities and highlighted successful projects involving public services and private sector initiatives.

The Imbizo at the Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium was preceded by the President’s visit to the nearby Vlakkeland Catalytic Human Settlement Development which is the largest public housing development to date in the Drakenstein Local Municipality.

The multi-year project, which commenced in June 2017, is located equidistant between the towns of Paarl and Wellington on a major connector route. 

As part of the Imbizo, Government departments and agencies operated mobile service-delivery units where residents could access services such as applications for identity documents.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the enthusiasm with which residents engaged Government leaders and reiterated Government’s mission that no one will be left behind in the transformation of people’s lives and the country as a whole.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired a meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council at Tuynhuys today, Thursday, 18 May 2023, as part of sustaining Government’s response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission (“Zondo Commission”) of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including Organs of State.
 
President Ramaphosa appointed the Council in August 2022 as a multi-sectoral partnership for advocacy and action against fraud and corruption.
 
The Council augments the work done by law enforcement agencies and plays an independent role in terms of combating corruption and other criminal activities. The Council has been established to deepen the country’s efforts to rid society and the administration of corruption, improve investor confidence and secure higher levels of public trust.
 
Opening today’s meeting, President Ramaphosa said the fight against corruption was among the foremost and most urgent tasks at this moment in the country’s history.
 
The President said: “We have seen the effects of corruption across society. The State Capture Commission provided detailed and deeply disturbing insight into how corruption erodes the capability of the state and undermines the foundation of our democratic order.
 
“But we know that corruption in various guises existed before what is now known as the era of state capture and has continued afterwards.
 
“The fight against corruption is not simply about preventing and prosecuting criminal acts. It is also about fixing the institutional culture, processes and practices that enable unethical behaviour.”

The Council reported to the President on the creation of thematic workstreams to induce, and advise Government on, an all-of-society response to the prevention and prosecution of corruption.
 
Workstreams are dedicated to developing advice to the President and Government on areas such as the design of a new anti-corruption institutional architecture for the country, as recommended by the Constitutional Court and the Zondo Commission.
 
The Council has also reached out to civil society, academia and anti-corruption institutions outside South Africa as part of its focus on the creation of a conducive environment for whistleblowers, safeguarding public procurement against corruption, monitoring of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and the identification of gaps in legislation that seeks to eradicate corruption.
 
The Council is due to propose legislative reforms spanning the current Public Procurement Bill, the Protected Disclosures Act and the Political Party Funding Act, to enrich the country’s prevention of corruption and action against crimes involving corruption.
 
The Council has begun to coalesce around the insight that the building of a corruption-free society demands a shift from the current focus on individual acts of criminality to one on combating combating systemic corruption.
 
President Ramaphosa welcomed the Council’s update on its deliberations and stakeholder outreach, as well as its preparations for a national dialogue that can form the basis of a national consensus on and commitment to a corruption-free South Africa.
 

Media enquiries:
 
Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Firoz Cachalia, Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council – 082 901 1313
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Friday, 19 May 2023, engage with citizens, community-based organisations and businesses in the Cape Winelands District Municipality, which is an important centre of South Africa’s agricultural sector and export economy.

The Cape Winelands District Municipality includes agricultural, industrial and tourism assets around towns such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, Worcester, Tulbagh, Robertson and Montagu.

The area also features academic and innovation infrastructure, including the University of Stellenbosch.

The President’s visit to the district will be concentrated around Paarl – seat of the Drakenstein Local Municipality - where community members and stakeholder groups will be able to put questions to the President and leaders from the national, provincial and local spheres of Government during an open-mic session at the Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium.

This session will follow a visit by the President to the nearby Vlakkeland catalytic human settlement project.

To date,  R248 million has been spent on this project where 432 houses have been completed and construction is underway on a further 323. More than 180 local workers are employed at this site.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied at the stadium engagement by Ministers - including Cape Winelands District Champion and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel – Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and provincial and district leadership.

Tomorrow’s Imbizo will be the sixth of its kind since President Ramaphosa gave an undertaking in his February 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he will interact with communities in all provinces.

The Imbizo series is themed “Leave No-One Behind” in line with Government’s collaboration with all sectors of society to transform the country through a sustainable, equitable and inclusive economy.

A number of Government departments and services will stage an exhibition and allow residents to enroll for any public services they may need.

The Imbizo programme is as follows:

President visits Vlakkeland Housing Project

Time: 10h30

Engagement with community members

Time: 11h30
Venue: Dal Josaphat  Athletics Stadium

The media accreditation process has been finalised by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

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

The Presidency has noted media reports and received media enquiries regarding the positions of some of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s advisers. With respect to the individuals about whom information has been sought: 

1. Ms Trudi Makhaya

Ms Trudi Makhaya completed her five year tenure and left her position as economic adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 30 April 2023. 

Since her appointment in April 2018, Ms Makhaya has helped to craft the administration's key economic policy initiatives on structural reform, post-pandemic economic recovery and the just transition. She led the technical steering committee that engaged with investors and coordinated the country’s flagship investment gathering, the South Africa Investment Conference. Ms Makhaya served as South Africa’s G20 Sherpa since 2019.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked Ms Makhaya for her contribution over the past five years: “Trudi’s steady counsel contributed to the evolution of economic policy making since 2018 as government steered the economy through daunting economic headwinds whilst building the case for investment and growth. We wish her all the best as she embarks on a new chapter in her career.”

The President is in the process of appointing a new Economic Adviser.  

2. Ms Maropene Ramokgopa

Ms Maropene Ramokgopa served as International Adviser to President Ramaphosa until her election as the Second Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress in December 2022. She has subsequently become a Member of Parliament and was appointed as Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. 

3. Mr Bejani Chauke

Mr Bejani Chauke left his position as Political Adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa in February 2023. He continues to serve The Presidency as a special envoy for strategic relations and investment in a voluntary capacity.  

4. Adv Nokukhanya Jele

Adv Nokukhanya Jele is the Legal Adviser to President Ramaphosa.

Adv Jele has been appointed as gratis personnel type 2 to the United Nations, supporting Adv Mojanku Gumbi in her role as Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Racism. This level of appointment serves as a donation or secondment from the South African Government to the United Nations of Adv Jele’s time as an expert in the relevant field work required. It is limited to one day a week until December 2023. It is common global practice for countries to second their personnel to the United Nations. The secondment bears no costs to The Presidency. She continues to perform her role as Legal Adviser to the President.  

5. Mr Steyn Speed

Mr Steyn Speed is the Political Adviser to the President. 

Due to family commitments, he is based abroad for a temporary period while continuing to perform his role as adviser.  

Allegations of conflict within The Presidency

The Presidency has also noted unsubstantiated claims of a conflict between Director-General in The Presidency, Ms Phindile Baleni, and the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Ms Roshene Singh. The two officials enjoy a positive, constructive and warm working relationship.

The Presidency similarly dismisses claims that Ms Baleni is considering leaving her position as Director-General. Ms Baleni recently had her contract extended by another five years and has indicated her firm intention to serve out her contract.

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the Republic of Singapore for an Official Visit in Cape Town.

The visit will be an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their longstanding partnership and explore new areas of bilateral economic cooperation. 

South Africa's economic relations with Singapore are focused on trade, investment, tourism promotion and skills transfer.

The Official Visit ceremony and proceedings will take place at Tuynhuys, Cape Town, on Tuesday, 16 May 2023.

Singapore’s visit to South Africa continues the High Level engagement the two governments have fostered since diplomatic relations begun in 1993, ahead of South Africa’s democratic transition.  

Since then, the two countries have shared excellent bilateral relations, which have have formed the basis of regular  high-level visits.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Singapore as partners who work together closely in multinational fora. 

Singapore, like South Africa, is a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Commonwealth, as well as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The two countries have signed numerous agreements to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, and defence.

Tuesday’s High Level visit has been preceded by an Official Visit undertaken by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, to Singapore in July 2022 to strengthen bilateral relations.

President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Hsien Loong will hold official talks on cooperation in the areas of communications and digital technology, science and innovation, water and sanitation and skills development.

The leaders discussed the potential for closer collaboration in these areas when they met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit held in Bali last year. 

Cooperation is expected to deliver mutual benefits in terms of economic growth, job creation, and innovation.

Singapore is a significant investor in South Africa, with investments totalling over R 5 billion in sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, and real estate.

The Official Visit will also bring leading business leaders from the respective countries to collaborate in sectors ranging from ports, logistics and supply chain, healthcare and biomedical, food manufacturing and engineering.

One of the key areas of collaboration between South Africa and Singapore is trade. Singapore is one of South Africa's largest trading partners in Southeast Asia, with trade between the two countries totalling approximately R28 billion in 2022. South Africa exports a range of products to Singapore, including gold, diamonds, and wine, while Singapore exports electronics, chemicals, and machinery to South Africa.

Details of the Official Visit by the Republic of Singapore are as follows: 

Date: Tuesday, 16 May 2023 

Media Programme 

Welcome Ceremony of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong 

Time: 10h00 (Media to arrive at 08:00)
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town 

Opening Remarks of the Official Talks by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong 

Time: 11h00
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town 

Media Briefing and Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation 

Time: 12h30
Venue: Tuynhuys Media Centre, Cape Town 

South Africa – Singapore Business Roundtable
 
Time: 15h30
Venue: To be announced

Media wishing to cover the Official Visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore are encouraged to fill in the attached Accreditation Form and submit it to Khutjo Sebata on khutjo@presidency.gov.za / 079 898 4621 by 16h00 on Friday, 12 May 2023. Access to Tuynhuys will be subject to proof of identification. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Cape Town
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The Presidency has noted with concern remarks attributed to the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben E Brigety, alleging the supply by South Africa of weapons to Russia.

The Ambassdor’s remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterised the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation led by National Security Special Advisor to the President, Dr Sydney Mufumadi.

It is public knowledge that a Russian vessel known as Lady R docked in South Africa. Allegations have since been made about the purpose of the voyage. While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the Government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge.

In recent engagements between the South African delegation and US officials, the Lady R matter was discussed and there was an agreement that an investigation will be allowed to run its course, and that the US intelligence services will provide whatever evidence in their possession.

It is therefore disappointing that the US Ambassador has adopted a counter-productive public posture that undermines the understanding reached on the matter and the very positive and constructive engagements between the two delegations.

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Thursday, 11 May 2023, present to the National Assembly updates on various national developments including Government’s management of the energy generation gap in the country, and the path towards a Just Energy Transition.

President Ramaphosa will share with Members of Parliament who have submitted questions for oral reply, the role played by the Minister of Electricity in responding to the loadshedding challenge.

The President will also elaborate on ongoing efforts to combat corruption that affects Eskom, including progress in this area.

The President will also outline Government's approach to ensuring the country derives greater benefit from its mineral resources.

The President will present South Africa’s diverse initiatives to fight illicit money flows, terror financing and money laundering as part of enhancing the integrity of South Africa’s financial systems, keeping the country safe and safeguarding the country’s participation in the global economy.

President Ramaphosa will detail progress with regard to the country’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, formulated in 2022 to set out the scale of investment needed by the country to meet the international carbon emissions reduction commitments.

The President’s engagement with Parliament starts at 14h00 on 11 May 2023.

Questions for Oral and Written Reply by the President and the Deputy President are one of the mechanisms through which Parliament holds the Executive to account.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, has called for a coordinated approach to restore peace and security in the SADC region.

The President supported by his several cabinet members participated in the SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit Plus and Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries , which took place today, 08 May 2023 in  Windhoek,  Republic of Namibia.

The Extraordinary Summit Plus received an update on the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and considered a report of the SADC Field Assessment Mission to Eastern DRC on the deployment of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) - Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).

"South Africa has noted with concern the report on the deteriorating security situation in the eastern DRC.  We condemn the activities of the illegal armed groups and call upon the- groups and their sponsors to cease their activities immediately.  The war has persisted for far too long and it is our firm belief that the people of the DRC deserve peace and development," said President Ramaphosa.

The Summit also discussed a SADC common position to guide the region’s engagement at the Tripartite Summit on the coordination of interventions and multiple deployments in the Eastern DRC.

The Extraordinary Troika Summit Plus follows the January 2023 Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit held in Namibia which considered the security situation in the SADC region.

The insecurity in the Eastern DRC has been receiving sharp focus of the SADC, the African Union, and other regional mechanisms. 

The outcomes of the Summit are expected to contribute to continental efforts aimed at finding a coordinated and lasting solution to the insecurity in the eastern DRC.  South Africa is among  the Troop Contributing Countries to the FIB which is deployed under MONUSCO.

In this regard, President Ramaphosa  said that "South Africa stands ready to contribute to the development of effective regional instruments that could assist to stabilize the current security situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC. We therefore support the need for long term planning to be ingrained in the SADC Peace and Security Architecture."

The summit was preceded by the meetings of the Senior Officials and Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika Plus, respectively.

The President was supported by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Naledi Pandor; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Thandi Modise; Minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in his capacity as outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, attend the SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit Plus and Force Intervention Brigade Troop Contributing Countries taking place in Windhoek, Namibia , on Monday, 08 May 2023.

The Extraordinary Summit Plus is expected to receive an update on the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and consider a report of the SADC Field Assessment Mission to Eastern DRC on the deployment of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) - Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).

The Summit will also discuss a SADC common position to guide the region’s engagement at the envisaged Tripartite Summit on the coordination of interventions and multiple deployments in the Eastern DRC.

The Extraordinary Troika Summit Plus follows the January 2023 Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit held in Namibia which considered the security situation in the SADC region. 

The insecurity in the Eastern DRC has been receiving sharp focus of the SADC, the African Union, and other regional mechanisms. 

The outcomes of the Summit are expected to contribute to continental efforts aimed at finding a coordinated and lasting solution to the insecurity in the eastern DRC. South Africa is among  the Troop Contributing Countries to the FIB which is deployed under MONUSCO.

The Summit will be preceded by the meetings of the Senior Officials and Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika Plus, respectively.

The President will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise; Minister in The Presidency responsible for State Security, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni; and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini.

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning, Saturday, 06 May 2023, arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi, to participate in the 11th High Level Segment of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region.

The Summit for Heads of State and Government is taking place today, 06 May 2023.

The PSC Framework, otherwise known as the Addis Ababa Agreement, was signed on 24 February 2013 through a AU/UN-brokered Framework aimed at stabilising the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

At the time, signatories to the agreement included Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In early 2014, Kenya and Sudan became the 12th and 13th signatories of the Framework.

The PSC Framework’s key mandate is to end recurring cycles of devastating conflict in eastern DRC which impact on stability and development in the Great Lakes region.

The framework also aims at addressing the root causes of conflict in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes Region.

The Summit takes  place against the backdrop of the deteriorating political and security situation in the Eastern DRC caused by a resurgence of the M23 Movement that has led to tensions between the DRC and Rwanda.

The Summit will receive an update on various initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries.

The Summit will deliberate on the deployment of East African Community (EAC) troops and their role in dealing with negative forces in the eastern DRC, especially the M23.

Since 2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of the PSC Framework, the Summit will focus on the revitalisation of the framework and will consider a plan to enable this.

The current crisis caused by the clashes between Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces will likely be discussed during the Summit.

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria