Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Amos Masondo,
Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms Sylvia Lucas,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube,
Honourable Members,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Executive Mayor of the Ugu District Municipality, Cllr Phumlile Mthiyane,
Mayors,
Representatives of the South African Local Government Association,
Representatives of political parties,
Traditional, religious and community leaders,
Fellow South Africans,

Ngijabula kakhulu ukubuya la KwaZulu/Natal. Ngenyanga edlule bengilapha ngizokwethula isitifiketi sobukhosi kuNgangezwe Lakhe, His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Svumelana no Bayede ukuthi sizosebenzisana ukuletha intuthuko esifundazweni saKwaZulu/Natal.

Okubalulekile ukuthi silalele abantu, futhi sibikele abantu ngalokho esikwenzayo ukuthuthukisa izimpilo zabo.

One of the most important ways in which we are doing this is through the programme of Taking Parliament to the People. 

This is the key outreach programme of the National Council of Provinces.

Twenty eight years since the first democratic Parliament sat in Cape Town, we continue to have a Parliament that is activist, that is responsive and that is determined to make a difference in the lives of our people.

This week, Taking Parliament to the People has come here to the Ugu District Municipality for the first time. 

Sino Ngqongqoshe bethu, nezi Meya, namakhansela. 

They are here to respond to your concerns and tell you what they are doing to resolve them.

Siyazi ukuthi ziningi izinkinga lapha kUgu District Municipality. 

Sizwe ngezinkinga zamanzi la, water shortages and interruptions are making life difficult for the people of the district. 

We have also heard from our citizens that the poor state of the roads in parts of the district is making it more difficult for leaners to get to schools and for people to get the clinics.

The state of the roads is making it difficult for wokers to get to work, and for businesses to transport their products to markets. 

Good roads are not just important to people’s every day lives; they also open up economic opportunities and strengthen local economic development.

We have heard during the public hearings that the people of this district need housing, particularly after the floods earlier this year destroyed many homes and businesses.

Kubantu abaningi lapha kunzima ukuphila ngaphandle kwe-grant. 

To support poor and vulnerable people, the government continues to provide social grants to millions of South Africans. 

Since 2020 we have also had the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant.

Siyazi ukuthi abanye banezinkinga zokuthola imali yabo. 

We have heard this during the public hearings over the past few days. 

Siyazi futhi ukuthi kwabaningi le mali ayenele futhi, nifuna enye.

Challenges with agricultural production are also having a direct impact on people’s lives in this community.

Ugu is an agricultural district, and the majority of people rely on the land to feed themselves and their families, to grow crops and for their livelihoods. 

There are also longstanding issues with land tenure in areas under traditional administration.

Honourable Members,

In many ways, the challenges facing residents in Ugu District Municipality mirror those of many of our municipalities countrywide. 

Since democracy in 1994, this government has made significant strides in improving the lives of the South African people, particularly those who were most disadvantaged by apartheid rule. 

We have expanded basic services like water, sanitation and electricity and built homes.

We have provided access to free primary healthcare, quality basic education and free tertiary education. 

Since 1994, the progressive and pro-poor policies of successive democratic administrations have lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty and improved their lives.

And yet we know that we can no longer rely on these past glories as we witness severe challenges at local government, which is where service delivery happens.

This year, I have led five Presidential Izimbizo, in the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Northern Cape.

At these izimbizo, challenges at local government were foremost on the minds of our citizens.

Reports from the Auditor-General and National Treasury and the State of Local Government reports point to inefficiency, maladministration, lack of financial controls and poor governance in many municipalities.

All of these affect local government’s ability to provide the basic services people need to lead lives of quality and dignity.

That is why we should welcome the new Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Act, which 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. 

This should be viewed alongside the Framework for  the Professionalisation of the Public Sector, which was adopted by Cabinet last month. 

This makes specific proposals to ensure merit-based recruitment and promotion and more effective consequence management for all public servants.

This is going to have a big impact on how government, at all levels, works.

The task of this year’s Taking Parliament to the People is to deliberate on what is being done – and what must be done – to strengthen local government.

The interaction with the people of Ugu District Municipality has no doubt done much to enrich the NCOP’s deliberations.

As part of strengthening local government performance, we are striving to entrench the District Development Model as an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to government planning and implementation.

We often spend a great deal of time diagnosing the problem and painting a picture of what a poorly-run municipality looks like.

We should instead be focused on what an ideal municipality should look like and how to build such municipalities across the country.

We have spoken before 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. 

In short, an ideal municipality is a place that people want to live in, want to work in, want to bring their business and investment to, and want to visit.

To achieve this, we need to capacitate local government to play a far more prominent role in implementing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. 

We cannot achieve higher economic growth, we cannot create more jobs and we cannot grow more businesses, if local government does not function well. 

We have a shared responsibility to promote investment in this district and in this province.

Over the last four years, we have raised more that R1 trillion in new investment commitments, of which R330 billion has already flowed into the economy.

The factories, data centres, paper mills and mines that are built through this investment are not located at the Union Buildings or Parliament.

They are located here, where people live, and that is why we need to make sure that companies want to invest here.

That is why we have put in place several measures to promote growth and job creation throughout the country.

We have expanded the tax incentive for employers to take on more young people, we have invested in emerging black industrialists and launched a loan scheme to enable small businesses to bounce-back from the COVID pandemic.

While we encouraging companies to invest and create employment, we are also using public and social employment to create opportunities for the unemployed.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus, for example, has benefited over a million people in the last two years.

Of these opportunities, about 186,000 were in KwaZulu-Natal.

Significant progress has been made in reforming the country’s telecommunications, energy, ports and rail industries.

These are the industries that make the economy work.

The Port of Durban is critical for the economy of this district, the province and the country, which is why we are undertaking reforms to improve its efficiency and capacity.

This is work that involves all spheres of government, Transnet and other stakeholders. It is a great example of cooperative economic development.

Residents of Ugu District Municipality,

Sesiyihambile indima yentuthuko kodwa akwanele, usemuningi umusebenzi okumele siwenze.

Since 1994 the democratic government of the people has been hard at work to bring about a better life for all. 

But we know there is so much further we need to go if the promise of our Constitution is to be fulfilled for all.

As parliamentarians, yours is a critical role. 

You hold government to account for the promises that have been made, and ensure that they are met. 

In Taking Parliament to the People you are fulfilling this important mission. 

To the people of the Ugu District Municipality I say, join hands with us to make local government stronger here and throughout the province.

You have made your voices heard. 

As the different arms and spheres of government, we will follow up on the issues that you have raised and report back to you on what is being done to resolve them.

I look forward to today’s debate, and to hearing from political parties and our Premiers on the measures that are being taken in their respective provinces to strengthen the governance.

When government is efficient, capable, agile, and responsive, there is progress and development. 

People’s quality of life improves. Living standards go up and incomes rise. 

As a result, the nation’s economy grows.

Better governance is an issue in which each of us has a stake. 

Let us continue to work together and to strive together to turn the South Africa we dream of into reality.

I thank you.

The Acting President of the Republic of South Africa, Mrs Angie Motshekga, will on Thursday, 23 November 2022 visit the family of the Presidential Protection Services member who passed away in the vehicle accident that took place at the weekend.

The 56 year-old Warrant Officer Thomas Shongwe died on the scene of the accident in Middelburg while traveling to Gauteng as part of the Deputy President’s convoy. 

Mrs Motshekga has also wished a speedy recovery to the two injured PPS members. 

The Acting President will visit the Shongwe family as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Time: 11h00
Venue: KaMagugu, Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province 


Media enquiries: Elijah Mhlanga on 083 580 8275

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa will, at the invitation of His Majesty, King Charles III, conduct a State Visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) from 22 to 23 November 2022.
 
Royal State Visits are in the furtherance of bilateral relations and as a symbol of respect and of the importance the UK ascribes to its relations with a particular country.
 
President Ramaphosa is the first Head of State to be hosted for a State Visit by His Majesty Charles III.
 
President Ramaphosa will convey to His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe’s deep regret at not being able to participate in the State Visit.
 
On the advice of her doctors, the First Lady could not travel on a long-haul flight due her recovery from recent surgery on her eyes.
 
During the visit, President Ramaphosa will also hold official talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to review a range of issues of a bilateral, continental and global nature.
 
Key sectors under consideration for mutual benefit and to support economic growth and development in South Africa include infrastructure development, mining, energy, manufacturing, agro-processing, business process outsourcing and tourism.
 
On Tuesday, 22 November, President Ramaphosa will be officially welcomed by His Majesty King Charles III at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
 
Later in the day, the President will address a Joint Sitting of the Houses of Parliament, before being hosted to a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.

On Wednesday, 23 November, the President accompanied by the Earl of Wessex, will participate in a roundtable on climate change and biodiversity.
 
Thereafter, the President will visit the Francis Crick Institute, the largest biomedical research institute in Europe, where the President will be briefed on the partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom in this area of science. Here the President will also interact with young South African scientists who are attached to the Crick Institute.
 
This engagement will be followed by the President’s engagement with Prime Minister Sunak at 10 Downing Street.
 
Following the Downing St visit, the President will participate in a bilateral business roundtable at Lancaster House where economic cooperation will be deliberated by South African and United Kingdom Ministers and Secretaries of State respectively, officials as well as business leaders.
 
The second day of the State Visit concludes with a banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor of London in honour of the President.
 
The President is accompanied on the visit by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mr Ebrahim Patel and Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa on +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, at the invitation of His Majesty, King Charles III, conduct a State Visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) from 22 to 23 November 2022.

Royal State Visits are the highest honor bestowed on a country by the United Kingdom in the furtherance of bilateral relations and as a symbol of respect and of the importance the UK ascribes to its relations with a particular country.

President Ramaphosa is the first Head of State to be hosted for a State Visit by His Majesty Charles III. Since 1994, bilateral relations between South Africa and the UK have grown into a strategic developmental partnership, as reflected in substantial bilateral trade.

Politically, the countries have over the years frequently collaborated in various multilateral organisations to advance shared ideals and objectives, including in the G20 and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The visit provides an opportunity for South Africa and the UK to identify new areas of collaboration in advancing economic recovery and stability and reaffirming the solid foundation between the two countries.

This is the first meeting at this level after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and comes at a time when the economies of many countries, including South Africa and the UK, are affected by the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and by the consequences of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

During the visit, President Ramaphosa will also hold official talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to review a range of issues of a bilateral, continental and global nature.

Key sectors under consideration for mutual benefit and to support economic growth and development in South Africa include infrastructure development, mining, energy, manufacturing, agro-processing, business process outsourcing and tourism.

Bilateral relations between South Africa and the UK are managed through the Bilateral Forum, which was established in 1997. The forum meets biennially at the foreign ministerial level. The most recent meeting was the 12th Session, which was held on the side-lines of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in May 2021 in the United Kingdom.

In 2021, the UK was the 13th most important supplier of South Africa’s imports and the 5th largest exports destination of South Africa’s products globally after China, USA, Germany and Japan. In 2021, South Africa was the 17th largest supplier of United Kingdom’s imports globally and the first largest supplier of United Kingdom’s imports from Africa.

In 2021, South Africa was the 34th exports destination for United Kingdom’s exports globally and the 1st exports destination for United Kingdom’s exports to Africa.
Bilateral trade reached the highest peak in 2021 for the ten-year period under review, at R148.4 billion, after falling from R138.6 billion in 2018 to R79.2 billion in 2019.

Bilateral trade recovered by 21.8% to R96.5 billion in 2020 from 2019 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Bilateral Trade between South Africa and the United Kingdom increased during the two years of 2020 and 2021.

The overall objective of the visit for both South Africa and the United Kingdom is to create new impetus in the strengthening of the historically deep and strong bilateral relationship, by elaborating on existing cooperation projects and identifying new areas of cooperation. 

To achieve this, the following overarching themes have been identified to guide the substantive engagements of the visit:
➢ Trade, Investment and Inclusive Economic Growth (including infrastructure investment)
➢ Climate Change and Energy
➢ Health
➢ Education and Skills Development
➢ Science and Innovation.
 
Memorandums of Understanding on Cooperation in Science and Innovation and also on Health Cooperation will be signed during the State Visit
The UK is South Africa’s number one source of long-haul tourism in the world, a position it has not relinquished for the past 19 years. UK tourists to South Africa have a very high repeat visitor rate and 67% of visitors who have been to South Africa return for a second visit.

Bilateral relations between South Africa and the UK remain strong covering a range of areas of cooperation linked to both Governments’ priorities.  

The President will be accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Trade and Industry and Competition, Health and Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
 
President Ramaphosa's contribution to the advancement agenda of the African continent leading African Union Covid response 
- As AU Chair in 2020, President Ramaphosa led the continental response to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing a continent-wide strategy, setting up innovative online platforms to provide access for all countries to essential medical supplies, mobilising international funding and securing vaccines.
- The President led the continent’s effort to secure over 500 million COVID vaccine doses for the continent.
- Under the President stewardship the African Pandemic Response Fund was established, to date it has mobilised $137 million for local production of vaccines, diagnostics, personal protective equipment, oxygen and critical medicines.
- The President guided the launch of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, ensuring sufficient and affordable access for all African countries to vital COVID supplies.
 
Leading the Lesotho electoral reform process
In December 2014, SADC entrusted President Ramaphosa, who was serving as the country’s Deputy President at the time with the task of Facilitator in the Kingdom of Lesotho to assist with the promotion of peace and stability and constitutional reform. The President used his experience of South Africa’s transition to democracy to kick start an inclusive and consultative process.

After his election as President of South Africa, President Ramaphosa, appointed Retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke to lead the Facilitation Team.

With the President’s guidance the Facilitation Team promoted an open and transparent dialogue, to allow the Basotho to express their own views about the Lesotho they want.
The National Dialogue that followed established the National Reforms Authority which presented the Draft Eleventh Constitutional Amendment Act – the Omnibus Bill – to the 10th Parliament before its dissolution in July 2022. The reforms contained in the Draft Omnibus Bill have laid a solid foundation for the future of the Basotho.

Recently the people of Lesotho demonstrated their shared determination to restore peace and stability and to forge a just and prosperous future for the Kingdom by holding successful elections on 7 October 2022 that resulted in the election of His Excellency Prime Minister Samuel Matekane.

With the completion of the work of the SADC Facilitation Team, President Ramaphosa is confident that the Government of Lesotho and all stakeholders will give the same support and cooperation to the Oversight Committee that was established by the 42nd SADC Summit to oversee the implementation of the national reforms.  
 
Intervention support to Mozambique
President Ramaphosa remains pleased with the progress being made in pushing back the insurgents in the Cabo Delgado area of the Republic of Mozambique. President Ramaphosa has been a leading voice in ensuring that SADC reaffirms its total commitment to supporting the people of Mozambique. The President has also mobilised international commitment and solidarity by advocating for more resources to aid the government of Mozambique. In several bilateral engagements with the leaders of the developed economy countries the President has consistently placed global support for the resolution of the security situation in Mozambique firmly on the agenda and he will continue to do so during the upcoming talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
 
Other notable contributions
As African Union Chair in 2020, President Ramaphosa championed the adoption of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. Recently President Ramaphosa was honoured with an award as part of the AU Circle of Champions for ending violence against women and girls. The award was handed over at the second African Union Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity, which unfortunately the President could not attend.  In his recorded video message The President expressed South Africa’s unwavering commitment to ending gender-based violence and empowering the women on our continent.  He further called on African Heads of State to put in place mechanisms for the AU Fund on Ending Violence Against Women as one of the priority areas of the Kinshasa Declaration.  
 
DRC
President Ramaphosa remains engaged in ensuring continued support to efforts to restore peace and stability in the Eastern DRC, through South Africa’s contribution to MONUSCO and other diplomatic efforts.

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
President Ramaphosa has remained a consistent voice against Morocco’s illegal occupation of the Western Sahara which he has a described as a matter of concern to both Africa and the international community. The President has stated that until the people of Western Sahara are able to exercise their right to self-determination, the decolonisation of Africa will be incomplete.

Advocating for the lifting of sanctions in Zimbabwe
President Ramaphosa continues to be the leading voice calling for the urgent lifting of sanctions that are crippling Zimbabwe and its economy.
 
Guarding Africa’s development interest and advancing the continent’s Trade and Investment agenda
In his visit to the United States in September, President Ramaphosa presented a compelling argument against the proposed “Countering Malign Russian Activities Bill” where he cautioned about the unintended consequences of punishing Africa for efforts to advance development and growth.

The President further highlighted the importance of renewing AGOA as a vital measure to ensure progress made over many years to strengthen trade and investment ties between Africa and the United States.

In all international bilateral and multilateral engagements President Ramaphosa has firmly advanced Africa’s interest by promoting the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which he believes will place the economies of Africa on a new trajectory of development and production. The President has called for partnerships on Africa’s Just Transition in accordance with global equity and national circumstances and enabled through international support. This is a call he reiterated recently at the G20 summit and at COP 27. President Ramaphosa will continue to work tirelessly to promote Africa’s development interest in all multilateral platforms including the BRICS and the G20 which South Africa will chair respectively in 2023 and 2025.

President Ramaphosa believes that South Africa’s own envisaged peace and prosperity for all that leaves no one behind, is inextricably tied to the rest of Africa’s fortunes. Thus the promotion of increased intra Africa trade will remain a key pillar of South Africa’s trade diplomacy within the continent.  
 
COP27 Outcomes
The Conference of Parties (COP 27) outcomes reflect the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to keep the 1.5-degree temperature target alive during what the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calls the “Critical Decade”, including by providing a clear programme to advance the mitigation agenda from now to 2026.

The key milestone for COP27 was the agreement on financial arrangements to address loss and damage due to climate change. COP27 agreed to set up a Fund on loss and damage. It established a Transitional Committee to work on the modalities of this fund with a view of taking a decision at the next COP28.
 
COP27 also called for increased momentum to reform the Multilateral Development Banks and International Financial Institutions and we expect the shareholders of these institutions to take decisive action to scale-up climate finance in 2023 and make their institutional arrangements fit for purpose.
 
COP27 recognizes the urgency of finding a solution for developing countries for loss and damage caused by climate change and agrees to establish new financing arrangements and a mechanism to address this.
 
There was also agreement amongst Parties to accelerate work on reducing vulnerability of societies due to climate change impacts.  Although South Africa did not see an advancement that it had hoped to achieve on operationalizing the global goal on adaptation. South Africa had called for COP 27 to establish a framework for GGA that contains high level indicators and targets to galvanize collective global action and support.

For example, South Africa sough an agreement on a target to build resilience of global population by 50% in 2030 in developing countries. The outcome on adaptation was disappointing as it emphasized more on building understanding in critical sectors such as health, poverty and livelihoods; Terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems; Oceans and coasts; Water resource management; Food; Cities and settlements; Cultural heritage and Mountain regions and biodiversity.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mr Vincent Magwenya, will tomorrow, 20 November 2022 host his weekly briefing to the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
 
The briefings are an interactive platform with the media where the Spokesperson provides an update on the President’s public engagements programme for the week ahead and address relevant topical issues of public and media interest.
 
Media is invited to the media briefing as follows:
Date: Sunday, 20 November 2022
Time: 13:30 for 14:00
Venue: Room 159, Union Buildings, Pretoria
 
Media who wish to attend need to submit their details to Tsakane Khambane on +27 82 084 5566 by no later than  18:00 today, 19 November 2022.
 
Media who will not be in attendance can, during the question and answer session, extend their questions via WhatsApp to  +27 82 084 5566 
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the occasion of its flagship "Taking Parliament to the People" programme in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 18 November 2022.

NCOP Chairperson Amos Masondo will lead the NCOP interaction with communities under the theme, “Working together to ensure faster improvement in the delivery of services to communities”.

The President will deliver his address at 10h00 at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre in the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

This occasion will be the culmination of a week-long series of Parliamentary activities in the area.

The District comprises the Ray Nkonyeni, Umuziwabantu, Umzumbe and Umdoni local municipalities.

During this week, Members of Parliament and of the Provincial Legislature, as well as office-bearers of local municipalities have visited various sites and conducted public meetings where residents were able to draw attention to challenges they experience with regards to service delivery.

This engagement follows izimbizo the President has conducted this year in the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Northern Cape under the theme, "eave No-One Behind".


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 16 November 2022, concluded South Africa’s participation at the G20 Leaders Summit held in the Republic of Indonesia on 15 and 16 November 2022.
 
The G20 Leaders Summit in Bali was hosted by His Excellency President Joko Widodo, under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.
 
The Summit gathered world leaders whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population where discussions centred on food and energy security, health, digital transformation and global infrastructure and investment.
 
President Ramaphosa addressed the working session on food and energy security where he expressed South Africa’s position that developed countries in the G20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies.
 
The President further said South Africa will continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just transition that supports sustainable development.
 
On the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict had exacerbated the rise of food , fuel and  basic necessities and the restricting of  trade further compounds the risk for global food price stability which is most felt by the developing economies.
 
In this regard, the President maintained South Africa’s stance that dialogue between the parties was the only path to resolving the conflict.
 
South Africa remains the sole African voice in the G20, and advocated for the African Union to join the G20.
 
President Ramaphosa called for continued G20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms.
 
South Africa welcomed the launch of the Pandemic Fund, of which it made a commitment to contribute to, at the working session on Global Health Architecture to respond quickly and effectively to the next pandemic.
 
The Pandemic Fund will enable collaboration, priority setting, pooling of resources, technology transfer and the research and development of medical countermeasures.
 
To improve the work of this important entity and expand the representation of lower-income countries, South Africa called for regional organisations to be invited to join the Task Force.
 
South Africa further supports the extension of the mandate of the G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the two day G20 Leaders Summit in Bali held bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit to cement diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.
 
On Tuesday, 15 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Peoples Republic of China, His Excellency President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders affirmed the special strategic relationship between the two countries. The nations committed to grow the blossoming relationship with increased Chinese investment in infrastructure and bilateral trade.
 
The Leaders affirmed a collective position on resolving global challenges through multilateral institutions. President Ramaphosa welcomed President Xi on His Excellency’s support for China to hand over the chair of BRICS to South Africa in 2023, which coincides with 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The two Leaders expressed support and agreement on the proposition of a permanent G20 African Union membership.  South Africa and China consent on seeking commitments from developed economies to fulfil their Paris COP21 climate agreements. The two nations further committed on more ambitious climate action goals.
 
On Wednesday, 16 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands, the Most Honourable Mark Rutte. President Ramaphosa welcomed the support from Netherlands on the South Africa Just Energy Transition- Investment Plan (SA JET-IP). The President further emphasised that for the plan to be realised South Africa will call for increased grant funding of SA JET-IP. South Africa and Netherlands have a diverse and substantial historic partnership, which remains strategic to date. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to continue the discussions on a working visit that the Netherlands will undertake to South Africa.
 
Following the engagement, still at the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, the Most Honourable Lee Hsien Loong. The Leaders committed to growing trade relations between the two nations. South Africa is Singapore’s largest trading partner in Africa.
 
The bilateral meeting is preceded by the Official Visit to Singapore undertaken by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation , Dr Naledi Pandor, in July 2022, during which she also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
 
South Africa's exceptional relations with Singapore are focused on trade and investment promotion as well as collaboration in science and innovation, skills development, vocational training, port innovation and infrastructure development.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa was accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, and Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana. 
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

In an effort to improve implementation, developmental outcomes, and institutionalisation of evaluations, the Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (DPME) will host the National Evaluations Seminar (NES) in Pretoria, on 15 to 16 November 2022. 

The seminar will be officially opened by the Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, and attend by various evaluation practitioners across the three spheres of Government as well as State owned entities (SOEs), international stakeholders, civil society, professional bodies, and academia.

Several international speakers such as Bagele Chilisa of the University of Botswana, Andy Rowe of the Canadian Evaluation Association, Rashon Lane of the Harvard University will deliver papers on Decolonising Evaluations: Context Specific Evaluations, Rapid Impact Evaluation, and Evaluative Thinking respectively. 

The seminar will also reflect on the implementation of the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), which was developed by the DPME in 2019. 

It is expected that the seminar will enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of the evaluation professional in identified areas; provide a platform for networking on best practices and professional experience, keep participants abreast of emerging local and international trends and their implication towards the strengthening of the National Evaluation System of South Africa and stimulate thinking and engagement on evaluation-related subjects.

Members of the media are invited to attend the National Evaluation Seminar as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Time: 11h00
Venue: Diep in Die Berg Conference & Function Centre, Wapadrand, Pretoria, 0050

NB: Members of the media may also follow the seminar virtually through the following link: National Evaluation Seminar 2022 Plenary

For confirmations, please contact Ms. Prudence Motswatswe on 066 273 7502 or email PrudenceM@dpme.gov.za

Please follow the conversation with us on:

Twitter: @DPMEOfficial -  #NES2022
Facebook: Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation 


Media enquiries: Mr Lawrence Ngoveni on 082 824 3060 or email Lawrence.ngoveni@dpme.gov.za

Issued by: The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Pretoria

Your Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia and President of the G20,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Africa, as in many other parts of the developing world, millions of people are going hungry.

Global food insecurity is getting worse.

There are several reasons for this.

The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been uneven and inadequate.

Climate change has increased the frequency and the severity of droughts, floods and wildfires, disrupting agricultural production and supply.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has hiked global prices of fuel, fertilisers, edible oil, sugar and wheat.

We as South Africa still insist on dialogue between all the parties to resolve the conflict.

Low and middle income economies are most affected by the resultant food shortages and therefore need substantial financial support to ensure food security and tackle the effects of climate change.

With this support, low and middle income countries can invest in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food production systems and climate change early warning systems.

Trade restrictions are a major source of risk for global food price stability.

We therefore support the call for multilateral trading systems that are transparent, inclusive, predictable and rules-based.

South Africa welcomes the Indonesian Presidency’s focus on just and sustainable energy transitions.

We are, however, concerned at the lack of progress on key issues in the multilateral negotiations at COP27, especially with respect to loss and damage, finance, technology, capacity building, adaptation and the just transition.

The outcomes of both COP27 and this Leaders’ Summit must reaffirm the principles of equity and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’.

Industrialised countries in the G20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies.

South Africa will continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just transition that supports sustainable development.

We call for continued G20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms.

In this regard this can be best achieved with the African Union joining the G20 as a permanent member.

It is only through a collective and united response that we can resolve the challenges of food and energy insecurity across our world.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Bali in the Republic of Indonesia for the annual G20 Leaders' Summit. 

The President will participate in deliberations among world leaders whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population.

The Summit takes place on 15 and 16 November 2022 under the G20 Presidency of Indonesia, themed “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”. 

The G20 was formed in 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crises of the late 1990s, initially as a gathering of finance ministers and subsequently as a platform for Heads of State and Government in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. 

The group consists of  leading developed and developing economies aiming at a collective response to global economic and financial challenges rooted in the interconnected economic and financial architecture. 

The G20 also seeks to increase multilateral cooperation for the recovery of the global economy, to bring stability to the global financial system, to promote long-term sustainable growth and to strengthen global economic governance. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana.

Ahead of the start of the G20 Leaders' Summit, the President will chair an engagement of the African Union and NEPAD on Africa’s value proposition and priorities.

Issues under discussion in this forum will include the continent’s aspirations to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the realisation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals, and securing permanent membership of the G20 for the African Union.

G20 Leaders will seek consensus on Global Health Architecture, Sustainable Energy Transition, and Digital Transformation.

The discussions of the G20 often reflect the foremost global political and economic challenges at any given time and therefore as a collective body tends to carry a significant profile and influence.

It is also an effective instrument for advancing much-needed global governance reforms and orienting the international development agenda.

The G20 agenda has expanded beyond economic and financial issues and now encompasses issues of peace and security, global governance, international terrorism, the environment, refugees and other geo-political and foreign policy-related matters.

President Ramaphosa will also have bilateral meetings  with Heads of State and Government to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria