President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the Right Honorable Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), to discuss the need for leaders to urgently address the reversals being witnessed in the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.

These reversals have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other compounding crises, such as increasing incidences of conflict and the climate emergency.  

President Ramaphosa and Rt Hon Helen Clark met today, Thursday, 25 August 2022.

Half-way toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is at a point where instead of working towards closing the gender equity gap, decades of progress are being rolled back, with women’s and girls’ fundamental rights and health under threat. 

PMNCH is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents' health and well-being, partnering with sovereign states and over 1,300 partner organizations, hosted by the World Health Organization. The mission of PMNCH is to “mobilise, align and amplify the voices of partners to advocate for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being, particularly the most vulnerable.”
 
The President and Rt. Hon. Clark explored opportunities to undertake high-level political advocacy and strategic interventions to amass political, financial, and programmatic commitments from all sectors of society, including the private sector, critical to delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes the SDG 3 targets for women’s, children’s and adolescents' health, especially in the face of the toxic combination of COVID-19, escalating gender-based violence, economic instability, the climate crisis and conflicts. 
 
South Africa’s leadership is anchored in a set of commitments by the government to implement various programs at the country level that address service delivery, financial resourcing, nutrition, HIV prevention and youth empowerment. 
 
Says President Ramaphosa: “I was impressed with the way the PMNCH sought to elicit our commitments for our people first because indeed charity begins at home. I hope that as Head of State, I can  build confidence in our ability to positively impact these vulnerable population groups by sharing the models being implemented across the Republic of South Africa, exchanging best practices, and mobilizing other champions to galvanise greater action, thereby elicit lasting commitments for real change in the lived experience of our women, adolescents and children.” 

The Right Honorable Helen Clark met with President Ramaphosa to invite President Ramaphosa to engage closely with PMNCH to shape the agenda for the Partnership at the highest political levels. “We are deeply honored that President Ramaphosa has agreed to support this critical agenda as we need urgent and transformative action to reverse these worrying trends. This will help drive the much-needed political will behind issues that impact on outcomes for women, children and adolescents. At PMNCH, we are committed to working alongside the President to position this agenda so that action is taken to get back on track towards achievement of SDG3. “At this time when compounding crises are rolling back previous progress made on women’s empowerment and the health of communities,” she said.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Prof Somadoda Fikeni and Ms Zukiswa Mqolomba as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson respectively of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
 
The Commission derives its mandate from Sections 195 and 196 of the Constitution and is tasked and empowered to, among others, investigate, monitor, and evaluate the organisation and administration of the Public Service.
 
This mandate entails the evaluation of achievements, or lack thereof, of government programmes.
 
The PSC also has an obligation to promote measures that would ensure effective and efficient performance within the Public Service and to promote values and principles of public administration as set out in the Constitution, throughout the Public Service.
 
Prof Fikeni has been acting as Chairperson of the Commission since the term of the former Chairperson, Adv Richard Sizani, came to an end on 31 January 2022.
 
Prof Fikeni is a Senior Executive Director within the Public Administration leadership and has a PhD in Comparative Politics and Public Policy Analysis.
 
He has lectured Public Administration in several universities, worked as an academic in universities and research institutions, and has experience as a public servant.
 
He has served as Chairperson for 7 different public and private entities in the last 16 years and was part of the team that designed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s School of Diplomacy.
 
As Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Zukiswa Mqolomba  brings to the position more than 12 years’ experience in the Public Service, 8 of which have been at senior management levels.
 
She is an economics researcher, policy analyst and programme manager rooted in economics, poverty and public policy research.
 
She holds two Masters Degrees in Public Policy with the University of Cape Town, as well as an MA in Poverty and Development with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.
 
In terms of section 196(7) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 the President appoints fourteen (14) commissioners to the Public Service Commission comprising five national commissioners and one commissioner for each province.
 
In terms of section 5(1) of the Public Service Commission Act, 1997, the President shall designate one Commissioner as Chairperson and another as Deputy Chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
 
President Ramaphosa wishes Prof Fikeni and Ms Mqolomba well in leading the Commission in its critical mission of contributing to the development of an efficient, ethical and capable Public Service.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has enacted legal provisions directed at improving the capacity and ethical standards of local government through, among others, the way senior appointments are made and by preventing high-ranking officials from holding political office in political parties.

The law also enables municipalities to conduct recruitment searches nationally, in order to widen the pool of talent they can attract.

The President has assented to the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill of 2022, as part of building the capacity of the state at the level of government that has the most immediate impact on the way communities live.

The new legislation is an important element of turning around the performance of local government, preventing the abuse of public resources and stamping out the sheltering of officials who move from municipality to municipality following wrongdoing.

Among its far-reaching interventions, the new legislation provides for the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to make regulations relating to the duties, remuneration, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment of municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers.

The law requires that a vacant post of municipal manager be advertised nationally to attract as wide as possible a pool of candidates. A person may be selected for appointment as municipal manager only from this pool of candidates.

If the pool of candidates is insufficient, the municipal council may re-advertise the post. Provision is, however, made for the Minister to exempt a municipal council from these strict appointment requirements if the municipal council is unable to attract a suitable candidate, which may happen especially in the rural areas.

The legislative amendments bar municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers from holding political office in political parties.

Political office refers to the position of chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary or treasurer of a political party nationally or in any province, region or other area in which the party operates. Other political rights of senior managers are unaffected by the amendment and they remain entitled to enjoy and exercise these rights freely.

In a different area, the law now directs that any staff member of any municipality who has been dismissed for misconduct may only be re-employed in any municipality after the expiry of a prescribed period.

A staff member dismissed for financial misconduct contemplated in the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), corruption or fraud, may not be re-employed for a period of five years.

Municipalities are now required to maintain a record regarding the disciplinary proceedings of staff members dismissed for misconduct and forward it to the provincial Member of the Executive Council for local government, who must forward it to the Minister to keep and make available to municipalities as prescribed.

President Ramaphosa has expressed his appreciation to the significant numbers of stakeholders, including individuals, who participated in the public consultation process on this legislation.

The President said: “The amendments passed by Parliament show that the concerns of communities have been heard and been acted upon.

“A capable, ethical state requires a strong foundation at local level, and the new law will go a long way to building communities’ confidence in local government and enabling stronger partnerships and cooperation between municipalities and the communities they serve.”


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of struggle veteran and pioneering trade unionist, Rita Alice Ndzanga.

Ms Ndzanga passed away on Wednesday, 17 August 2022, at the age of 88.

She was an Esteemed Member of the National Order of Luthuli, who was honoured in 2004 for her lifetime contribution to the struggle for workers’ rights and to the realisation of a non-racial, non-sexist, free and democratic South Africa.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the family, friends and comrades of the late veteran who was subjected to detention and banning as a result her activism against apartheid.

Born in Ventersdorp in 1933, the young Ms Ndzanga became a labour organiser in male-dominated industrial sectors and played a role in the formation of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.

President Ramaphosa said: “Our nation and especially our progressive movements and organised labour, will remember and continue to honour Mama Rita Ndzanga for dedicating the many decades of her life to advancing the fundamental rights of all South Africans.

“As a young woman who witnessed the birth of apartheid and its ravages over time, Rita Ndzanga took a stand that endangered her own freedom and security so that all of us could be free and secure today.

“The death in detention of her husband, Lawrence, was among the many profound sacrifices forced on Mama Rita during her life of struggle in which she put the interests and comfort of others first.

“Her service to workers on the factory floor and her contribution as a Member of Parliament are part of a legacy we can and should respect while this stalwart rests in peace.”


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is pleased with progress made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on a number of issues of regional importance it is dealing with including the reform process in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the conflict in Mozambique, the setting up of the SADC logistics Centre, and the anti-terrorism centre.

President Ramaphosa said this on conclusion of his working visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he was leading a South African delegation to the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 16 – 17 August 2022. 

On the reform process in the Kingdom of Lesotho, President Ramaphosa said he was pleased with the positive report tabled by Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro that serves as a real milestone in the lives of Basotho. SADC and South Africa played a very important role in bringing about peace and normalcy in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

President Ramaphosa said that SADC was also pleased with progress made in pushing back the insurgents in the Cabo Delgado area of the Republic of Mozambique and that SADC reaffirmed its “total commitment to supporting the people of Mozambique”. 

“The pleasing thing was that the people who had fled the various areas in Cabo Delgado are now returning to their homes, with increased confidence that SADC has been helping them to bring about peace,” said President Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa said he was also pleased with progress brought about by SADC in the setting up of its Logistics Centre in the Republic of Botswana that will assist the countries in the region to deal with emergency situations. He said he was also pleased with progress made in the already operational anti-terrorism centre that is situated in the Republic of Tanzania. 

Regarding the logistics centre President Ramaphosa said “We will be able to bring around the various assistance measures when there are either situations where our armed forces needs to intervene, so there should be a good logistics depot or where there are other forms of emergency”. 

The President is also pleased with SADC’s recorded progress on issues in the Kingdom of Eswatini and on challenges in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

He said that he was happy that SADC s setting up a fact-finding mission on Eswatini and on its decision to send a panel of elders “to go and find effective ways to deal with the situation”. 


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315 or media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today Tuesday, 16 August 2022, arrived in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on a Working Visit to participate in the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.

Regional leaders are expected to deliberate on the region’s development under the theme “Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth”.

The theme underscores efforts to strengthen implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

South Africa leverages SADC as its primary foreign policy vehicle for achieving regional development and integration within Southern Africa.

At the same time, SADC is guided by the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) (2020 – 2030), the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan.

The SADC Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August 2022 at Palais du Peuple (Parliament Building) and SADC Member States will receive an update on progress made in the implementation of these strategic policies and previous Summit decisions, since the last meeting in August of 2021 held in Lilongwe Malawi.

Given the frequency of natural disasters in the region, the Summit is expected to adopt a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) to be hosted in Mozambique.

In recognising the role played by non-state actors in this sector, the Summit will consider a proposed SADC Mechanism for Engagement with Non-State Actors. 

This year’s Summit will also consider the status of ratification, accession and implementation of SADC Agreements and Protocols by member states.

The Summit will also deliberate on a proposed amendment to a protocol on the development of tourism in the region, as well as an amendment to the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community that entails recognition of the SADC Parliament as a SADC Institution.

President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the outgoing Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and Facilitator of the Lesotho Peace Process, will lead discussions of the SADC Organ Troika Summit, which is responsible for promoting peace and security in the region.

The Summit will be preceded by meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials and the Finance Committee; the Council of Ministers, as well as a SADC Public Lecture and Organ Troika Summit.

During the Summit, President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the DRC will take over the chairpersonship of SADC from President Lazarus Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi. 

Malawi assumed the Chair on 17th August 2021 during the 41st SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele; and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla.


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315 or media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today  Tuesday, 16 August 2022, departed South Africa for  the Democratic Republic of Congo on a Working Visit to participate in the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.

Regional leaders are expected to deliberate on the region’s development under the theme “Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth”.

The theme underscores efforts to strengthen implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

South Africa leverages SADC as its primary foreign policy vehicle for achieving regional development and integration within Southern Africa.

At the same time, SADC is guided by the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) (2020 – 2030), the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan.

The SADC Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August 2022 at Palais du Peuple (Parliament Building) and SADC Member States will receive an update on progress made in the implementation of these strategic policies and previous Summit decisions, since the last meeting in August of 2021 held in Lilongwe Malawi.

Given the frequency of natural disasters in the region, the Summit is expected to adopt a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) to be hosted in Mozambique.

In recognising the role played by non-state actors in this sector, the Summit will consider a proposed SADC Mechanism for Engagement with Non-State Actors. 

This  year’s Summit will also consider the status of ratification, accession and implementation of SADC Agreements and Protocols by member states.

The Summit will also deliberate on a proposed amendment to a protocol on the development of tourism in the region, as well as an amendment to the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community that entails recognition of the SADC Parliament as a SADC Institution.

President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the outgoing Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and Facilitator of the Lesotho Peace Process, will lead discussions of the SADC Organ Troika Summit, which is responsible for promoting peace and security in the region.

The Summit will be preceded by meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials and the Finance Committee; the Council of Ministers, as well as a SADC Public Lecture and Organ Troika Summit.

During the Summit, President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the DRC will take over the chairpersonship of SADC from President Lazarus Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi. 

Malawi assumed the Chair on 17th August 2021 during the 41st SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang Makwetla.


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315 or media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 04 August 2022, embark on a working visit to the Republic of Botswana to lead talks at the High Level South Africa - Botswana Business Roundtable. 

President will travel to Gaborone at the invitation of the His Excellency Dr.Eric Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana. 

The High Level South Africa – Botswana Business Roundtable happens at the backdrop of the fifth session of the South Africa - Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) which took place on 22 April 2022 in Tshwane. 

The two neighboring countries are this year marking 28 years of diplomatic and bilateral cooperation which spans across trade and investment, energy, agriculture, tourism, youth and sport, infrastructure development, culture, mining, defence and security, immigration, environmental conservation and management, transport as well as information and communication technologies.

Preceded by the South Africa - Botswana Business Forum scheduled on 03 August 2022, which draws government and business leaders from both countries, the business forum will among others identify a package of concrete actions to create a conducive environment to strengthen business to business linkages; support the implementation of Southern African Customs Union (SACU) regional value chains and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

Over the two-day South Africa – Botswana Business Forum, 22 South African businesses from a wide range of sectors will form part of the trade expo of the businesses operating in both countries at the Gaborone International Convention Centre. South Africa is Botswana’s number one source of imports, whilst Botswana ranked as South Africa’s 7th largest export market. South Africa’s exports to Botswana were R64.4 billion in 2021, exports to Botswana grew by 2.53 percent or R13.4 billion over the last five years. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel. 

Media Programme of the High Level South Africa – Botswana Business Roundtable is as follows:

Opening of the High Level South Africa- Botswana Business Roundtable
 
Date: Thursday, 04 August 2022
Time: 09h00 – 10h00
Venue: Gaborone International Convention Centre, Botswana 

Closing of the High Level South Africa - Botswana Business Roundtable and Media Briefing  

Date: Thursday, 04 August 2022
Time: 12h00 – 12h45
Venue: Gaborone International Convention Centre, Botswana

Tour of the South Africa – Botswana Trade Expo
 
Date: Thursday, 04 August 2022 
Time: 12h50 - 13h00
Venue: Gaborone International Convention Centre, Botswana


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 05 August 2022, deliver the keynote address during the closing ceremony of the Presidential Social Sector Summit to be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Gauteng Province.

The Presidential Social Sector takes place on 4 and 5 August 2022 under the theme "Fostering Social Cohesion to enable Socio-Economic Participation in Communities". The event will be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg.

In his 2018 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa issued a call to the nation for a social compact - a shared national agenda and commitment that will guide with all sectors of society in building the South Africa envisaged in Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan.

In line with the National Development Plan’s advancement of active citizenry, the Summit will bring together stakeholders from a wide range of constituencies to work with  government to address socio-economic challenges and mobilise resources for civil society, among other objectives.

The Department of Social Development set up a National Task Team comprising key departments, civil society organisations, the National Lotteries Commission and the NEDLAC Community Constituency to coordinate and ensure the inclusiveness of the Social Sector Summit.

Dialogues were held in all provinces between provincial governments and social partner organisations as part of the build-up to the Summit.

The Summit will consider dialogue reports from the nine provinces covering challenges that have been raised.

These challenges include access to funding, regulatory issues, transformation of the social sector with a view to fostering a state-civil society partnership to address challenges related to poverty, inequality, and employment, and the deepening of democratic participation.

About 600 delegates from various Civil Society Organisations (CSO) from across South Africa are expected to attend the Summit.

These organisations play an important role in society through welfare, economic empowerment, skills development, sports and recreation, advocacy and human rights.

President Ramaphosa will underscore the role of civil society organisations in the realisation of the National Development Plan.

The closing session will take place as follows:

Date: Friday, 05 August 2022
Time: 09h00
Venue: Birchwood Conference Centre, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 05 August 2022, address a Gala Dinner hosted by the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ).
 
SAC-IAWJ is an Association of Women Judicial Officers that includes Magistrates and Judges, established in 2004 for the purpose of "Advancing Human Rights and Equality for All" in South Africa.
 
The South African Chapter of the IAWJ will, in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities, host the Chapter’s 16th Conference and Annual General Meeting from 5 to 7 August 2022 at UNISA in Tshwane.
 
The conference will be attended by key jurists and academics, under the theme “Empowerment as a tool to fight Gender Based Violence #Breaking Barriers and Bias”. 
 
This association’s conference forms part of a diverse range of activities that constitute Women’s Month 2022 which is being observed under the theme “Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Resilience”
 
The SAC-IAWJ will also during the gala dinner confer its Pioneers in the Judiciary Award to the newly appointed Deputy Chief Justice Designate of the Republic of South Africa, Justice Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya, the first woman jurist to be appointed to this position in the history of South Africa.
 
Deputy Chief Justice Designate Justice Maya will assume her new role on 1 September 2022.
 
The Gala Dinner will be held as follows:
 Date:           Friday, 05 August 2022
Time:            18:00 (Media to arrive at 17h00)
Venue:          Maslow Hotel Time Square, 209B Aramist Ave, Menlyn, Tshwane
 
 
Media wishing to cover the event should send details to Senior Media Officers Tommy Huma, UNISA on 072 218 6197 / 012 429 3981 / humatm@unisa.ac.za OR Edgar Rathelele on 063 731 5456 / 012 429 3981 / ratheme@unisa.ac.za
 
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria