Programme Director,
President of SADTU, Cde Magope Maphila,
General Secretary of SADTU, Cde Mugwena Maluleke,
General Secretary of COSATU, Cde Solly Phetoe, 
General Secretary of the SACP, Cde Solly Mapaila, 
All National Office Bearers of SADTU,
Minister of Basic Education, Mme Angie Motshekga,
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande,
Delegates,
Comrades and friends,
 
I am honoured to have been invited to this National General Council of SADTU. 
 
Tomorrow, the 5th of October, we will mark World Teachers’ Day, when we reflect on and celebrate the important role played by teachers throughout the world in advancing human progress.
 
Teachers are responsible for the development of our country’s most valuable resource – our children.
 
More than any mineral or natural asset, more than any product or industry, the children of this country will shape our future and determine our fortunes.
 
That places a great responsibility on teachers to educate and prepare our children well.
 
It also places a great responsibility on the rest of society to support, respect and celebrate our teachers.
 
This NGC takes place at an important time for our country, for our education system and for the teaching profession.
 
While the COVID-19 pandemic has severely tested the capacity of the state and the resilience of our people, it has also required us to craft new ways of doing things and has opened up new pathways to progress.
 
The economic and social impact of the pandemic has been devastating, significantly worsening the country’s employment crisis.
 
To address the challenge of youth unemployment while the economy recovers, we established the Presidential Employment Stimulus to provide work and livelihood opportunities mainly to the unemployed. 
 
This initiative has now reached more than a million participants.
 
More than 60 per cent of these participants are women and more than 80 per cent are young people.

Alongside the creation of these opportunities, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has also been making a difference in several areas of development.
 
One of the most significant areas of impact has been in our schools.
 
In the largest programme supported by the stimulus, over 600,000 young people have been placed as school assistants in over 22,000 schools.
 
The reports we have received from school management, teachers and other stakeholders have said that these school assistants have made a positive contribution to the learning environment in schools. 
 
Not only have these young people been capacitated, empowered and given meaningful work experience, but many of them have also discovered a passion for teaching and aim to study further. 
 
We appreciate SADTU’s continued support for this programme and would appreciate the union’s views on how to improve the reach and impact of this initiative.
 
The education sector is facing a number of challenges. 
 
Incidents of violence, abuse and bullying in our schools are a grave concern.
 
Incidents of racism are greatly distressing and show that there is still resistance among some people to the gains that this democratic order has achieved. 
 
We are concerned about the apparent increase in incidents of violence against teachers and learners, often perpetrated by criminals who come into schools. 
 
We need to work together, across society, to ensure that our schools are safe.
 
This means that SGBs, CPFs, communities, local businesses, unions and the police need to work together to ensure that every single school in the country is a place where educators and learners feel secure and safe.
 
As we work to ensure that schools are suitable places for learning, we need to equip them for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
 
As we undertake far-reaching reforms to our telecommunications industry and increase our investment in infrastructure, we need to ensure that schools and other educational facilities are the first beneficiaries of ICT infrastructure. 
 
We call on the private sector to work with us to invest in the upgrading, modernisation and expansion of our school infrastructure to benefit all learners, particularly in under-served areas.
 
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, SADTU has a significant role to play in ensuring that its members are ready for new technology and new subjects as part of our shared effort to get our learners ready for this new world. 
 
Teachers need to educate learners about the benefits and risks associated with emerging media and technology. 
 
We understand that the Teacher Union Collaboration that is responsible for equipping our teachers with the skills and capabilities to implement coding and robotics in schools is being well received by teachers.

We commend SADTU for the role it is playing in the training of 32,000 of our teachers in this regard. 
 
As the basic education sector, we need to work collaboratively with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution in our education system. 
 
Our higher education institutions can do much more to prepare educators to teach the new subjects offered as part of the three-stream model. 
 
The education sector is critical to our country’s economic growth and we have to ensure that our educators are fully equipped with the skills and tools that they need.
 
Another significant development is the move of the early childhood development function from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education. 
 
This means that the educational development of the child should now be a continuous process from their earliest years to when they are ready and equipped to leave school.
 
If we are to improve reading and numeracy outcomes in later years, we need to invest more in children’s formative years. 
 
As a revolutionary union, SADTU must lead in ensuring that our education system transforms the economy and improves the social conditions of our learners. 
 
That is where the three-stream model adds great value.
 
While our education system must produce doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and teachers, it must also produce carpenters, welders, boilermakers, mechanics and plumbers. 
 
It must produce IT specialists, coders, programmers and technicians.
 
It must produce entrepreneurs and innovators.
 
These are the skills any growing economy needs. 
 
They are the skills that support industrialisation. 
 
We call on SADTU to help raise awareness about the opportunities provided by vocational training. 
 
We must encourage our learners acquiring these skills to pursue paths of entrepreneurship and self-employment. 
 
Our focus should be on creating opportunities for young people to be absorbed into the labour market. 
 
As we prepare to mark World Teachers’ Day, I once again express our nation’s gratitude to the members of SADTU and all educators for their courage and commitment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Teachers took it upon themselves to ensure that learning went ahead even under the most difficult of circumstances. 
 
And teachers have been working hard, alongside school management, department officials, parents and learners, to make up for the lost time.
 
Let us use this occasion to appreciate and celebrate the dedicated teaching force that we have in this country. 
 
We commend the vital contribution teachers make to our future by nurturing and shaping the minds of the young. 
 
Throughout this difficult period, our teachers have become symbols of resilience and have remained loyal to their calling – to educate the leaders of tomorrow.
 
We remember and pay tribute to all the teachers who succumbed to COVID-19. 
 
In their honour, we must do everything possible to guarantee the safety of teachers and ensure that the teaching and learning environment remains conducive at all times. 
 
In their honour, we must celebrate the excellence and dedication of those teachers who spare absolutely nothing of themselves in the effort to build a new society underpinned by a better life for all. 
 
In acknowledging and celebrating these outstanding patriots who have the responsibility to shape our collective future, we are encouraging them to continue and to never become weary. 
 
We look to the teachers of this country to help develop a citizenry that will be able to both grapple with the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
 
We look to the educators to empower learners with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to take informed decisions that promote environmental sustainability, economic development and a just society. 

More than any other sector, it is teachers who are the midwives for a new breed of patriotic citizens who are conscious of their duty to their country and fellow citizens; a new generation that will refuse to engage in crime, corruption and gender-based violence. 
 
As with all the teachers of our country, the members of SADTU carry a great and noble responsibility. 
 
It is a responsibility that you continue to perform with pride, dignity and diligence.
 
I wish you a successful and productive National General Council. 
 
I thank you.

Programme Director, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ms Thembi Nkadimeng,
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr David Makhura,
Other Premiers present,
President of the South African Local Government Association, Cllr Bheke Stofile,
Kings and Queens,
Members of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders,
Executive Mayors, Councillors and municipal officials,
Representatives of SALGA,
Members of civil society, NGOs and community organisations,
Delegates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good morning. 
 
It is my pleasure to be here at a Local Government Summit that is focused on practical solutions to the challenges our municipalities face.
 
This has been a year of heightened activity by the state around the critical issue of improving the state of local government.
 
This year, I have led four Presidential Izimbizo, in the Free State, North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga,where local governance issues topped the agenda.
 
In August, the South African Human Rights Commission convened a conference on accountability, service delivery and human rights in local government.
 
And most recently, SALGA convened this year’s Council of Mayors.
 
What I said at all of these engagements is that we do not need more diagnosis on the state of local government, because we know what our challenges are.
 
Reports from the Auditor-General and National Treasuryand the State of Local Government reports point to inefficiencies, maladministration, lack of financial controls, poor governance and the like.
 
It is therefore appropriate that these are some of the critical challenges that this Summit is discussing.
 
The Commissions here will be looking at issues of governance, administration and financial management,service delivery, climate change and disasters, and, importantly, local economic development.
 
As the country grapples with poverty, unemployment and inequality, it is vital that we attend to local economic development. 
 
When there is a growing, dynamic economy we have the fiscal space to expand the provision of services that improve our people’s lives. 
 
When there is more investment and business expansion, jobs are created, livelihoods are supported, and the benefits circulate in local area.
 
That is why accelerating economic growth, attracting investment and creating jobs must be at the centre of the efforts of all spheres of government.
 
Two weeks ago, I was part of an investment oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal. 
 
We attended the launches of two expansion projects by automotive component manufacturer Hesto Harnesses and paper products company Sappi.
 
Both of these were the fulfillment of commitments made at one of our South Africa Investment Conferences. 
 
These investments are supporting job creation, enterprise development and localisation, and will inject millions of rands into local economies.
 
Over the past two months I have attended similar such launches by the Ford Motor Company, Isuzu, Anglo American, Corobrik, Sandvik, Netflix, Consol Glass and many other companies.
 
These business expansion projects aren’t happening opposite the Union Buildings or next to Parliament.
 
They are being built in our towns and our metros, where our people live and where they are needed most.
 
If we are to harness the momentum of economic recovery that these new investments signal, local government has to be strong, efficient, capable and well-run.
 
When these domestic investors and multinationals are making decisions on where to bring or expand their investments, one of the first factors they consider is whether there is an enabling environment in that locality.
 
They look at whether they can receive the necessary approvals and permits on time.
 
They look at the quality of the provision of water, electricity, sewage and refuse removal. 
 
They look at the quality of the roads and at the quality of the infrastructure they will need to transport products to market. 
 
They analyse whether the environment is safe and secure, and whether they will be able to protect their investments.
 
If they are not satisfied that their needs will be met, they choose to invest somewhere else. 
 
In some cases, companies that are already operating in an area choose to leave.
 
In the process jobs are lost, businesses are forced to close, suppliers lose their clients and the local economy suffers.
 
As we work to promote local economic development, we need to consider the role of the District Development Model. 
 
We need to ensure that this integrated, multidisciplinary approach to government planning and implementation must translate into local economic development that changes lives at a household level.
 
We need to ensure that mayors and councillors are deeply involved in the promotion of local economic development.
 
We should not leave it to consultants to devise our economic development plans and expect that they will be implemented on their own.
 
Mayors and councillors need to drive the process from start to finish.
 
We have spoken about some of the key elements of an ideal municipality, including a vibrant economy, places where tourists want to visit, inter-connected communities and skills and training hubs.
 
Such municipalities provide good access to health, education and recreational facilities.
 
In such an ideal municipality not only are residents able to lead lives of quality and dignity, they are magnets for investment.
 
The task before us at this point is to translate the DDM One Plans into reality. 
 
A credible plan is only as good as its implementation.
 
And even the best plan will not succeed if we do not fix the systemic problems that prevent local government from carrying out its functions.
 
 As I told the SALGA Council of Mayors earlier this month, we have to embark on course correction to advance the principle of people-centered local government.
 
This means focused and committed leadership across all municipalities, with stronger strategic relations with the private sector and other social partners.
 
It means improving the quality and efficiency of local government through better funding, planning and execution.
 
It is about restoring governance, about professionalising municipal administrations and stabilising management and political leadership.
 
It means prioritising fiscal sustainability, sound municipal financial governance and eliminating corruption.
 
Municipalities need to focus on the imperative of revenue collection, to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to fulfil their functions.
 
In addition to the jobs it creates and the communitydevelopment it enables, vibrant local economic activity strengthens the financial position of municipalities.
 
It makes these municipalities less dependent on grants from the national fiscus and empowers them to pursue the interests of residents with greater focus.
 
But if we are to build these ideal municipalities, we need to address the instability within governance structures and processes.
 
The political contestation and infighting that is wreaking havoc in our municipalities must come to an end.
 
We should once and for all end the hijacking of municipal councils and administrations for self-enrichment and personal gain. 
 
Local government should employ people that are able to perform the functions they are responsible for and should carry them out in an accountable, transparent, efficient, effective and responsive manner.
 
In carrying out this mandate, municipalities must receive the requisite support of all other spheres of government, public entities and state institutions.
 
This conference is taking place as COGTA is undertaking a 21-year review of local government. 
 
This review will assist government to learn from the lessons of the past, both in terms of best practice and failures.
 
As we meet to discuss ways to improve governance and administration and solve our service delivery challenges, we must focus on solutions.
 
After more than two decades of democratic local government and nearly three decades of constitutional democracy, the focus must be more on outcomes and less on intent. 
 
We must bridge the divide between policy and implementation, between aspiration and results, by focusing on what must be done.
 
Let this be an opportunity for all of us tasked with the business of local government to emerge from this conference with tangible actions and achievable aims.
 
Let this be an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to improving the living conditions of the people of South Africa through developmental local government.
 
I thank you.

Deputy President David Mabuza,
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr David Makhura,
Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Mr Randall Williams,
Religious and Traditional Leaders,
Our nation’s artists whom we celebrate today,
Distinguished guests,
 
Fellow South Africans, 
 
Dumelang. Sanibonani. Avuxeni. Ndi masiari. Lotshani. Goeie middag. 
 
Heritage Day is always cause for celebration. 
 
It is the day when we appreciate the rich, diverse and common cultural heritage that makes us Proudly South African.
 
It is an opportunity for us to wear the attire that is unique to our respective cultures, to invite friends and family over for a home-cooked traditional meal, to play traditional music and to pay tribute to those who came before us.
 
Just as we celebrate where we have come from, we know that culture continues to evolve, adapt and change. 
 
Just as traditional cultural dress has been adapted into modern fashion, and contemporary music is infused with cultural strains, many South Africans today will be wearing the colours of a national sports team or gathering for a braai. 
 
No matter our race, ethnicity, language or religion, there is no right or wrong way to observe Heritage Day. 
 
What matters most is that we are taking the time to celebrate our South Africanness.
 
Days such as this remind us that unity in diversity is our greatest strength as a nation.
 
At a time when so many parts of the world are being torn apart by division, by ethnicity, language and religion, we can hold our heads high. 
 
Yes, we may have our differences, but when it comes down to it, we are South Africans first and foremost. 
 
We respect one another. Siyahloniphana. Ons respekteer mekaar. Ri a thonifhana. Re a hlomphana.
 
We know that cultural pride and expression is never an excuse for chauvinism, for ideas of ethnic superiority, for tribalism, for xenophobia or for misogyny.
 
This year we are using Heritage Month to celebrate South African indigenous music and in particular the legacy of Solomon Popoli Linda. 
 
We chose this theme to acknowledge the role that indigenous music, especially isicathamiya, played in the lives of our people during the dark days of colonialism and apartheid. 
 
Indigenous music didn’t just entertain and comfort the dispossessed black majority, it also mobilised and united them. 
 
In the township community halls, the marketplaces, the beer halls and the open fields where groups like the Evening Birds led by Solomon Linda performed classics like iMbube were places where important political conversations about the state of our country took place.
 
Because of its ability to bring people together, unite them and encourage discussion, indigenous music helped shape our present reality of a free and democratic society.
 
Our artists used song and dance to transmit messages most effectively in ways that conventional channels could not. 
 
We therefore have a moral responsibility to preserve this music and to protect those who create it. 
 
The tragedy that befell Solomon Linda, the great injustice that was done to him, must never again visit any of our artists.
 
Though he composed and recorded many songs, iMbube was his best known one. 
 
South Africa was still a British colony when difficult circumstances made him sell the rights to the song to a record company. 
 
It is said it was sold for a mere 10 shillings. In today’s currency that is less than one US dollar. It was a robbery.
 
This song has given joy to so many people throughout the world and put millions into the pockets of music producers, but Solomon Linda died impoverished in Soweto in 1962.
 
It has been adapted over the years by many western artists, earning them royalties that Solomon Linda never got in his lifetime. It was only in 2004 that his daughters brought a successful lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company.
 
We would like to believe this was an isolated case but it is not. 
 
We would like to believe that times have changed, and that artists, especially musicians, are no longer being exploited and deceived by those out to make money at their expense. But this still persists. 
 
In the colonial era cultural symbols, artefacts, music, art and literature were brazenly stolen from Africa. 
 
In today’s modern age, this exploitation has taken new forms such as plagiarism, cultural and intellectual property appropriation and copyright theft. 
 
Struggling artists are taken advantage of and strong-armed into giving up their rights and their royalties.
 
That is why we are redoubling our efforts to preserve our heritage and protect our artists. 
 
Through their songs, dance, paintings, storytelling, sculptures and other form of art, artists carry on their shoulders the heavy responsibility to transmit our heritage from one generation to another. 
 
Artists must therefore be paid their dues.
 
In honour of Solomon Linda and his legacy, let us ensure that our artists do not suffer in their lifetimes and are not condemned to dying in poverty.
 
The new Copyright Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly at the beginning of this Heritage Month will go a long way in protecting our artists and towards addressing their concerns about the collection and distribution of royalties.
 
We are determined to use the law where necessary to preserve our cultural heritage. 
 
We also need to defend and preserve our indigenous languages. 
 
Government is supporting several lexicography units at institutions of higher learning in terminology development for African languages. 
 
We have paid specific attention to the Khoi and San languages.
 
Today we have candidates successfully submitting their Masters dissertations and Doctoral theses in African languages, irrespective of the field of study. 
 
This would have been unheard of in the past. 
 
The incremental Introduction of African Languages policy in our schools is having the desired impact, challenging the notion that knowledge of English is enough to progress in our society.
 
We ought always to remind ourselves of the centrality of our heritage to the health of our nation’s soul. 
 
While today we are shining the spotlight on our indigenous music and its legendary creators, our heritage is much more than indigenous music. 
 
Our heritage is also the best version of ourselves that we seek to become.
 
I am referring here to Ubuntu, which speaks to our innate spirit of generosity and human solidarity. 
 
It speaks to our compassion and kindness towards other people, especially those less fortunate, and also to those from foreign lands who have sought refuge here.
 
We are, as South Africans, a friendly and hospitable people and it is inconsistent with our values to be xenophobic. 
 
I am proud that at many workplaces, schools and institutions, our brothers and sisters from other countries have joined the heritage celebrations.
 
As Africans we are one people with a shared history and a common destiny. 
 
Among the most important values that define us as a people is our utmost respect for women and the elderly. 
 
The historical position of women in our traditional communities is a far cry from the present-day toxic notions of masculinity and patriarchal relations of power.
 
In their wisdom our forebears attached great power to positions of women in our family structures, such as Rakgadi, Dado’Bawo, Makhadzi and the like. 
 
There is no part of the heritage of any South African community that permits men to demean women or impose their will on women through violence. 
 
On this day, when we celebrate our heritage, we must look deep within ourselves and return to the positive values of our communities.
 
By restoring the values that we celebrate on Heritage Day, we will put an end to the culture of rape and the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. 
 
We will care for our children as we must and never abuse them. 
 
We will value and cherish the elderly and give them the respect they have earned through many years of hard work and sacrifice. 
 
Parents will once again take responsibility for all children in their community and not look away in the face of their misbehaviour.
 
Some people may ask how can we celebrate our heritage at a time when so many South Africans are facing such great hardship?
 
They may ask how can we celebrate through dance and music and art at a time when our country is being plunged into darkness through load shedding, when so many people have lost their jobs due to the COVID pandemic and when families are struggling with the rising cost of living?
 
Yet, it is a times like this that our heritage becomes even more important.
 
We are a nation with a heritage defined by struggle, by courage, by perseverance, by a determination to overcome even the greatest challenge.
 
And so let us call on this heritage as we confront the difficulties that confront our country today.
 
Let us work together to implement the far-reaching measures that will end load shedding, that will rebuild our economy and that will create jobs.
 
Let us recognise the progress that is being made in transforming our society and draw on the experiences of years gone by to intensify our efforts to address these challenges and build a better life for all our people. 
 
On this Heritage Day, I would like to call on our media, especially radio and TV stations, to play indigenous music and to discharge their broader responsibility towards social cohesion and nation building.
 
Now and in the future, let us enjoy our indigenous music. 
 
Let us fully embrace ourselves and one another.
 
Let us embrace this rich tapestry of history, culture and heritage.
 
For in our heritage lies our strength.
 
To all South Africans, wherever you are, wherever you came from, whatever you believe and whatever language you speak, I wish you a happy Heritage Day.
 
I thank you.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor
 
South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo
 
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ms Joyce Beatty
 
Spokesperson of the Rainbow Push Coalition, Prof Jonathan Jackson
 
Friends,
 
 
 
We are extremely grateful that our friends in Congressional Black Caucus and
 
the anti-apartheid veterans have accepted this invitation to meet with us.
 
 
 
This meeting brings together the peoples of South Africa and the United States,
 
who were united in the fight against apartheid in South Africa and racial segregation in the US.
 
We cannot express enough South Africa’s gratitude to the anti-apartheid activists for the significant role they played and continue to play in advocating for the recognition of the sovereign equality of nations.
 
The voice of the Congressional Black Caucus is as relevant now as it was at the height of the fight against apartheid, putting pressure on countries in conflict to respect international human rights conventions.
 
The people of Western Sahara and Palestine depend on such support in their fight for self-determination.
 
After our experience of apartheid, we know that self-determination can only be achieved with the support and solidarity of the people of the world.
 
 
 
We remember that the 1986 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act was a critical
 
contribution towards the end of apartheid.
 
We re-affirm President Nelson Mandela’s statement to Congress in June 1990,
 
when he said:
 
“You have given us the gift and privilege to re-join our people, yourselves and
 
the rest of the international community in the common effort to transform South
 
Africa into a united, democratic and non-racial country.”
 
South Africa remains seized with the persistent challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
 
We therefore appreciate the continued efforts of our friends in the United States to overcome the debilitating effects of apartheid and colonialism.
 
 
 
As they have done with such great effect in the past, members of the
 
Congressional Black Caucus can use their influence to promote policies that advance Africa’s development agenda.
 
The Congressional Black Caucus should hold the US government to account for its implementation of the US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, which acknowledges the role of the African continent in global affairs and seeks a partnership among equals.
 
We are therefore concerned the possible implications for the African Continent if the ‘Countering Malign Russian Activities Bill’ were to become US law.
 
 
 
The law could have the unintended consequence of punishing the continent for efforts to advance development and growth.
 
Both the US and Russia are strategic partners for South Africa. As a sovereign country that pursues an independent foreign policy, the Bill seems to punish those who hold independent views.
 
It is disappointing that this Bill has been crafted at a time when President Biden has sought to engage African countries on the basis of respect for their independence and sovereignty.
 
In the wake of the devastating social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa is working hard to rebuild our economy.
 
We have held four South Africa Investment Conferences to mobilise investments that would stimulate economic growth, create jobs and assist with skills training and capacity building, especially for the youth.
 
We are undertaking far-reaching structural reforms to make our economy more competitive. We are improving the ease of doing business by doing away with red tape and streamlining investment support.
 
We call on the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and anti-apartheid veterans to encourage investment in South Africa and Africa more broadly.
 
The renewal of AGOA is vital to ensure that the progress made over many years to strengthen trade and investment ties between the US and the continent is not lost.
 
We call on you to help us to change the narrative about Africa, which seeks to portray the continent as riven by conflict and which gives a false impression that Africa has nothing to offer the rest of the world.
 
On the contrary, we know that Africa has huge potential for growth and development.
 
The African Continental Free Trade Area will place the economies of Africa on a new trajectory of development and production.
 
The continent’s united response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that Africa has the will and the means to work together to overcome the greatest challenges.
 
It is important that Africa should be allowed the space to choose its own partners and should never again find itself as a battleground for influence among the global powers.
 
Instead, we seek to partner with countries from across the world in pursuit of
 
Africa’s interests.
 
This includes partnerships on issues such as Africa's just energy transition in accordance with global equity and national circumstances and enabled through international support.
 
It includes partnerships to develop Africa’s human capital through education, and innovation. This is vital to ensuring the continent’s future stability, security and prosperity.
 
 
 
For us, this meeting is an important opportunity to reaffirm the ties of friendship and solidarity that have been forged over decades of common struggle for justice.
 
It is an opportunity to reflect on our shared vision for a better Africa and a better world, and to restate our commitment to work together to realise that vision.
 
Thank you again for your attendance and your support.
 
I thank you.

Programme Director,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube,
Mayor of the eThekwini Metro Municipality, Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda,
Global Board Chairman of Sappi Limited, Sir Nigel Rudd,
Global CEO of Sappi Limited, Mr Steve Binnie,
CEO of Sappi Southern Africa, Mr Alex Thiel,
Representatives of Organised Labour 
Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Inkosi Rubert Sifiso Shinga,
Amakhosi and traditional leaders,
Business and community leaders,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good Afternoon,
 
It is a great pleasure to be here at the launch of Sappi’s Project Vulindlela. 
 
It marks the fulfilment of a commitment the company made at the first South Africa Investment Conference in 2018.
 
We convened that first Investment Conference with the aim of raising R1.2 trillion in new investments over five years.
 
Now, four years later, we have achieved more than R1.1 trillion worth of investment commitments.
 
Today, we are seeing just what those commitments mean in reality.
 
Today, we are witnessing far more than a financial investment.
 
We are witnessing an investment in infrastructure, people, innovation, technology and sustainability.
 
It is an investment in community development, in the local economy, in our export capacity and in the industrialisation of our economy.
 
Last week, I attended a launch in Gauteng of an expanded manufacturing facility by Swedish multinational Sandvik. 
 
Earlier today, I was at the opening of an automotive industry components plant run by Hesto Harnesses, a subsidiary of Metair Investments. 
 
There are many other such examples of the impact of our investment drive.
 
They show that our economy is on the road to recovery. 
 
These investments have been made possible thanks to the partnership between government and business to drive growth and industrial development. 
 
The opening of this expansion project is the result of hard work, of persistence, of corporate vision, and, above all, is a testament to the enduring commitment of companies like Sappi to South Africa and its people. 
 
This project supports a number of our national economic priorities. 
 
Firstly, it supports sustainability and moving towards a circular economy. 
 
This facility supports our national carbon reduction goals. 
 
I am told that by using the best available technology, the aim is to halve CO2 fossil fuel emissions, significantly reduce plant CO2 emissions, reduce water consumption and reduce waste to landfill from coal ash by 48 per cent. 
 
It is noteworthy that Sappi continues to use recycled and sustainable wood sources to produce circular and innovative bio-based products. 
 
Secondly, this project contributes to beneficiation. 
 
Through this mill, Sappi is taking a product from South Africa’s soil and producing dissolving pulp.
 
More than that, this mill is producing employment, developing skills and adding economic value to an important raw material.
 
The dissolving pulp contributes to further economic activity through several household, industrial and pharmaceutical applications. 
 
Importantly, it is used by the clothing industry to produce materials such as yarn and textiles, which in turn feeds into our Clothing Textiles Leather and Footwear Masterplans. 
 
Thirdly, this project contributes to rural and enterprise development. 
 
Much of the raw material feedstock that drives this project is sustainably sourced from rural communities. 
 
I am told that since 1995, Sappi has sourced a total of 4 million tons of timber worth R4.2 billion from small growers. 
 
Fourthly, this project contributes to job creation. 
 
The manufacturing sector is one of the key priority industries of the economy and Sappi Limited is supporting both the creation of new jobs and the protection of existing ones by innovating in its business practices. 
 
I am told that the Saiccor plant employs 1,200 staff with 700 contractors. 
 
Indirectly over 51,000 people in KwaZulu-Natal depend on Sappi operations for their livelihood. 
 
As one of the biggest container exporters, Sappi Limited makes an important contribution to the country’s export revenues.
 
The success of many domestic industries in export markets demonstrates our inherent global competitiveness and the huge potential that still exists to grow these industries. 
 
However, to realise that potential, we need to remove the constraints that are hampering the overall competitiveness of our manufacturing industries.
 
We are forging ahead with the measures I announced in July – alongside the fundamental reform of our energy sector – to resolve the long-standing challenge of reliable electricity supply.
 
We have made progress in addressing challenges with our rail and port operations.
 
Several companies have been shortlisted to be considered as partners at the container terminals at the Ports of Durban and Ngqura. 
 
Investments in port and related infrastructure to improve efficiencies will improve the competitiveness of locally manufactured products in global markets.
 
While foreign direct investment is important for our economy, the greatest demonstration of confidence is when our own companies take that lead. 
 
The realisation of Sappi’s investment here at Umkomaas sends the strongest signal that our home-grown multinationals are taking the lead in investing in our economy.
 
It demonstrates confidence to other potential investors that this is indeed a favourable place to invest in and to do business. 
 
It shows that you are ready and willing to play your part in developing our communities by employing more people and by giving greater opportunities to small businesses.
 
This is what partnership looks like. This is what social compacting looks like.
 
Congratulations once again on this milestone. 
 
I look forward to seeing this project expand and thrive, and to witness its benefits for the people of Umkomaas, the economy of KwaZulu-Natal and the progress of our nation. 
 
I thank you.

Programme Director, 
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube,
Ambassador of Japan to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Maruyama Norio,
Mayor of Ilembe District, Cllr Thobani Shandu,
Mayor of KwaDukuza, Cllr Lindi Nhaca,
Chairperson of Metair Investments Limited, Mr Michael Flemming, 
CEO of Metair Investments Limited, Mr Riaz Haffejee, 
Managing Director of Hesto, Mr William Hilditch,
Board Member of Yazaki, Mr Ito San,
President of Isuzu SA, Mr Billy Tom,
President of Ford Motor Company Africa, Mr Neale Hill,
Staff of Metair Investments and Hesto Harnesses, 
Representatives of labour, 
Amakhosi and community members present, 
Distinguished guests, 
Ladies and gentlemen. 

Good morning. 

It is a great pleasure to be here at the launch of this expansion project at Hesto Harnesses, a subsidiary of Metair Investments Limited. 

The reindustrialisation of South Africa’s economy is a key pillar of our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Programme. 

Government has developed several industrial policy measures and is implementing far-reaching reforms to unlock growth opportunities in priority industries.

These include the automotive industry, and extend to areas such as clothing and textiles, chemicals and plastics, steel and metals fabrication, green industries, the digital economy and network industries like energy and transport. 

Disruptions to global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the need for companies all over the world to diversify their sources of supply. 

Not only do we need to diversify our manufacturing base.

We also need to improve the competitiveness and dynamism of South African manufacturing.

We need to increase participation in regional and global markets, reduce concentration and achieve effective transformation. 

This investment commitment by both Ford and Metair reflects long-term confidence in South Africa as a key link in the global automotive value chain. 

We need to work together to unlock new business opportunities, transformation and employment creation in South Africa’s component manufacturing landscape, just as we need to promote new investments in technology and skills. 

That is why the localisation rate in the Automotive Production Development Plan is targeted at 60 per cent by 2035. 

We will continue to drive increased localisation as the domestic sector moves into electric and other new energy vehicle assembly platforms. 

I understand that Metair is both supplier and a business partner to the vehicle assemblers, and that the company has been a driving force in achieving localisation targets. 

Through these efforts, the company has secured multiple contracts from Ford South Africa to support their production expansion strategy in South Africa. 

The automotive sector in South Africa is one of the biggest beneficiaries of foreign direct investment in the country. 

Despite all the challenges, 2021 was a significant year for automotive investments. 

According to the National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of South Africa, last year seven OEMs invested a total amount of R8.8 billion, the second highest annual figure on record. 

The components sector also invested a significant R5.7 billion last year. 

Our country remains one of the preferred investment destinations in Africa and is an important gateway for markets and other business opportunities throughout the continent. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area will further open opportunities for the development of export markets, the growth of industrial bases and the expansion of regional value chains. 

The South African economy has the potential to achieve a higher growth trajectory through unlocking competitive advantages in key sectors of the economy. 

As government, our role is to create an enabling environment for businesses such as this one to flourish. 

We are hard at work to implement institutional and governance reforms to support a sustained recovery in business and investor confidence. 

Unemployment is one of the greatest challenges in our country. 

It affects the livelihoods of individuals, the well-being of families and the development of society. 

It is therefore significant and most welcome that this facility will create over 4,000 employment opportunities, which will translate into a R30 million monthly spend on salaries and wages being injected into the iLembe District. 

The benefits of this investment will also be felt by maintenance, catering and other service providers that will be contracted to support these operations. 

I am aware of the strong skills development mandate that is being implemented across the Metair stable, including a new multi-million rand bursary and apprentice training programme. 

It is pleasing that there is a strong focus on female candidates, as is the fact that Hesto Harnesses is predominantly a female-driven operation with 70 per cent of employees being female. 

I want to take this opportunity to commend Minister Patel, Premier Dube-Ncube, the Mayors of Illembe and KwaDukuza and iNkosi uDube and their teams for their contribution in making this project come to fruition. 

This project, like many other projects in the automotive sector, was made possible because of the policy certainty created by the Automotive Master Plan and the Automotive Production and Development Programme. 

In this project we have demonstrated that we can build and rebuild together. 

We commend Ford for the confidence demonstrated by this major investment. 

We also laud the partnership between Hesto and Japanese company Yazaki. 

I want to again congratulate the Metair team on the launch of this facility and wish you great success. 

I thank you.

Programme Director, Ms Mahashane Myakayaka,
His Excellency Ambassador Håkan Juholt of the Kingdom of Sweden,
Mr Reinhard Reinartz, President of Mechanical Cutting, Sandvik,
Cllr Fanyana Nkosi, Acting Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality,
Sandvik Directors and staff,
Representatives from business and labour,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning.  
 
It gives me great pleasure to join you at the opening of this facility.  
 
As a company that has been operating in the South African market for more than 70 years, Sandvik has established a firm and reliable presence in this country.
 
Thanks to its substantial regional head office in Kempton Park, it manages operations in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Angola and Madagascar.
 
This places Sandvik in a perfect position to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
 
At the third South Africa Investment Conference in November 2020, Sandvik made a commitment to invest R350 million to expand its remanufacturing and warehouse facility here in Kempton Park.  
 
Today we see the product of that investment.
 
In the State of the Nation Address, which I delivered in February this year, I said that government is hard at work to create the conditions that will enable businesses – both big and small – to emerge, to grow, to access new markets, to create new products and to hire more employees.
 
The establishment of this facility is testament to that commitment.
 
We have heard that the Khomanani manufacturing site is one of Sandvik’s biggest and most advanced facilities globally, consolidating operations from five separate sites and accommodating 550 employees.  
 
This will allow Sandvik to shift certain manufacturing duties from elsewhere in the world to this facility.
 
This investment therefore extends beyond the financial.
 
It is an investment in skills, technologies and capabilities.
 
It is an investment in people and productivity.
 
The investment by Sandvik in local manufacturing capacity is an important vote of confidence in South Africa and its mining sector.  
 
With industrialisation and manufacturing being essential pillars of South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, it is gratifying to see this commitment turned into reality here in Gauteng.  
 
Discussions with Sandvik to reopen their manufacturing facility in South Africa began in 2015 at the 9th Session of the South Africa-Sweden Binational Commission in Stockholm.  
 
This stands as testament to the firm relations between our two countries.  
 
It is a relationship that is rooted in solidarity and cooperation, and that continues to find expression in investment, commerce and trade.  
 
I have enjoyed the tour of the facility.  
 
It was good to interact with staff and in particular to see women represented in their numbers in the workforce.  
 
It was also good to hear that localisation is a cornerstone of your operations here.  
 
This supports our aim to build domestic production capacity to supply local and foreign markets, to support broader economic development and to create more jobs.  
 
The expansion of local production will make our economy more inclusive and create more opportunities for new entrants into the industrial sector.  
 
It is five years since Sandvik decided to establish its own local manufacturing facility for the complete production of the new low profile loader, Sandvik LH115L.  
 
I was very pleased to hear that this product is entirely produced in South Africa for the rest of the African market.  
 
Mining has historically been the bedrock of the South African economy and given our vast mineral reserves, mining will continue to play a central role in our economy for many decades to come.  
 
Greater investment in mining, localisation and beneficiation all contribute to extending mine life, to increasing mining exports, to skills development and to the creation of employment.  
 
The mining capital goods industry has developed alongside the mining sector to supply mining and mineral processing equipment to enhance productivity and safety, lower costs and improve efficiencies.  
 
The capital equipment industry is critical to the South African economy.  
 
The focus on capital equipment will contribute to a new age of mechanisation in our mining industry.  
 
Contrary to the view that mechanisation will result in significant job losses in the mining industry, research shows it will instead generate additional employment opportunities.
 
The convergence between the information technology and machinery and equipment industries is the basis for smart manufacturing and smart societies.
 
These are vital constituents of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  
 
The mining machinery and equipment sector also has significant linkages into other parts of the economy.  
 
The companies supplying equipment to the mining industry have important backward linkages to major assembly suppliers, sub-assembly and parts suppliers, specialist component suppliers and raw material suppliers.  
 
A growing local capital goods manufacturing sector will have a positive impact on other sectors of the economy, like agriculture and construction, and further strengthen sectors such as banking, hospitality and tourism.
 
Increasing local production will contribute significantly to the revival of South Africa’s manufacturing industry.  
 
I am quite certain that your customers in the mining sector, some of whom are here today, are as grateful as we are for your continued investment in South Africa.  
 
Our economy, like many across the world, is struggling to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
 
Yet, through such investments, through the expansion of our productive capacity, through the implementation of far-reaching economic reforms and through our efforts to reduce the cost of business, we are laying a firm foundation for growth and employment.  
 
This local manufacturing facility represents an exciting new chapter in Sandvik’s presence in our country and on our continent.  
 
It underscores your desire to continue to play a part in South Africa’s skills development, knowledge transfer and local manufacturing capabilities.  
 
Allow me to conclude by once again thanking Sandvik for its steadfast commitment to South Africa and its well-founded confidence in the future of African mining.  
 
As the name of this facility beckons, I agree, Ayi Khomanani.    
 
I thank you.

Programme Director, Cllr Xanthe Limberg, Deputy President of SALGA,
President of the South African Local Government Association, Cllr Bheke Stofile,
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane,
Ms Tsakani Maluleke the Auditor General
Executive Mayor of the Buffalo City Metro, Cllr Xola Pakati,
Mayors, councillors and municipal officials,
Delegates,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good Morning. Molweni. Sanibonani. Dumelang. Goeie môre. Lotjhani. Avuxeni. Ndi Matsheloni.
 
Let me begin by thanking the Buffalo City Metro for hosting this year’s Council of Mayors.
 
It is now ten months since we held local government elections and began the new term of democratic local government.
 
The Council of Mayors is therefore an important platform for Mayors to reflect on their roles and responsibilities as they settle into their positions.
 
Earlier this week, national government convened a Cabinet Lekgotla, at which the strengthening of local government was a major topic of discussion.
 
There was agreement that challenges at local government level undermine the country’s social and economic development programmes.
 
The Premiers reported that the poor performance of local government is inhibiting the ability of provinces to drive the pressing economic recovery programmes our country needs.
 
When local government fails, it is not just service delivery that fails.
 
It isn’t just that our people’s expectations are not met.
 
The failure of local government has a direct and material impact on economic growth and jobs.
 
We cannot realise a South Africa of common prosperity, where the life of every person is improved, without a strong economy.
 
When roads are poorly maintained, people cannot get to work.
 
Produce and other goods cannot get to markets.
 
When important social infrastructure is not maintained, children cannot get to school, people cannot access health care and homes are often without water or electricity.
 
This has enormous costs for productivity, learning, health outcomes and quality of life.

The failure of local government is essentially the failure of government as a whole. If local government succeeds all of government becomes a success. 
 
We do not need more diagnosis on the state of local government.
 
We have all seen the many reports, from those of the Auditor-General to the State of Local Government reports.
 
Local Government has come under a lot of scrutiny recently. Perhaps necessarily so as this is the most visible sphere and closest to the people. 

As we pay closer attention to what should be done about local government we should imagine what an ideal local government should look like.

COGTA has identified key elements which they describe as - resilient, sustainable, coherent, cohesive, integrated, non-sexist, vibrant, climate smart communities and which if implemented would constitute and ideal municipality.

The elements are:

- A vibrant economy 
- Money rotates in the area
- Inter-connected communities
- Place where people want to visit
- Decent living with clean air
- Skills and training hub
- Place where people     access health, education and recreational facilities
- Place where there is safety and empowerment 
- Food security
- Resilient human settlements
- A place where the District Development Model drives the integrated functioning of  government 

As our system of wall-to-wall municipalities manifests focused on all these elements all developmental work within a ward and our municipalities the ideal municipality would be a reality. 

In analysing why local government does not achieve its developmental role four root causes, including the resultant effects and interventions, have been identified as the essence of the sector’s inability to discharge its mandate. These include:

1. Poor political leadership capacity and weak administrative management;

2. Ineffective utilisation of financial resources (poor financial administration), inability to collect revenue and insufficient fiscus allocation;

3. Inefficient and non-integrated local government delivery mechanisms, systems and processes to enable service delivery; and

4. Degenerating infrastructure and non-existent or poor services provided to local communities.

At the core of a municipality’s response to this problem statement is the role of the Mayor or Executive Mayor as the political head of the Municipality, exercising executive leadership pursuant to statutory and delegated powers. 

As political leaders, Mayors and Executive Mayors provide political leadership and guidance in the council, in particular with regard to strategic planning and direction, financial planning and budgeting and policy development. 

Executive Mayors are the political representatives of communities in various structures and interact with various stakeholders and leaders of other spheres of government.

We know what our key challenges are:

1. poor governance - instability by changing political leadership.
2. financial management and controls, 
3. lack of proper planning, 
4. revenue collection and generation, 
5. skills and capacity - educational qualifications are poor.
6. corruption, 
7. and political infighting and interference.
 
As national and provincial governments, we are challenged to look at how we use the constitutional and legislative instruments at our disposal to make local government work better address these challenges and to work for the people.
 
EXPECTATIONS OF MAYORS AND EXECUTIVE MAYORS

What expectations do we have of our Mayors? 

Considering the challenges our municipalities face, it is necessary to remind Mayors and Executive Mayors that the White Paper on Local Government provides that developmental local government requires a political leadership and by extension Mayors and Executive Mayors as political heads should be at the forefront, to do a number of things:

Firstly - provide community-wide leadership and vision: By putting forward a vision for the local area, building coalitions of common interest and encouraging the development of a vibrant civil society.

Secondly - constantly build its capacity to make policy judgements: Local political leaders should actively strengthen their ability to make policy judgements through deepening their understanding of the dynamics in the local area, anticipating changes and learning from past practice.

Thirdly - be accountable and transparent: This requires a political leadership  which creates opportunities to account to the community. Increased accountability ensures that the actions of the Council reflect the aspirations of the community, increases the legitimacy of the Council and deepens local democracy.

Fourthly - build partnerships and coalitions: Meeting the needs and aspirations of local communities requires a political leadership able to build partnerships with communities, business, labour, various organs of civil society and other public agencies.

Fifthly - represent the diversity of interests: Municipalities should take active steps to ensure that representatives from groups which tend to be marginalised are encouraged to stand for elections.

Sixthly - demonstrate value for money: Local political leadership is responsible for ensuring that local taxes are utilised to the maximum benefit of the local community. Local political leadership should therefore be concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of the local administration, and constantly seek to enhance performance and service quality.

Building on these leadership requirements, I call on Mayors and Executive Mayors to serve the communities with honesty, diligence and selflessness. Not only will this place them at the centre of responding to the weaknesses as identified in the problem statement, but more so place them at the epicentre of a local government leadership that positively contributes towards regaining and rebuilding trust and confidence of society in this sphere of government.

I also call on the newly elected Mayors and Executive Mayors to rise to the challenge of changing the narrative regarding the image, the standing and reputation of your municipality. A game-changer in this term of office is needed and required. In order to show and demonstrate that we are changing the narrative of local government 

There must be consequence and accountability management. This must be the hallmark of restoring the credibility of our municipalities. It is not numerous workshops, support programmes and calls for more funding, however genuine they may be, that will shift the believability of the intentions, but consistent actions that inspire people who have lost hope and confidence in the promise of our constitution and local democracy, that our municipalities do care and act responsively to address communities concerns.

With most senior managers having left either through the ending of employment contracts or natural attrition, it should be impressed upon Mayors and Executive Mayors to appoint professional and competent managers to run municipal administrations. Similarly, to remain vigilant and act decisively on instances of maladministration and corruption in our municipalities such that the confidence will be restored in our municipalities.

Further to this, what will change the image of local government is when as Mayors and Executive Mayors, you advocate for the newly empowered MPACs to play their effective oversight role and mandate unhindered and when our council takes collective responsibility to enforce discipline and decisive actions when the Auditor General issues a disastrous audit report against our municipality and hold senior executives accountable.

Another area that needs to be addressed is the working relationship between Office Bearers in the Municipality.

As the municipal council operates in terms of several office bearers (Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker and Chief Whip) and committees, the effective functioning of a council depends much on the co-operation and coherent distribution of functions between the various institutions and persons.

The relationship between the speaker and the mayor is often problematic because there is confusion about the speaker’s mandate.  The full-time nature of a speaker also frequently attracts functions that fall outside of the traditional and legislated role of a speaker. We have similarly seen strained relations between Speakers and Chief Whips due to role clashes and duplication

There is therefore a need for greater political maturity by political office bearers, led by Mayors and Executive Mayors to ensure greater understanding of respective roles and responsibilities, supplemented with ongoing and structured political monitoring of adherence. 

It may be in the interest of Mayors and Executive Mayors to instead of micro-managing, create internal reporting, monitoring and evaluation processes and structures to hold office bearers accountable. The absence of a M&E system also results in an absence of an early warning mechanism, hence the prevalence of many community protests that are not anticipated.

Local Government has undoubtedly made great strides towards realising the rights of our people to a better life and in advancing human dignity. We must, however, take a moment to reflect on the commitments made by former President Nelson Mandela, on the 27th of April 1994 when he said that “Our message is that the basic needs of the masses of the people must be addressed: the creation of jobs, of houses, the introduction of electricity, building of schools and hospitals, providing free, compulsory quality education, running water, paved roads”.

Upon honest reflection, it is common knowledge that across many parts of our beautiful country, this promise of 1994 has not yet been fulfilled. So, as Council of Mayors take stock of current realities, Mayors and Executive Mayors must go a step further to capture the moment as an opportunity to renew and recommit ourselves to the 1994 promise in this 5th Term of Democratic and People Centred Local Government, with sights clearly set on improving the living conditions of the  people of South Africa through developmental local government – to embark on Course Correction which is best summarised as follows:-

i. A focused and committed leadership across all municipalities, with stronger strategic relations with the private sector and other  social partners;
 
ii. Improvement in the quality and efficiency of local government through better funding, planning and execution;
 
iii. Fixing municipalities and their agencies to restore governance and service delivery;
 
iv. Being decisive in professionalising municipal administrations and stabilizing management and political leadership; and
 
v. Pursuing fiscal sustainability, sound municipal financial governance and eliminating corruption.

In dealing with the challenges that local government faces legislatively and effectively SALGA has raised the fact that a Section 139 intervention, although necessary in many instances, is not a sustainable solution to the challenges our municipalities face.
 
We know that we have to fix the underlying problems, not what we see on the surface.
 
In April this year, parts of KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Eastern Cape were hit by devastating floods.
 
In the aftermath, we were forced to confront serious questions about the ability of local government to deal with crises of this nature.
 
Moving beyond issues of humanitarian relief and infrastructure repairs, we found that basics like updated disaster management plans were found wanting.
 
Of the many lessons we have learned from the floods, and before that from the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to go back to basics stands out.
 
For local government, these basics include:
 
Firstly, putting people and their concerns first.
 
Secondly, supporting the delivery of municipal services to the right quality and standard.
 
Thirdly, promoting good governance, transparency and accountability.
 
Fourthly, ensuring sound financial management and accounting, and,
 
Finally, building institutional resilience and administrative capacity.
 
We are all familiar with these basic actions and we all agree that we must prioritise them.
 
The question then is, why are we not successful in implementing these actions?
 
Why are we continuing to witness persistent failures that are widening the levels of distrust and lack of confidence between us and the South African people?
 
The reality is that we cannot return to basics so long as local government is seen by many as a terrain of patronage, political squabbles and personal enrichment.
 
That is why this Council of Mayors, aside from looking at the critical issues of best practice in governance, financial management and community engagement, needs to grapple with these challenges.
 
It needs to discuss how to shield municipal management and functions from political interference, infighting and corruption.
 
No discussion around building stronger municipalities will be complete without a frank look at the conduct of those who run them.
 
Since the election last year, more municipalities than ever before are governed by coalitions.
 
This means that, if we are to effectively attend to the needs of residents, there needs to be far greater cooperation across party lines and less focus on ding dong practice of removing mayors every week of the month. 
 
There needs to be a concerted and shared effort to address growing levels of public dissatisfaction with service provision.
 
There is hardly a municipality in this country, regardless of who runs it, that has not been impacted by some form of protest.
 
We have seen a deeply disturbing trend of attacks on councillors and municipal administrators. I am told that more than 300 councillors have been killed in the past few years by virtue of being councillors.
 
Although this violence has varying causes, we need to once again take a hard look at the extent to which this is a manifestation of something much deeper. Is it as a result of public anger or is it because some of our municipalities have been captured by other interests? Have criminals taken over some of our municipalities?
 
As mayors you carry a heavy responsibility.
 
It is up to you to ensure that your respective councils aren’t just functional and fulfil their mandates, but also that they are cohesive.
 
You have to ensure that suitably qualified and experienced managers are appointed and that there is regular upskilling and training.
 
Municipalities have to make provisions in their budgets for capacity building and development programmes for councillors.
 
As I said at the recent SA Human Rights Commission Conference on Local Governance, communities must feel that they have a stake and a voice in how their municipalities are governed.
 
You are champions of accountability.
 
You need to ensure performance and consequence management.
 
We should therefore welcome the fact that National Treasury, CoGTA and SALGA are finalising a Consequence Management and Accountability Framework.
 
This should empower councillors and administrative leadership to effectively implement consequence management.
 
You are trade and investment ambassadors, promoting your metros, cities and towns as places where businesses can grow and thrive.
 
You are political heads and have to ensure that your administrations are stable and protected from political interference.
 
This means you have to lead by example and not indulge in the very conduct for which you seek to discipline others.
 
You are your administration’s foremost advocate of sustainable development.
 
Mayors have to ensure that infrastructure is climate resilient and that communities are protected from extreme weather events.
 
This requires partnerships to mobilise expertise and resources to support sound decision-making and investments.
 
Mayors must lead the country’s transition to renewable energy sources, efficient water use and management, effective solid waste management, the construction of climate-proof infrastructure and green transportation.
 
As Mayors, you are a bulwark against corruption in all its forms and have a critical role to play in promoting ethics and integrity in our municipalities.
 
We look to Mayors to guide the Local Government Anti-Corruption Forums convened under the District Development Model.
 
A critical issue for local government is that of municipal revenues and revenue collection.
 
Local government is different from other spheres of government in that most of its revenues are meant to come from local businesses and residents.
 
The infrastructure services that local government provides are ‘trading services’ and need to be run along business lines.
 
We are committed to provide free basic services to indigent households, but everyone else must pay for the services that municipalities provide. Mayors must be at the forefront of spreading this message amongst the residents of your municipalities.
 
Yet in municipality after municipality, we have been hearing the same story.
 
Services are poor or are not being provided, the relationship with residents has broken down and residents are not prepared to pay for poor quality services.
 
By ensuring a decent level of service and by treating customers both fairly and professionally, residents will have their faith and trust restored and will be prepared to pay for services.
 
This Council of Mayors has set an ambitious agenda.
 
We should not allow the recommendations that come out of this Council to languish in a file somewhere.
 
The country’s mayors have the responsibility to steer the ship of local government through turbulent waters.
 
It is not a responsibility that can be outsourced.
 
Like all of us, you were not elected to serve a party, a government, private interests or your own personal interests.
 
Like all of us, you were elected to serve the South African people.
 
I have the utmost confidence that this is a mandate you understand and fully appreciate.
 
I also have the utmost confidence you are up to the task.
 
We have to go back to basics and deliver on our promise to the South African people.
 
We have to regain their trust.
 
We have to work with unity of purpose to overcome poverty, unemployment, inequality and underdevelopment.
 
Above all, we have to ensure that in driving inclusive growth and economic development we leave no-one behind.
 
I thank you.

Programme Director,
 
Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele,
 
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola,
 
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson,
 
Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale,
 
MECs for Community Safety,
 
National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola,
 
National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya,
 
All Generals, senior management and members of the SAPS,
 
Representatives of labour unions,
 
Members of the clergy,
 
Families of our fallen police officers,
 
Guests,
 
 
 
Fellow South Africans,
 
We have just participated in and witnessed the traditional wreath laying ceremony by the families of our fallen police officers.
 
We do this to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty, making sure that South Africans are safe and protected.
 
We are gathered here today to salute and commemorate 33 brave men and women who were killed while serving the country between the dates of the 1st of April 2021 and the 31st of March 2022.
 
The circumstances surrounding their deaths vary.
 
Among those we honouring, some were targeted by criminals for their firearms, others were involved in shootouts with criminals, and others were killed by reckless drivers who failed to stop when pulled over.
 
This National Commemoration Day should serve not only to pay tribute to our fallen men and women in blue who lost their lives in the fight against crime.
 
It should also serve to mobilise society against the killing of our officers.
 
No society can remain silent when criminals have clearly declared war on the police.
 
Our men and women in blue represent the authority of the state and any attack on them is a direct attack on the state and an attack on the people.
 
If criminals bother to read history, they must know that no one has ever defeated the people.
 
Those responsible for police killings who have not yet been arrested must know that wherever they are, they will be found and they will face the full might of the law.
 
Let us spare a thought for our police men and women in blue and what they must feel each time they leave their homes to enforce the law.
 
Yet, even knowing the risks, our officers continue bravely and relentlessly, on a daily basis and with a stern determination, to prioritise the safety and security of the people of this country.
 
We honour the memories of our beloved heroes and heroines, remembering the amazing colleagues, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, neighbours and friends that they were.
 
While this may be of little comfort to the families, we commend the police for the inroads they continue to make with the arrests of police murderers.
 
In the recent media briefing by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, Lieutenant-General Lebeya confirmed that 187 suspects had been arrested for the murder of police officials since 2018.
 
Fifty-five accused were convicted and sentenced during the same period.
 
Minister Cele, I want to urge that your ministry drives the process of ensuring that the SAPS is adequately resourced to prevent, combat and investigate police killings.
 
All the perpetrators of these attacks on police must be brought to book.
 
If we are to win the war against crime and police killings, we need to build healthy, stronger relations between the police and the communities they serve.
 
In any community where crime happens, somebody always knows something.
 
Some of our people remain silent for fear of victimisation.
 
It is for this reason that we are always striving to make it easier for citizens to anonymously report crime or suspicious activities.
 
General Masemola, on your appointment as the National Commissioner of the SAPS, you made a commitment that you would prioritise the rejuvenation of Community Policing Forums, which are legislated structures to bridge the divide between the local police and their communities.
 
It is important that CPFs work so that communities can appreciate the critical role they play by working with the police and by reporting criminals who live among us.
 
The fight against crime cannot be won by the police on their own.
 
Let us, as communities and the police, take responsibility for each other’s safety.
 
As we remember our fallen heroes and heroines, let us salute all police officers for the love they have for our country and its residents, and for their patriotic spirit and resilience in the face of brazen criminals.
 
Let us demonstrate that we value our law enforcement officers, who make a deliberate choice to take up policing as a calling rather than a mere job.
 
Let us today thank our fallen heroes and heroines posthumously for their sacrifice.
 
Let us cherish the memories they have left behind, whether as family members or as colleagues.
 
Let us, amid the despair, sustain the determination that the lives lost should not be in vain.
 
Let us transform the sorrow, the hurt and the anger at their deaths into a sense of determination to rid our streets of all forms of crime.
 
The 1st of September each year is the start of Police Safety Month.
 
I call upon all our police members to remain vigilant at all times.
 
Take heed and implement the objectives of the Police Safety Strategy, ensuring at all times that any action you take is within the confines of the law.
 
Be decisive in defending your own lives and the lives of our law-abiding citizens.
 
While we are here today to honour members of our police service who lost their lives in a particular financial year, we know that South African Police Service personnel face risk daily.
 
As recently as Tuesday, 30 August 2022, we lost Warrant Officer Willem Erasmus when a fixed wing aircraft of the police service crashed at Rand Airport in Gauteng. 
 
Four contractors to the SAPS also perished in this tragedy.
 
We offer the family, colleagues and friends of those who lost their lives our sincere condolences.
 
We pray equally for a speedy recovery of Captain Casper Swanepoel, who sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care in hospital.
 
Let us all present here today renew our commitment to unite and work together to ensure that those who are responsible for crime pay for their deeds.
 
Let us avenge the deaths of these slain officers by making sure that we fulfil their dream of a society that is safe and secure, where all people live in peace.
 
We salute our fallen heroes and heroines for their bravery and for selflessly providing our communities with a sense of comfort.
 
We thank them for uniting us and their families in love and prayer.
 
We thank God for the years we lived and worked with them.
 
Long may their memories live.
 
May their souls continue to rest in peace.
 
I thank you.

Programme Director,
Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Professor Bongani Majola,
Deputy Chairperson of the SAHRC, Ms Fatima Chohan,
Commissioners,
Representatives from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,
Representatives of the South African Local Government Association,
Leaders and representatives of provincial local government associations,
Delegates,
Guests,
Colleagues and Friends, 

Good Morning, 

I wish to applaud the South African Human Rights Commission for convening this conference on accountability, service delivery and human rights in the local government sphere. 

The SAHRC has taken up an issue that is the litmus test of our commitment to advancing, upholding and entrenching human rights in our society. 

The Burkinabe revolutionary Amilcar Cabral famously said: 

“Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.” 

This sentiment, rooted in the concept of human dignity, guided the drafters of our Constitution and underpins our constitutional order. 

One of the most progressive aspects of our Bill of Rights is that it guarantees not just political and cultural freedoms, but also socio-economic rights.  As we drafted the Constitution, we saw that as an important departure from the ugly past the country has been dread through for more than 340 years. 

It enjoins the state to achieve the progressive realisation of rights to healthcare, to education, to food and water, to housing and to social security. 

It so happens that one of the foundational constitutional decisions or judgements that was made by the Constitutional Court right at the beginning revolve precisely around this.

It recognises the right of all to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. 

In many respects, local government is one of the most important custodians of the socio-economic rights of the South African people. 

Efficient and affordable service delivery could mark the difference between leading a life of dignity, as promised by our Constitution, and a life of squalor, misery and deprivation. 

When local government works – when basic services like water, sanitation, education, electrification and health care – are distributed efficiently and equitably, people’s quality of life is improved, businesses thrive and economies grow and the dignity of our people is assured.

When local government delivery fails, the impact is direct and devastating and it immediately has an overarching impact negatively on the lives of our people where they live. 

It is therefore deeply disturbing that recent reports from the Auditor-General, National Treasury and COGTA show that the majority of our municipalities are failing.

The National Treasury classifies two thirds of South Africa’s 257 municipalities as being in financial distress, with only 41 receiving clean audits in the past financial year. 

What this means is that many municipalities are unable to deliver basic services and are unable to build and upgrade clinics and hospitals, and fix roads. 

Political contestations and infighting, lack of skills, failure to adhere to legislative prescripts, poor governance, lack of accountability, as well as what I would call super corruption are causing instability in municipalities and eroding the provision of services. 

This is a crisis. 

Continuing along the current trajectory is neither viable nor sustainable. 

It undermines the constitutional promise of human dignity. It threatens economic growth and investment. 

It is a threat to our constitutional order, because local government, is in many ways the most important sphere of government, because it operates where our people live, it operates where businesses invest and it operates in a sphere where basic human rights of our people needs to be actualised. 

The rise in service delivery protests, many of which turn violent, are a barometer of public dissatisfaction with the non-delivery of services. 

Now this also gets worse because it also extends to public servants.  I just heard that we have public servants protesting for wage increases in the Eastern Cape in the Amathole District municipality. 

What do they do, they go and break water installation as they are protesting for wages and now they go and destroy public infrastructure, which delivers water to the ordinary people of Amathole municipality.

The people of Amathole municipality are now going to protest themselves because they do not have service delivery and an act, which would have been caused by the very public servants who are meant to serve them. 
    
Although the reasons for these protests are varied, social and economic dynamics, high unemployment and municipal governance issues all play a role. 

We are categorical that no matter how legitimate the grievance, arson, looting, violence and damage to property can never be justified. 

We are alive to the reality that failures at local government level are widening the trust deficit between government and the citizenry. 

Unless these are remedied, we run the risk that the South African people become disillusioned with democracy itself. 

It should at the same time be acknowledged that achieving financially viable and sustainable municipalities cannot be realised in an environment where non-payment for services, both by residents and businesses, has become entrenched. 

One of the issues to which we hope this conference will give serious attention is assisting our municipalities to develop social compacts with residents to entrench a culture of payment for services. 

By the same token, communities need to feel they have a vested interest in seeing their municipalities work. This will go a long way towards overcoming problems with the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure. 

While good governance is a prerequisite for efficient local government, facilitating access of local communities to municipal decision-making is essential to participatory democracy. 

The ideal municipality is accessible, provides opportunities for public engagement, and communicates in a manner that is considerate of local needs with respect to things like language and media platforms. 

In an ideal municipality, customer care and feedback management systems are functional and implemented effectively. 

In an ideal municipality, local government has regular outreach with communities on matters affecting development and consults other stakeholders, such as businesses, NGOs and community-based organisations. 

Such cooperative relationships strengthen governance and contribute towards building capacity in communities. 

Our foremost aspiration is for citizens to be partners in their own development. 

The purpose of the District Development Model we introduced in 2019 is to integrate and coordinate planning, economic development and service provision at local government level. 

It is about targeted development that takes the needs of local communities into account, determined through regular engagement and public participation. 

During the course of this year I have held Presidential Izimbizo in North West, Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. 

During these engagements, I was reminded that community involvement is at the very heart of governance and that partnerships are essential to driving development. 

Through the District Development Model, we are doing away with so-called ‘parachute development’, where projects are conceptualised in offices hundreds of kilometres away, and important factors like the creation of local jobs and local enterprise development are not prioritised. 

We have seen the detrimental impact of ‘parachute development’ over the years, with important projects being stalled, subject to litigation and even sabotaged. 

By applying an integrated approach, the District Development Model brings different spheres of government together with communities to plan for and implement programmes that result in development for the local community first and foremost. 

Despite the significant challenges facing local government, the implementation of customised Municipal Support and Improvement Programmes by the Department of Cooperative Governance is yielding positive outcomes. 

These programmes focus on putting people first, delivering services to the right quality and standard, and advancing good governance and sound financial management. 

According to the latest State of Local Government Report, the number of stable municipalities has increased from 16 to 31 across the country, with KwaZulu-Natal registering the most improvements, followed by North West. 

This is incremental progress that we must build on. 

We work to overcome the systemic challenges facing local governance by mobilising support from sector departments using the District Development Model approach and by developing, implementing and monitoring Municipal Support and Intervention Plans.

We can also deploy multidisciplinary teams to support municipalities as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape have done. 

The National Treasury and COGTA, in collaboration with SALGA, have also developed municipal Key Performance Indicators for local government that are being implemented by all municipalities. 

The new Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Act is an important tool for improving the manner in which our municipalities function and for accountability. 

Among other things, the Act disallows municipal officials from holding political office, defines competency criteria for the appointment of municipal managers and strengthens the framework for performance evaluation. 

It is our expectation that this seminal conference will enable us to move beyond diagnosis to solutions and, beyond that, to implementation. 

As the Constitutional Court said in a 1997 judgment: 

“We live in a society in which there are great disparities in wealth. Millions of people are living in deplorable conditions and in great poverty. There is a high level of unemployment, inadequate social security, and many do not have access to clean water or to adequate health services. These conditions already existed when the Constitution was adopted, and a commitment to address them, and to transform our society into one in which there will be human dignity, freedom and equality, lies at the heart of our new constitutional order. For as long as these conditions continue to exist that aspiration will have a hollow ring.” 

As we approach 30 years of democracy, the time for asking ourselves questions about the mismatch between aspiration and reality is over. 

Our focus must be on what must be done. 

I am finding that quite a number of key players in the municipal place, some of them be they mayors, and other officials are beginning to ask themselves that. 

As they get into positions, they are beginning to see, to look at what needs to be done. 

I talk of a municipal mayor, in one of our provinces, who on being appointed found that all the services in the municipality that he was meant to run have been outsourced to six key players and I think they call them the big six; everything had been outsourced to them. On a monthly basis, they were earning millions and millions of rands.

The people would be employed by the municipality to do many of those functions continued to be employed and largely doing nothing.

And as he looked very closely at what these contracts were all about that had been outsourced, he found that the municipality was being overcharged; in certain instances to up to 200%.  

He went on to examine even the invoices and found that the overcharging was just enormous; where the municipality was supposed to pay twenty thousand rands it was paying two hundred rands every month. 

And he is  one of those that are scattered throughout our country who are beginning to change the trajectory of our municipalities and decided that those contracts will be re-examined and it need to be cancelled.  

The municipality was taken to court a number of times and he has been able to ensure that the reduction of the costs that the municipality has been paying has been reduced by almost sixty to seventy percent; meaning that the rot that had set in in that municipality is now being turned around.

This conference, in my view, needs to focus on stuff like.

You have people from various non-governmental organisations who know what is happening in our municipalities and it is through the deliberations that should take place here that we should be able to get that wisdom professor that you were talking about.

The wisdom should come from those who are closest to what is happening at a municipal level.

In fulfilment of its mandate, the SAHRC has convened all stakeholders to deliberate on the work needed to improve the functioning of this critical sphere of government.

I would urge that you come up with learnings; come up with solutions, come up with proposals that we can propagate throughout the local government system as we as government continue to do the best from the legislative point of view as well as the executive point of view.

In doing so you will be able to add to what needs to be done.  The work that is being done by this mayor I spoke about and many others who having taken up their positions are now beginning to turn local government around and beginning to look very introspectively at what has been done in the past.

That is where the trajectory of what we have done in the past needs to be looked at and needs to be changed. 

Local government in our country needs a massive review.

We need to ensure that those that are deployed there recommit themselves to the values of our constitution; and those who get involved in maleficence and corruption are rooted out; and that local government accounts to our people of our country at a level at which local government functions. 

This mayor informs me that with the number of changes that have now ensued that they have introduced, the people of that municipality willingly and happily come to public meetings that are held and public meetings are held regularly to report back on the progress the municipality is making to clean up and the people of the municipality are delighted and come up with a number of tales, stories, accounts of the toil and suffering that they had been going through. 

He says they do not even need to be bussed in; they walk to meetings because they are so enthusiastic about what is happening at their local government space now.

It is this type of change that we want to see, it is this type of change that this conference should advocate and in many ways, it is this type of message that should come from this conference that will strengthen the hand of those who are key actors in the local government space.

In doing so you will be able to make a contribution as the SAHRC, which obviously you continue to do.

I want to end on applauding you as the SAHRC on the excellent focus that you have been showing. You did say Professor that one of the key areas you that you focus on is service deliver. 

It is in this regard that we would want to continue to urging the SAHRC to continue with this work and from our side as government we will continue to support you much as you must also monitor us. You must continue examining precisely what we do as government. 

Where we fail and fall short do speak out, do come up with your findings so that we can continue to correct our ways both at national, provincial and at local government level.

This is our shared responsibility to improve the lives of the people of our country and we are delighted that your commission is executing this task with the type of focus and commitment that you are showing.

I am sure that beyond this conference a number of ideas would have come through so that we are able to improve local government.

I will be addressing our mayors in a few days and the learnings from this conference I would like to look at closely, so that we can actually pass on some of the learnings from this conference to the mayors.  

I am delighted that this time around, this year our focus on local government is intensifying - Intensifying to strengthen the hand of those who are doing the right thing; but also intensifying as to terrify those who are doing the wrong thing; to show them that we are going to have a radar focus on what happens in local government.

We have to change the trajectory of our local government so that we can deliver a better life to our people and leave no one behind. 

I thank you.