Programme Director,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
His Excellency Ambassador Chen of the People’s Republic of China,
President of Huawei Southern Africa, Mr Leo Chen,
Chief Executive Officer of Huawei South Africa, Mr Will Meng,
Deputy CEO of Huawei South Africa, Mr Kan Chen,
Partners from business, including the Open Lab Local SMME partners,
Winners of the ICT Competition present here today,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

What I have seen and heard this morning is both impressive and encouraging.

This Centre brings together Huawei’s different business units in a collaboration hub with local partners, app developers and ICT-focused SMMEs.

For South Africa, expanding digital infrastructure is one of the primary engines of economic growth. The development of information technology is key to the competitiveness of our economy.

Ambassador Chen,

In October last year, President Xi Jinping described science and technology as “a primary productive force, talent as a primary resource, and innovation as a primary driver of growth”.

This is a sentiment that we share.

Digital innovation is inextricably linked to a nation’s development.

Not only can new digital technologies such as AI, Big Data and machine learning provide a platform for economic growth, job creation and self-employment; they can also vastly improve Government service delivery.

The application of digital technologies to improve production processes spans a broad range of economic sectors from mining to ports to transportation and others.

Last year, for example, the first 5G coal mine was launched in South Africa through a partnership with Huawei, its carrier and industry partners.

This centre is a signal of Huawei’s confidence in the South African economy and its potential.

The digital technology and business services sectors are key pillars of South Africa’s investment strategy.

To stimulate investment in these sectors, we have focused on several structural reforms.

The actions we have taken include the auction of high-demand spectrum that took place last year, which – alongside digital migration – will significantly expand access to broadband and bring down data costs.

Other priorities include the development of an ICT and Digital Economy Masterplan and National Data and Cloud Policy.

South Africa has a robust and sophisticated ICT sector with expertise in data centres, cloud computing and storage, and rapidly expanding wireless and fibre infrastructure.

We have strong regulatory frameworks around cybersecurity, intellectual property, the protection of personal information and others.

According to the 2023 State of the ICT Sector in South Africa, published by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the sector’s revenue continues to increase, by approximately R25.5 billion over a five-year period.

This makes the ICT sector one of our most attractive industries for investment, with substantial growth potential.

As we grow the digital economy it is our expectation that this growth in revenue should be matched by an increase in the number of jobs the sector creates.

It is, therefore, encouraging that this Innovation Centre will be focusing on knowledge and skills transfer, as well as SMME development.

I congratulate Huawei for the work it is doing to cultivate local digital talent through the LEAP programme, ICT academies and DigiSchool projects.

We welcome indications by Huawei that the company plans to invest substantially in data centres and cyber security industries in Africa.

By adopting the range of cutting-edge technologies being pioneered by companies such as Huawei, South Africa and the continent will be able to leapfrog into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

I look forward to receiving updates on the innovation and collaborative partnerships that will be forged here.

It is our hope that this Innovation Centre will be a springboard for the launch of new local ICT enterprises that create jobs. We hope it will be a springboard to new business processes that grow our economy and support our national developmental goals.

I wish Huawei and its partners every success with this Innovation Centre.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation to lead South Africa’s participation in the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit which takes on 27 and 28 July 2023.

The Summit, which aims to foster mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent, first convened in October 2019 with a commitment to continue meeting every three years. 

This 2nd Summit is expected to consider four declarations and a three-year Action Plan, which will be presented for consideration.

These submissions will focus on strengthening cooperation between Russia and African states in politics, security, trade, science, IT, humanitarian support, education, culture, sports, youth and the environment. 

The declarations also seek to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and in information security.

Scheduled side events will include an exhibition to showcase investment opportunities in Russia and Africa, an innovation space to demonstrate new technologies, and a Business Development and Social Partnership Zone for networking between the heads of global corporations, government officials, business and the media.

The summit background will also offer an opportunity to African Heads of State who are part of the African Leaders Peace Mission to continue talks with President Putin on the confidence-building measures that will create conducive conditions for a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine.

South Africa will use the summit backdrop to further engage Russia at a bilateral level to finalise the contents and substance of the upcoming BRICS summit. 

President Ramaphosa will lead the South African delegation to the Summit, and will be accompanied by Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Ms  Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa - +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a determination to increase salaries of all public office bearers by three percent, with effect from effect from 01 April 2022. 

This determination follows recommendations made by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers (the Commission) on the annual salary for all public office bearers, submitted to the President on 17 April 2023.

The Commission recommended 3.8% salary increment for all public office bearers including members of the Independent Constitutional Institutions, Judges, Magistrates and Traditional Leaders for the financial year 2022/2023. 

Having considered the Commission’s recommendations and serious economic challenges facing the country, the President has decided that the salaries of all public office bearers be increased by three percent. 

The President has in accordance  to relevant statutory requirements submitted the notice to Parliament for approval before publication in as far as it relates to salaries of judges and magistrates.

The President wishes to thank the Independent Commission for its recommendations.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency has noted the report of the Acting Public Protector, Adv Kholeka Gcaleka, which absolves the President of alleged abuse of power or breaches of the Executive Ethics Code in relation to an incident of theft at his privately owned Phala Phala game farm in 2020.

The President has always maintained that he was not party to any wrong doing or violation of his oath of office. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted and welcomed the judgement by the Johannesburg High Court setting aside the private prosecution instituted by former President Jacob Zuma. 

The President has always maintained that Mr Zuma's private prosecution constituted an abuse of court processes and that it was unlawful and unconstitutional.

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Justices TA Maumela and NP Mngqibisa-Thusi on suspension to allow the Judicial Conduct Tribunal to investigate suspected misconduct regarding alleged excessive delays by the judges in handing down a significant number of judgments.

The President has taken this step in terms of Section 177(3) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to suspend a judge on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

On 26 January 2023, the Judicial Service Commission accepted a recommendation of the Judicial Conduct Committee that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that the judges were guilty of misconduct in delaying the handing down of a significant number of judgments.

The Commission decided the matter should be referred to the Judicial Conduct Tribunal for investigation.

At its meeting of 20 April 2023, the Judicial Service Commission took a decision to advise the President to suspend Justice Maumela and Justice Mngqibisa-Thusi pending a tribunal process envisaged in Section 19(1) of the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act No.9 of 1994).

Both Judge Maumela and Judge Mngqibisa-Thusi are suspended subject to the condition that they finalise their part-heard matters.

The President has informed Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the suspended justices of his decision.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the passing of struggle stalwart and former Minister in The Presidency, Essop Pahad.

Mr. Essop Goolam Pahad has passed away at the age of 84.

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family, friends and comrades of the late veteran.

President Ramaphosa said: “We mourn the passing of a veteran of our struggle, 65 years after he took his first revolutionary step of becoming a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress.

“Security crackdowns, banning and exile shaped Essop Pahad’s contribution over decades to our struggle and, as Parliamentary Counsellor to President Thabo Mbeki and Minister in the Presidency, to the early design and impact of our democratic state.

“Essop Pahad was a thinker and strategist who brought his understanding of the human condition, injustice and inequality at the national and international level to bear on our transition to democracy and in introducing a democratic, non-aligned and activist South Africa to the global community.

“He served our nation with pride, principle, pragmatism, and a charm that lived comfortably alongside a tongue that could lash severely at the right provocation.

“Amid the excessive demands of his public life, Essop Pahad was deeply devoted to his wife, Meg, and was a proud and doting father and grandfather, who is now sorely missed. May his soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Friday, 30 June 2023, hear from community members of uThukela District at the Oqungweni Sports Field in KwaZulu-Natal during the 7th District Development Model Presidential Imbizo.

The President will, under the guiding principle of leaving no one behind, lead the direct engagement between all three spheres of Government and members of the community. The engagement will be aimed at unlocking barriers to effective service delivery and improving on programmes and projects that address development in the district. 

Details of the Imbizo are as follows:

Date: Friday, 30 June 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: Oqungweni Sports Field, Alfred Duma Local Municipality, uThukela District

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness to the devastating and tragic loss of innocent lives at the Angelo Informal Settlement, in Boksburg.

A gas accident which happened last night has claimed the lives of 17 residents of the squatter camp. 

The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost loved ones. 

President Ramaphosa has described this as a very sad morning. 
 
He further urges investigators to get to the bottom of what may have caused this accident to avoid similar disasters in future.  

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded a successful visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo where together with President Félix Tshisekedi, co-chaired the Heads of State and Government segment of the 12th session of the DRC –South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).

The BNC which was held today, 06 July 2023, at Palais de la Nation, renewed commitment by both countries to further enhance and nurture the existing bilateral trade and political relations.

The Presidential segment of the BNC was preceded by the Senior Official meeting on 01-03 July 2023 and the Ministerial Sectoral meeting on 04-05 July 2023.

The BNC was conducted through the agreed structure between the two counties, which provides for the establishment of four (04) Sectoral Committees: Political and Governance Sectoral Commission; Defence and Security Sectoral Commission; Economy, Finance and Infrastructure Sectoral Commission and Social and Humanitarian Sectoral Commission.

To this effect, the leaders have acknowledged the existence of thirty-eight (38) Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and welcomed the 81 decisions taken during the Ministerial session of the BNC. President Ramaphosa and his Congolese counterpart directed the relevant Ministers to conclude the review of these legal instruments by the end of October 2023 and accelerate the implementation of all agreements. 

These legal instruments cover a wide range of areas including, amongst others, Agriculture, Defence, Trade and Investment, Health, Police, Energy, Public Service and Administration, Cooperative Governance, Transport, Diplomatic Cooperation, Humanitarian Support and Immigration. 

The Heads of State and Government also discussed issues of mutual interest and appraised each other on economic, political, and security situations in the Region, particularly in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the outcome of the Quadripartite Summit held on 27 June 2023 in Luanda under the auspices of the African Union.

The leaders also reflected on other global issues of mutual interest where’re they iterated their common view that the Russia- Ukraine war requires dialogue and negotiation between the parties, as does the devastating conflict in Sudan. The two Presidents called on the parties in both countries to cease hostilities permanently and to give effect to the AU and UN objectives of silencing guns in pursuit of peace and security across the globe.

The leaders also participated in the Business Forum held on the margins of the BNC session, which explored opportunities for enhanced trade and possible trade and investment between the two counties with a particular focus on four key sectors of Agriculture & Agro-processing, Energy & Infrastructure, Health & Pharmaceuticals and Mining.

On economic cooperation, the Heads of State and Government directed the respective Ministers of Trade to resolve identified impediments with a view to increasing trade and investment between the two countries.

In this regard, the Heads of State and Government noted the strategic importance of the Grand INGA Hydropower Project between South Africa and the DRC to jointly develop the Project with the potential to produce more than 40 000 Mega Watts (MW) of hydropower from the Congo River.

On immigration, the leaders agreed that further consultations will be necessary to finalise all relevant modalities that will result in a mutually favourable visa regime.  

President Ramaphosa has extended an invitation to President Tshisekedi to attend the 13th Session of the BNC in South Africa on a date to be agreed through diplomatic channels.

The President was supported by Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation; State Security; Defence and Military Veterans; Trade, Industry and Competition; Police; Mineral Resources and Energy; Transport; Home Affairs and Social Development.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria