President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Thursday, 3 November 2022, engage with Members of the National Assembly on key national issues, including stabilising the supply of electricity to households and industry.

The President’s response to questions for oral reply at 14h00 will be the last such engagement with the National Assembly for the 2022 Parliamentary Year.

During today’s session the President will also outline progress in infrastructure development that is directed towards overcoming spatial inequality in the country and in unequal access to social services such as water, sanitation, education and health.

President Ramaphosa will also spell out the role of the Presidential Climate Commission in developing South Africa’s climate change commitments as part of the country’s clean and just transition towards climate neutrality.

On a different subject, the President will elaborate on the importance of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) in the country’s efforts to build an inclusive and sustainable economy.

The President will also provide his vision for the contribution the South African aviation industry can play in regional connectivity and the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 01 November 2022, address the second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. 
 
The Summit will take place  on 1 and 2 November 2022, under the theme: “Accountability. Acceleration and Amplification, NOW!”
 
The Summit will reflect on the work undertaken since the first Presidential Summit on GBVF in November 2018, report on key successes and challenges, and outline clear strategies to overcome them.
 
The President’s address will be as follows:  
Date: 1 November 2022
Time: 11:50
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand
 
NB: Members of the media were  invited to apply for accreditation by no later than Monday, 24 October 2022 at 12h00.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Mr Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his successful election to the position of President of the Republic of Brazil. 

Mr da Silva, who served as President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010, won the general election held on 02 October 2022. 

President Ramaphosa said South Africa looks forward to working with the government of Brazil under the leadership of Mr da Silva, adding that the two developing countries share a of number of common challenges and aspirations at the socio-economic level. 

President Ramaphosa said South Africa and Brazil cooperate at various levels, including BRICS and numerous country-to-country, inter-regional and global mechanisms.

President Ramaphosa extended his congratulatory message to the people of Brazil for the successful manner in which they conducted the election.


Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent messages of condolence to the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Somalia following disasters that have led to the tragic deaths of scores of people in the two countries. 

In India, more than 140 people perished following the collapse of a bridge in the state of Gurarat during Diwali festivities. 

In Somalia, an explosion in the capital Mogadishu claimed the lives of about 100 people, with scores of others reported injured. 

President Ramaphosa said the thoughts of the people of South Africa are with the Indian and Somali families that have lost their loved ones. President Ramaphosa wished all the injured speedy recoveries.


Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Imtiaz Fazel as the Inspector-General of Intelligence for a period of five years with effect from 1 November 2022, following approval by the National Assembly of Mr Fazel’s nomination for the position.

The National Assembly approval followed a public process in which 25 persons applied for the position and 12 were interviewed by the Joint Standing Committee in Intelligence.

The Intelligence Services Oversight Act mandates the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) to recommend a candidate for approval by at least two thirds of the National Assembly Members.

Following National Assembly approval, the name of the candidate is submitted to the President to consider the nominee for appointment as Inspector-General.

The President has appointed Mr Fazel in accordance with Section 210(b) of the Constitution, read in conjunction with Section 7(1) of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994.

The Inspector-General monitors and reviews the operations of the intelligence services, including the State Security Agency, the Defence Intelligence Division of the South African National Defence Force and the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service.

Mr Fazel’s appointment is a continuation of the attention President Ramaphosa is giving to strengthening the capability of the state, including the security sector.

Mr Fazel is a former Chief Operating Officer – at the level of Deputy Director-General - in the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and a former Deputy Director-General in the Office of the Director-General of the State Security Agency.

From 2015 to 2020, he served as Deputy Director-General: Governance, Risk and Compliance in the Department of Public Works, following which he served as Acting Director-General in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Mr Fazel has obtained a Master’s Degree in Security Studies from the University of Pretoria and holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree from the University of South Africa.

He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of the Western Cape and is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, among other achievements.

The President offers Mr Fazel his best wishes and support in his role as Inspector-General of Intelligence, which is a critical function that contributes to making the country and the world a safer place and advancing the country’s national interest.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa, has, on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, sent his heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of South Korea following the tragic loss of life suffered in the capital, Seoul, during Halloween activities.
 
President Yoon Suk-yeol has declared a period for national mourning following the untimely demise of the more than 150 people in a stampede.
 
President Ramaphosa said the people of South Africa join the people of South Korea in mourning the lives lost in the tragic incident. President Ramaphosa wished all those injured speedy recoveries.
 
President Ramaphosa recalled the excellent bilateral political, economic, trade and people-to-people relations that exist between South Africa and South Korea.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya - Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on behalf of Government formally present a certificate of recognition to His Majesty King MisuZulu ka Zwelithini of the AmaZulu.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, 29 October 2022, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.

His Majesty King Misuzulu officially ascended to the throne of the Zulu Kingdom at the Coronation held at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in Nongoma on 20 August 2022.

This occasion included the customary ceremony of ukungena esibayeni.

President Ramaphosa issued the certificate to His Majesty earlier this year, and will, in accordance with a wish expressed by the Royal Family, formally hand over the certificate of recognition at Saturday’s ceremony.

The President will also deliver the keynote address.

The certificate recognises His Majesty King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini as the King of the AmaZulu in terms of Section 8(1) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, No.3 of 2019.

Among others provisions, the certificate confirms that the King has the powers to govern His Majesty’s area of jurisdiction in terms of custom, customary and applicable laws. 

Saturday’s ceremony will take place under the theme “LIPHUMILE ILANGA KWAZULU – THE SUN HAS RISEN ON THE ZULU NATION”,  and will be attended by current and former Heads of State and Government and traditional dignitaries from across the African continent and the world at large. 

The ceremony is open to the public and will showcase and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the AmaZulu lineage and traditions. 

Details of the Handing Over of the Recognition Certificate to His Majesty King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini are as follows: 
Date: Saturday, 29 October 2022
Time: 09:00
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium,  eThekwini


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 28 October 2022, attend the Inauguration Ceremony of newly elected Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Right Honourable Mr Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, in Maseru.
  
The inauguration follows the National Assembly elections that took place in the Kingdom of Lesotho on 7 October 2022. Mr Matekane, leader of the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), won 56 out of the 79 contested constituencies.
 
President Ramaphosa is attending at the invitation of His Majesty King Letsie III.
 
President Ramaphosa’s attendance is an expression of South Africa’s continued support for the Basotho and of the firm bonds and friendship between the two countries.
 
Relations between the two countries are based on shared language, history, and culture. Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
 
The Kingdom of Lesotho provided shelter and support to South African liberation cadres in their fight against apartheid.
 
The Inauguration ceremony will take place in Maseru, Lesotho, as follows:
Date: 28 October 2022
Time: 09:00
NB: A clean feed will be made available on the following satellite parameters for interested broadcasters:
 
LESOTHO PARAMETERS 
SAT AMOS 7
3.9 west longitude
DOWNLINK 12649.5mhz
SYM RATE  2.7MS/s
DVBS2.    H2.64
FEC.  5/6
 
Broadcasters can directly make further arrangements with Mr Dyke Sehloho on +266 62964099. 
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The South African government has noted the terror alert issued by the US Embassy on its website. This is part of the US government’s standard communication to its citizens.
 
It is the responsibility of the South African security forces to ensure that all people within our country feel safe.
 
Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor for any threats to our citizens, our nation and our sovereignty.
 
Threats are assessed continuously and are acted upon to ensure the safety of all. Should the need arise; the South African government will be the first to inform the public about any imminent threat.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya Spokesperson to the President +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 27 October 2022, host President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón of Spain on an Official Visit to Pretoria.

President Sánchez, who is the President of the Government of Spain, will be accompanied by the Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Ms Reyes Maroto, and a business delegation.

The visit to South Africa will solidify the already strong relations between South Africa and Spain. This visit will highlight the existing cooperation between the two countries and will focus on the implementation of agreements intended to benefit the citizens of both countries.

The visit also seeks to create opportunities for various South African sectors to meet with their Spanish counterparts and to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, science and innovation, arts and culture, sports and education.

The visit, which is President Sánchez’s first to South Africa since he assumed office in 2018, is expected to translate the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries into tangible projects that would stimulate greater interest from Spain in South Africa, especially regarding trade, investment, tourism and cooperation in other identified sectors.

For South Africa, the engagement between the two leaders is directed towards addressing the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality and to boost South Africa’s economic recovery and reconstruction efforts following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past 10 years, there has been steady investment in South Africa by Spanish companies. The bulk of the investment is in the renewable energy sector. 

South African companies have also looked to Spain as an investment destination in the real estate sector.

More than 150 Spanish companies have invested in South Africa creating over 20 000 jobs, largely in the following sectors: Infrastructure Development, Renewable Energy, Financial Services, Tourism, Textiles, IT & Software, Metals and Mining. 
 
Bilateral trade between South Africa and Spain almost quadrupled in the past 10 years. In 2021, Spain was South Africa’s 4th largest export destination in the EU and 5th largest source of imports from the EU. Trade between South Africa and Spain increased over the 2-year period 2020 and 2021.

Exports from South Africa to Spain increased consistently for the ten-year period.

For the last two years, exports increased from R14.9 billion in 2020 to R28.5 billion in 2021.

In 2019, the Spanish government launched its Third Africa Plan, a long-term strategic document that guides Spain’s relations with the African continent. The plan identifies South Africa as one of the three “anchor” countries (together with Nigeria and Ethiopia) for Spain’s foreign policy in Africa.

Following a welcome ceremony at the Union Buildings, the President and President Sánchez will attend and address the SA-Spanish Business Forum, which seeks to foster further and closer collaboration between South African and Spanish companies in a number of key sectors. 

The Official Ceremony will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Time: 10h00 (Media arrival at 08h30)
Venue: The Union Buildings, Pretoria

NOTE: Media accreditation application for the Official Ceremony at the Union Buildings is closed and no media will be allowed access into the Union Buildings without accreditation.

SA - Spanish Business Forum will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 27 October 2022
Time: 15h00
Venue: The Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel, Pretoria

NOTE: Members of the media wishing to cover the Business Forum should send their details to Phumzile Kotane at pkotane@thedtic.gov.za


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria