Minister of Energy, Mr Jeff Radebe,
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv Michael Masutha,
Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele,
Members of the NDPP Advisory Panel,
Members of the media,
Fellow South Africans, 
 
Today, I am announcing the appointment of a new National Director of Public Prosecutions. 

 This follows the order of the Constitutional Court on 13 August 2018 that the President appoint an NDPP within 90 days. 

In making this order, the Court highlighted the severe challenges that have confronted the National Prosecuting Authority in recent years, including leadership instability and a decline in public confidence in the institution.

Among other things, the Court said: 

“The rule of law dictates that the office of the NDPP be cleansed of all the ills that have plagued it for the past few years.” 

The court was concerned about the dysfunctionality of the NPA when it said: 

“With a malleable, corrupt or dysfunctional prosecuting authority, many criminals – especially those holding positions of influence – will rarely, if ever, answer for their criminal deeds… 

“If you subvert the criminal justice system, you subvert the rule of law and constitutional democracy itself.”

In appointing a new NDPP, we are addressing the state of dysfunctionality and deficiencies in the NPA that were identified by the court. 

The National Director of Public Prosecutions occupies a vital position in our democracy, and makes an essential contribution to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the efficiency and integrity of law enforcement. 

At this moment in our history, as we address matters that South Africans are most concerned about – such as state capture, corruption and widespread crime – our country needs a National Prosecuting Authority that is above reproach in the performance of its mandate and that enjoys the confidence of the public. 

The NDPP must ensure that the National Prosecuting Authority exercises its functions without fear, favour or prejudice and should not be beholden to any vested interests, whether in politics, in business or elsewhere. 

The NDPP needs to be able to take decisions independently and impartially. 

In appointing the new NDPP, I decided to depart from previous practice. 

While recognising that the Constitution requires that the NDPP is appointed by the President as head of the national executive, I sought the assistance of a panel of individuals from the legal fraternity and Chapter 9 institutions in recommending suitable candidates. 

The members of the panel were Minister Jeff Radebe, as chairperson, and Auditor-General Kimi Makwethu, South African Human Rights Commission Chairperson Bongani Majola, Jaap Cilliers from the General Council of the Bar of South Africa, Richard Scott from the Law Society, Lutendo Sigogo from the Black Lawyers Association, Lawrence Manye from the Advocates for Transformation and Mvuzo Nyotesi from the National Association of Democratic Lawyers. 

Following a process of nominations, shortlisting and interviews that were open to the media, the advisory panel proposed five candidates for the NDPP position. 

After consideration of their recommendations, I have decided, in terms of section 179 of the Constitution, to appoint Adv Shamila Batohi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions. 

I am confident that Adv Batohi possesses all the attributes of a capable NDPP. 

Throughout her extensive and distinguished career, and in the course of the selection process, she has shown herself to be a fit and proper person. 

She started her public service as a junior prosecutor in the Chatsworth magistrates’ court in 1986 and steadily rose through the ranks to become the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu Natal. 

She was seconded to the Investigation Task Unit established by President Nelson Mandela in 1995 and later served as the first regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations based in KwaZulu-Natal. 

For much of the last decade, she has served as a Senior Legal Advisor to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. 

As the NPA Act requires, she has the experience, conscientiousness and integrity to be entrusted with the responsibilities of this office. 

Despite the many challenges the NPA has faced in the past, we know that there are women and men of great ability, experience and commitment within the NPA who are dedicated to doing their job and doing it well. 

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the conditions exist for them to effectively serve the cause of justice and to meet the great expectations that the South African people have of them. 

As this administration, we stand ready to provide whatever assistance necessary to the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure that it is able to fulfil its constitutional mandate without let or hindrance, fear or favour.
 
In conclusion, I would like to thank the members of the advisory panel for the diligence and care with which they undertook their task, and to thank Minister Radebe for chairing the panel. 

I also wish thank all the candidates who made themselves available for appointment to this important position. 

I wish Adv Batohi and the entire leadership and staff of the National Prosecuting Authority well in the work that lies ahead. 

Advocate Batohi will commence her duties in February 2019 after serving her notice as Senior Legal Advisor at the ICC.

It is now my pleasure to call on Adv Batohi to make a few remarks. 

I thank you.

Programme Director, Minister Lindiwe Zulu,
Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Rob Davies,
Minister of Economic Development, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Premier of the Western Cape, Ms Helen Zille,
City of Cape Town Executive Mayor, Mr Dan Plato,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here today at the dawn of a new era for the community of Atlantis.

The Atlantis Special Economic Zone, which we are launching today, is an integral part of our effort to reignite economic growth by attracting investment and creating jobs. 

We know that without significant economic growth, we will not be able to create work for the people of the province and the country, and without substantially higher rates of investment, we will not achieve growth.

We have therefore embarked on a range of measures to mobilise investment into our economy.

And we are working to direct that investment to those industries that have the greatest potential for sustainable growth and to those parts of the country that have the most to benefit.

The Special Economic Zone programme has been identified as one of the critical economic policy instruments for promoting industrialisation. 

The nine SEZs that have been designated as part of this programme have several important features.

They are located in areas both of need and opportunity.

They are being established close to where our people live, where there is often deep poverty and where there is a great demand for jobs.

At the same time, these sites have been selected for their proximity to ports, logistics hubs, related industry or raw materials.

Most of the SEZs focus on a specific industry, encouraging the development of clusters of suppliers and service providers.

By concentrating industrial value chains in these areas, collaboration is encouraged and costs are significantly reduced.

These SEZs can contribute much to reshaping the spatial landscape of the apartheid economy.

Importantly, these SEZs attract foreign and domestic direct investment into the productive economy through a range of benefits.

The SEZ programme is supported by a competitive incentive package, which includes, among others, a 15% corporate tax incentive, employment tax incentive, accelerated depreciation allowance, VAT and customs exemption, and infrastructure support. 

The special economic zones are key to unlocking the country’s competitive and comparative advantages.

The programme has so far managed to generate R11.6 billion worth of private investments into the SEZs. 

There were 115 operational investors in the SEZs at the end of the second quarter.

As we develop these special economic zones, we need to be expanding the range of our ambition.

We need to see these zones as manufacturing hubs for the entire African continent, capable of reaching and servicing a rapidly growing market for goods and services.

We need to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and by the continent’s need for massive infrastructure investment.

The Atlantis Special Economic Zone was conceived as an integrated and sustainable economic development intervention in a region with both great promise and several social challenges. 

Atlantis used to be an area designated for special tax incentives, and was successful in creating industries and jobs. 

We are certain that these successes can be repeated and surpassed.

The launch of the Atlantis SEZ is the culmination of an extensive process of consultation and technical evaluation.

It is the product of close cooperation between different spheres of government working together towards the realisation of a common goal.

The public consultation process involved stakeholders such as organised labour, business and the broader community.

In giving approval for the designation of this SEZ, Cabinet set out two main conditions.

Firstly, the Zone must have community and organised labour representatives on the entity’s board. 

Secondly, the local community and SMMEs must be prioritised in the SEZ’s job creation and empowerment programme.

This is part of our commitment to put people first as key drivers of the economy.

I am pleased to note that the process of ensuring community representation and promoting SMMEs is at an advanced stage. 

The fundamental premise of the Atlantis SEZ is to unlock the underlying economic value of existing and underutilised infrastructure through the creation of a green tech manufacturing hub. 

This includes exploiting its strategic location with its access to major national roads. 

Its proximity to two ports, in Cape Town and Saldanha, provides advantages for exporters.

The Atlantis SEZ is expected to grow the green tech sector in the Western Cape more broadly and revitalise Atlantis as a key industrial node in the region. 

The Atlantis Zone has already attracted four large green tech investors, which are fully operational. 

Gestamp Renewable Industries, which we visited this morning, was the first of these investments. 

The company invested R300 million and has created about 220 jobs in Atlantis. 

The other investors are Resolux with an investment of R25 million, Kaytech with an investment of R130 million, and Skyward Windows with an investment of R50 million. 

In addition to secured investments, The Atlantis Zone has an investment pipeline valued at R2.4 billion. 

In the short to medium term, the zone is projected to create over 1,400 jobs in Atlantis. 

Through manufacturing, job multipliers are estimated to rise to about 4,500 for the West Coast region. 

The Atlantis Zone programme clearly demonstrates what we can collectively achieve when we take an integrated approach to economic development. 

We must continue to harness the power of initiatives such as the Atlantis Zone, which bring together business, organised labour and government in a single marketplace.

It is only through partnerships like this one that we can succeed in building an enduring economy.

It is only through mobilising our collective resources that we can have the financial means to invest in businesses and jobs.

It is the interests of our people that we must promote above all else.

It is their wellbeing and their prosperity to which we must dedicate our every effort and our every capability.

That is why we need investment across South Africa, why we must work together, and why we are launching this Atlantis Special Economic Zone today for our people. 

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Minister of Labour, Ms Mildred Oliphant,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr David Makhura,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Nedlac Executive Director, Mr Madoda Vilakazi,
Representatives of organised labour,
Representatives of business,
Representatives of the community constituency,
Workers of South Africa,
Compatriots,

It was here, in Kliptown, in 1955, that the Congress of the People declared, for all our country and the world to know, that there shall be a minimum wage for all workers.

Now, over six decades later, we have gathered at this historic place to sign the proclamation for the introduction of the country’s first national minimum wage.

We have gathered here to declare that from the 1st of January 2019,  no worker may be paid below the national minimum wage.

This is a great achievement for the working people of South Africa, who have had to endure generations of exploitation.

It is a great achievement for the labour movement, which has placed this fundamental demand at the centre of its struggle for better conditions for workers.

The national minimum wage should also be seen as an achievement for business, for it demonstrates the commitment of employers to fairer wages and better working conditions.

It is a great achievement for a young democracy that is striving to overcome a legacy of poverty and severe inequality.

Today’s signing ceremony is the culmination of several years of intense deliberations among the social partners.

There were many areas of divergence, several disagreements, many setbacks.

Yet, even at the most difficult of moments, the parties were united by a shared desire for a more equal, more prosperous South Africa.

In this sense, the national minimum wage represents the triumph of cooperation over conflict, of negotiation over confrontation. 

The national minimum wage does not stand alone. 

It is an important part of a broader engagement among social partners on how to reduce wage inequality and promote labour stability in South Africa. 

It is a decisive step towards the achievement of a living wage and a more equal distribution of income and wealth. 

We have heard the voices of those who say the starting minimum wage level of R20 an hour is too low. 

We agree. It is far below what we would want workers to earn. 

But we must understand that in setting the starting level, the social partners sought to strike a balance – between the need to measurably improve the income of the lowest paid workers and the need to sustain and increase levels of employment. 

The social partners agreed on this starting level because the available evidence showed that it would not lead to widespread layoffs, but at the same time would increase the earnings of as many as six million working South Africans. 

It is structured to make a real difference in the lives of ordinary South Africans without negatively impacting the economy. 

We should expect that this additional income will contribute to greater consumption and higher demand, contributing in turn to greater economic growth and more jobs. 

If implemented comprehensively, with appropriate use of exemptions and other safeguards, we see the national minimum wage as an instrument of economic stimulus. 

The national minimum wage takes effect in the 25th year of our democracy – a quarter century in which the rights of workers have been progressively enhanced and entrenched. 

In giving effect to the Freedom Charter, we have put in place legislation to provide for trade union workplace organisation, collective bargaining, the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, improved health and safety, affirmative action, skills development, the right to strike, and the right to peaceful protest. 

These achievements fulfil a global commitment to the achievement of fundamental rights and freedoms. 

Earlier today, at Constitution Hill, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

This Declaration, which binds all humanity to a common set of values, holds that: 

“Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” 

And, importantly for us today: 

“Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for themselves and their family an existence worthy of human dignity...” 

As we gather here in Kliptown, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to ensure that all the people of this land may achieve an existence worthy of human dignity. 

Let us do so mindful of the past that we are working to correct and the future that we are working to build. 

For as we celebrate the great achievement of a national minimum wage, we need to acknowledge that the world of work is being transformed. 

Technological advances are having a profound effect on production, employment, governance and social relations. 

Many of the workplaces of tomorrow will be unrecognisable. 

Occupations that have been around for decades will cease to exist. 

These changes are also being driven by forces like climate change and demographic shifts within and between countries.

These changes present significant risks for a country like South Africa, with high unemployment, low skills levels and widespread poverty.

Unless we respond appropriately, this 4th Industrial Revolution could deepen the inequality in our society at the very moment we are introducing measures like the national minimum wage to reduce it.

It could deepen unemployment and leave those without appropriate skills languishing on the margins of the economy.

Yet, the 4th Industrial Revolution also presents great prospects for progress and inclusive prosperity.

It holds the promise of new and better jobs – jobs that are more fulfilling, better paid, safer and healthier.

It presents countless opportunities to deploy technology to address social problems and solve developmental challenges.

It could reshape the relationship between work and life, between learning and earning.

If, as South Africa, we are to avoid the risks of the changing world of work, and instead seize the opportunities, then we need to start immediately to ready ourselves for these changes.

We need to approach this challenge as we have approached so many others – through collaboration and partnership.

In the same way that we worked together to introduce a national minimum wage, we need to organise ourselves as social partners to prepare for the new world of work.

We should not allow technology to determine our future.

Instead, we should use technology to shape the inclusive, prosperous and free society that we seek.

This means that we must adopt policies and build institutions that can direct, regulate and mediate the uncertainties of a rapidly changing economy.

It means that we must invest in the capabilities of our people, providing them with the means to acquire skills, to reskill and to upskill.

We must give real effect to the notion of lifelong learning, because the skills you acquire in your 20s may be different from those that you will need in your 40s.

We will need to assist people through several periods of transition, as established industries are disrupted and as occupations disappear. 

This demands the undivided effort of government, business, labour and various structures of civil society. 

It demands that we act decisively and that we act with urgency. 

Fellow South Africans,

With the introduction of the national minimum wage, we are establishing a firm platform for a social pact on the future of work.

We must sustain the momentum of this moment, not only to address the very pressing economic challenges of the present, but to ready ourselves for the economic opportunities of the near future.

Allow me in conclusion to thank all our partners in NEDLAC, whose hard work breathed life into the national minimum wage.

Most importantly, I want to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions made by South Africans from all walks of life during the extensive consultation on the national minimum wage. 

Today, we are fulfilling a promise that was made over 60 years ago by the representatives of our people on this very ground.

Today, we are making a new promise, as the representatives of the social partners, to build a new world of work in which all may realise their potential and none are left behind.

I thank you.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Michelle Bachelet,
Ambassador of the European Union to South Africa, Mr Marcus Cornaro,
Members of the diplomatic community,
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Advocate Michael Masutha,
Justices, Ministers and MECs,
Members of the Mandela and Sisulu families,
Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Advocate Bongani Majola 
Chairperson of the Board of the Foundation for Human Rights, Ms Thoko Mpumlwana,
CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mr Sello Hatang,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour and a privilege to be here this morning as we join countries around the world in marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

I would like to particularly welcome the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Michelle Bachelet, and congratulate her on her appointment. 

We look forward to working with you in advancing the aims of your office, and to playing our part in entrenching a culture of human rights not just in South Africa but across the globe.

Today, we stand on ground heavy with history, a place of both tragedy and triumph. 

Once a prison where the apartheid regime enforced control and terror, this is now the seat of our Constitutional Court. 

Constitution Hill is more than a monument to the past, it is testament to the resilience and unshakeable strength of the human spirit.

The founder of democratic South Africa, President Nelson Mandela, was incarcerated twice at the Old Fort in the early 1960s. 

When he returned decades later to open the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Commemoration he spoke poignantly of his experience, and of the former jail being turned into a place of commemoration “so that future generations will remember what their freedom has been built on”.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted at a time when the nations of the world were etched with the scars of war. 

It too is a reminder to current and future generations of what our freedom has been built on. 

The values it espouses – of equality, freedom and dignity – bind us together as the universal fellowship of humanity. 

They commit us to building a world free of oppression and discrimination. 

The Declaration is an implicit rejection of movements, ideologies and doctrines that seek to divide us.

It is a rejection of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and all other forms of bigotry and prejudice.

This historic declaration, this manifestation of humanity’s common conscience, significantly influenced the development of South Africa’s constitutional order. 

It is no coincidence that our Constitution was signed into law by Nelson Mandela on the same day that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been adopted by the UN General Assembly 48 years earlier.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Twenty-four years since the birth of democracy in South Africa, our constitutional order is vibrant, dynamic and in good health. 

Our Constitution, with its Bill of Rights, underpins all our actions as a government working hard to improve the material conditions of our people, uphold the rule of law and safeguard fundamental freedoms. 

It was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that contributed most to entrenching human rights principles into our law, perhaps more than any other international legal instrument.

I had the privilege of being part of the team that was given the momentous task of drafting South Africa’s first democratic Constitution. 

It was a heady and exhilarating time, but a daunting responsibility. 

Across the table were some of our former enemies, representing political parties still firmly stuck in the past – a past where a racial minority enjoyed rights and freedoms to the exclusion, and at the expense, of the majority. 

There we were – revolutionaries, communists, white supremacists, nationalists, religious parties and the like – each bringing a particular world view, and a particular set of interests, to the negotiating table. 

We heard from delegations representing business, labour, traditional leaders, gender activists and many other interest groups who wanted to have their say on a range of issues, from labour rights, to land and property rights, to reproductive health, to minority language protection. 

Foremost among our concerns was that the voices of the South African people should be heard. 

The Constitution was anchored in 34 constitutional principles agreed to in the multi-party negotiations that adopted the interim Constitution. 

They were the foundations of the Constitution’s architecture, and form the bedrock of the constitutional order we wanted to realise.

Principle Two was a practical expression of the values that underpin the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

It said that everyone in South Africa would enjoy all universally accepted fundamental rights, freedoms and civil liberties, which would be provided for and protected by the Constitution. 

The centrality of human rights in our law, and the importance of having a Bill of Rights included in our Constitution, is in no small part thanks to the enduring impact of a declaration that has proven to be as relevant as it is timeless.

Seventy years since it was adopted, South Africa reaffirms its commitment to upholding this pact between the peoples of the world. 

The same collaboration and consensus that defined the period during which we drafted our first Constitution, is what we seek to harness now. 

While we have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, particularly as it relates to socio-economic rights, there is a great deal of unfinished business. 

There is a disjuncture between what the Constitution promises and reality.

For example, the right to gender equality promised by our Constitution is rendered meaningless unless the state and all social actors fulfil their obligation to put instruments in place to support the advancement of this right. 

Whether it is with the setting up of specialised Sexual Offences Courts, or repealing laws that uphold discrimination against women, there must be a practical manifestation of this right.

Similarly, outlawing discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation is only effective if action is taken against those who continue to use discrimination as a means of exclusion, be it in schools, in the workplace or in places of worship.

The burning issue of land – of access to land and ownership of land – has brought into sharp focus the reality that we still have to extend the property rights enshrined in the Constitution to all South Africans. 

It has also raised the issue that in order to fulfil the obligations contained in the Constitution, it may be necessary in certain circumstances to amend certain provisions of the same Constitution. 

We will all be aware of the robust and welcome debates that have been taking place around land and land ownership in South Africa. 

It is a sign of the health of our democracy that an extensive and wide-ranging process of public participation preceded the decision of our Parliament to adopt the recommendations of a committee with regards to land expropriation.

At the same time, this process has been a barometer of public sentiment and an affirmation of the resilience of our constitutional order. 

Our citizens have participated with enthusiasm, showing that across the length and breadth of the land, they still retain the utmost faith in our Constitution as the primary means by which their rights can be promoted, advanced and enforced.

South Africa is a relatively young democracy. 

The gains we have registered are all the more extraordinary when considering the legacy we have been tasked with correcting.

But we know that for those who are still afflicted by poverty, by the legacy of dispossession and by underdevelopment, our progress has not been fast enough. 

We know that transforming our economy, that transforming patterns of ownership in South Africa, is an imperative. 

We recognise that whether it is access to land or the provision of basic services, we have to give expression to the rights of our people as entrenched in our Bill of Rights. 

For a Constitution to be relevant, it has to live and breathe. 

It is neither static nor sacrosanct. 

It can, and indeed it must be, responsive to the circumstances and conditions of the day – while remaining true to the principles and values that underpin it.

We are proud of the human rights culture that prevails in South Africa today, and which guides all our endeavours. 

Our constitutional order was won through the sheer determination of our people, and many paid a harsh price to see it realised. 

We owe it to the memories of Nelson Mandela, of Albertina Sisulu and of the many other freedom fighters of our country, to keep the faith in constitutionalism alive. 

Far too many of our people still live in squalour and misery, denied opportunity and a chance to better their lives because of poverty, lack of education and other forms of disadvantage.

In delivering the landmark Grootboom judgment 18 years ago, which concerned a group of people who occupied private land earmarked for low-cost housing, Justice Yacoob wrote: 

“The issues here remind us of the intolerable conditions under which many of our people are still living….it is also a reminder that unless the plight of these communities is alleviated, people may be tempted to take the law into their own hands to escape these conditions.”

This is a reminder that our Constitution is the most potent instrument we have to change the lives of our people.
 
It is the means through which we protect the vulnerable against the abuse of power.

The Constitution must never be seen as a constraint to progress or a barrier to transformation.

The Constitution is a means by which we maintain our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The need to protect the inalienable right of every human being to live a life of freedom and of dignity is what brought the nations of the world together 70 years ago. 

It was also the fibre that connected the drafters of our Constitution. 

It is what energises and motivates us today as we seek to advance these rights not just for our own people, but for all of humankind.

We should take great pride that a culture of human rights continues to take root across the globe, even in parts of the world once associated with repression. 

Human rights are universal, they are not relative. 

For as long as only some enjoy them, and others don’t, our task is not over.

For as long as some still face discrimination, oppression and exploitation, none of us can be truly free.
 
Let us join hands in promoting human rights across the globe, so that all people can enjoy the freedoms that we so dearly cherish, and so that we can bequeath a better, fairer world to the generations that will follow.

Today, we celebrate a great moment in the history of humankind that took place 70 years ago.

At its essence, however, this occasion is not so much about the past. 

It is about the future.

I thank you.

Programme Directors,
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe,
Ministers, Deputy Ministers,
Premiers, MECs,
Members of the Judiciary,
Members of the Msimang family,
Comrades,
Friends,
Fellow South Africans, 

We are gathered here in solemn mourning to pay our last respects to a great South African whose life was dedicated to the cause of freedom. 

Mendi Msimang was the embodiment of an idea that is simple in conception, but revolutionary in application – the idea that one’s purpose in life is to serve others. 

Throughout a rich and meaningful life, wherever he found himself, whatever responsibilities he was given, he was bound by a determination to serve others. 

He had no need for riches. He had no need for recognition. 

His only need was to break the shackles of the oppressed; to feed, house and comfort those who had nothing. 

His only need was to forge unity where there was division, to bring calm where there was chaos, and to promote understanding where there was intolerance. 

His only need was to liberate his people from the bondage of apartheid and the enduring tyranny of poverty. 

Mendi Msimang was one of a remarkable generation of freedom fighters, a generation whose deeds will reverberate across the ages. 

It was a generation that transformed the national liberation movement and changed the course of our struggle, a generation that endured the hardship of exile and prison and banishment. 

It was a generation that not only held the liberation movement together as the forces of apartheid sought to dismember it, but which built it into a formidable mass movement at the head of a global campaign for a democratic South Africa. 

It was this generation that was prominent among those who led the country to democracy and freedom. 

Today, as we mourn the passing of one of the great leaders of that generation, it would be a mistake to relegate them to history. 

Certainly, most of the members of that generation may have exited the political stage, but the principles they fought for, the values they lived by and the means by which they sought their objectives still find resonance at this moment in our history. 

As we confront new and daunting challenges, as we attend to the erosion of the revolutionary morality that long defined our struggle, we must draw strength and inspiration and guidance from the deeds of those leaders. 

The time for leaders like Mendi Msimang has not passed. 

It has barely begun. 

The material temptations of political office have never been greater than they are today. 

As our people have realised, and as our movement has acknowledged, there are those among us who seek positions of authority not to serve the public good, but to advance private interests. 

There are those who are prepared to undermine the institutions of our young democracy, to subvert the rule of law and to steal from the people to enrich themselves. 

This cannot be countenanced and this cannot be allowed to continue. 

It is at precisely this moment that we need leaders, cadres, public servants and business people of the calibre of Mendi Msimang. 

We need people who, like him, are truly selfless in their service. 

We need people like him, with an abiding honesty and an essential integrity. 

For 10 years, he served as the Treasurer-General of the African National Congress, a position more difficult and more hazardous than any other in the movement. 

In that time, he was scrupulous in his determination that not one cent go missing, that no resources meant for the transformational programmes of the organisation be misappropriated or wasted. 

It is this quality that we seek in our leaders today. 

Comrades and Friends, 

Mendi Msimang was an envoy for freedom. 

As the chief representative of the ANC in the United Kingdom, he was a dedicated and capable advocate for the cause of the South African people. 

Especially when faced with hostile opinion, he sought – patiently and with deliberate care – to explain the positions of the African National Congress. 

He was not one to dismiss others because their views may be reactionary or ill-informed. 

He sought to persuade them, understanding that it was the responsibility of his revolutionary movement to win to its cause the broadest possible range of social forces. 

But that was not the only reason. 

He sought to persuade others because he was not prepared to give up on another human being. 

He was driven by a firm conviction that every person has the capacity to do good, to see sense, to make a meaningful contribution to society. 

He had a remarkable ability to see beyond their prejudice, their anger, their frailties and to recognise their essential being. 

For that, he was much loved and widely admired. 

When he returned to London, this time as the democratic South Africa’s first High Commissioner to the Court of St James’s, he did so with a completely different mandate, but employed many of the same methods. 

While it is certainly true that he no longer organised protests outside South Africa House, he used his good offices within the building to advance the cause of a free and democratic South Africa. 

He argued with great eloquence and conviction that while it was true that the South African people had achieved the overthrow of apartheid and established a democratic state, the legacy of centuries of dispossession and exploitation endured. 

He sought the support of the British government and people – and indeed the broader international community – for the reconstruction of South Africa, for the growth and transformation of its economy, and for the empowerment of its people through skills and jobs. 

Over two decades later, these remain the most important tasks that we, as a nation, must undertake. 

We must attend to these tasks with the same vigour and application that Mendi Msimang did. 

We must seek, as he always did, to build consensus on the measures we must necessarily take to transform our economy and our society. 

We must confront, as he would have, the difficult choices that need to be made to turn around an economy that has faltered and to fix the public institutions that have been weakened. 

We must retain, as he would have, our focus on the overriding task to create jobs and tackle poverty. 

We must forge a social compact that is founded on the incontrovertible reality that none of us can prosper unless we all prosper. 

We must forge a social compact that recognises that the enormity of the challenges ahead of us require that we all pull in the same direction. 

This is what Mendi Msimang was good at, building bridges, forging alliances and resolving differences. 

That is why we say that the time for leaders like Mendi Msimang has not passed. 

He was a person of great modesty and dignity. 

He treated others with respect, was moderate in demeanour and measured in his address. 

These may be commendable personality traits, but they are also profoundly political. 

They are among the qualities that we should seek in a revolutionary. 

One cannot be a revolutionary if one does not respect others. 

One cannot be a revolutionary if one is intolerant of other views, or if insult and invective are the only means of persuasion one can marshal. 

Those who worked with him remember both fondly and sometimes with frustration how meticulous he was. 

They recall his commitment to proper syntax and correct spelling and his ability to debate the placement of a comma. 

This was a sign not only of a sound education, but also of a rigorous discipline that extended from the writing of a letter to the prosecution of the struggle. 

Like many of his generation, Mendi Msimang paid a heavy price for his commitment to the struggle. 

The nation owes his family a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they made and the absences they endured. 

We extend to the family our deepest condolences for their sad loss and their selfless sacrifice of giving up their parental claim to their father, grandfather, brother, and patriarch to the service of the people of South Africa. 

The family, like all of us, assume a great responsibility to carry forward his legacy, characterised by a deep sense of loyalty, commitment, love and selflessness to all the people of our country, especially the poor. 

Mendi Msimang, stalwart of our movement, giant of our struggle, unassuming hero of our people, is no more. 

As we mourn his passing, we commend and we celebrate a life lived in the service of others. 

As we bid him farewell, we repeat that the time for leaders like Mendi Msimang has not passed. 

In his memory, let us pledge, as our forbearers did in Kliptown, that we will strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until we reach our goal of a united, free and prosperous South Africa. 

May his soul rest in peace. May his abundant legacy endure. 

Hamba Kahle, Qhawe lama Qhawe. 

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Your Excellencies, High Commissioner and Ambassadors,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
 
It is my singular honour to welcome you to the Republic of South Africa as Heads of Mission charged with the responsibility to strengthen the friendship that exists between our countries.
 
We are officially welcoming you to South Africa as the centenary year of the founding President of our democratic nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, draws to a close.
 
Together with many across the world, we have used this year to reflect on the values by which President Mandela lived and the ideals for which he was prepared to die.
 
We remain inspired and guided by his vision of a better world that is more inclusive, more democratic and more humane.
 
It is a vision of a world that is built on social justice and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by all.
 
We are welcoming you to South Africa as part of a progressive humanity that observes and respects the equality of all people and of all sovereign states.
 
We are firmly committed to the pursuit of global peace and properity through cooperation and partnership, through multilateralism and through the consistent and fair application of a rules-based global architecture.
 
We maintain this position at a time when unilateral action is threatening to undermine this multilateral architecture.
 
The emergence of unilateralism is taking place against the backdrop of rising nationalism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.
 
It takes place at a time when the problems facing the world – from climate change to terrorism, from migration to poverty – require ever-closer collaboration among the countries of the world.
 
We should not abandon the institutions that have been set up over the last 70 years to mediate and manage international relations.
 
Rather we should strengthen them and, where necessary, reform them to become more effective and inclusive.
 
While we have a responsibility to advance and protect the national interests of our respective countries, we must work together to discharge such responsibility without arousing animosity among nations.
 
Like Nelson Mandela, we must strive always for the peaceful resolution of conflict and improve our capacity to prevent conflict.
 
We must work collectively to address the leading causes of conflict: poverty, inequality and political marginalisation.
 
We must accept that lasting peace and security will not be achieved unless we create a world that is conducive to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
 
Your Excellencies,
 
We welcome you to our country at a time of renewed hope. 
 
We are emerging from a period of stagnation and strife.
 
Over the past few years, our economy has performed poorly relative to others of the same size. 
 
Policy uncertainty, the weakening of public institutions and high-level corruption undermined investor confidence and public trust.
 
We are now firmly on the path of renewal and rebuilding.
 
We have acknowledged the errors of the past few years and are working hard to correct them.
 
We are restoring trust in public institutions by appointing the right people for the right jobs, by tackling corruption and holding those responsible to account.
 
Our economy is showing signs of recovery, having just emerged from a technical recession with 2.2% GDP growth in the third quarter of 2018.
 
We are working with our social partners – business, labour and communities – on a range of measures to significantly increase employment over the next few years.
 
We held a highly successful investment conference in October, at which several companies announced new investments in the economy.
 
It was a clear indication that investors have confidence in our economy and are excited about the opportunities it offers.
 
We have moved with speed to resolve many of the concerns of investors.
 
These concerns include policy inconsistency, the cost of doing business, labour instability, a burdensome regulatory framework and limiting visa regulations.
 
At the same time, we are working to address some of the structural challenges in our economy, specifically the extremely unequal distribution of skills, land, assets and opportunities.
 
We have a higher education enrolment of nearly a million students and almost universal school attendance, but there is much more that needs to be done to improve the quality of our educational outcomes and ensure that graduates are prepared for the workplace.
 
We are accelerating land reform to unlock the economic potential of this important asset and bring more South Africans into the productive economy.
 
In approaching this issue, we are determined to adhere to the rule of law and the principles enshrined in our Constitution.
 
We want to use this process to stimulate economic growth, reduce rural poverty, increase agricultural production and give poor urban dwellers ownership of homes close to economic opportunities.
 
It is our sincere hope that you will convey to investors in your countries that South Africa is open for business.
 
We are keen to work with you to ensure that South Africa becomes known as an investment destination that offers great returns.
 
Let me thank you for the role you have played and will continue to play in strengthening the relations between South Africa and your respective countries.
 
I wish all of you well in the execution of your duties to your countries and to the betterment of all peoples.
 
Working together, and in memory of Nelson Mandela, let us spare neither effort nor strength in our mission to make the world a better place for all to live in.
 
I thank you.

1.1 Cabinet held a virtual Special Meeting on Tuesday, 19 January 2021 to discuss the progress report from the National Coronavirus Command Council. Cabinet was briefed on the rate of infections in the country and the surveillance work being conducted by the Department of Health, supported by the Ministerial Advisory Committee. Though still early, Cabinet appreciated the downward trend of infections across the provinces, with the exception of the Free State and Northern Cape.   

1.2 Cabinet thanks all South Africans who continue to play their part by adhering to the health protocols adopted to minimise infections, such as wearing masks at all times when in public, maintaining social distancing, washing their hands at all times with water and soap or using an alcohol-based sanitizer and avoiding gatherings.

2.1 Cabinet was also briefed on the national COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out Programme. The vaccination programme is the key intervention to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. The roll out programme entails procurement, distribution, actual vaccination, monitoring, communication and mobilisation. 

2.2 Cabinet approved the setting up of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Vaccination to assist with the quick decision-making from all the relevant departments that contribute towards the smooth roll-out of the vaccination programme. The IMC, to be chaired by Deputy President David Mabuza, will meet weekly to receive reports and intervene in unlocking any challenges that may be encountered during the implementation. President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair its first inaugural meeting.

2.3 Members of the IMC are the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize; Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni; Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Jackson Mthembu; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula; Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele; Minister of State Security, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo; Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande; Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan; Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel; Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor. 

Enquiries:
Ms Phumla Williams – Cabinet Spokesperson 
Mobile: 083 501 0139

A. ISSUES IN THE ENVIRONMENT
 
1. State of the Nation Address (SoNA)

1.1. President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the 2021 SoNA on Thursday, 11 February 2021 from 19:00. The SoNA comes at a time when we all have to stand together to overcome the impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, improve the lives of South Africans and grow our economy. Cabinet encourages all sectors of society to work together to ensure a new social compact that will set us on a path to make South Africa a better place for all.
 
1.2. All South Africans are urged to use the President’s address as a rallying point to turn around our economy, end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and tackle the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. The Post-SoNA media briefings will unpack government’s Programme of Action for 2021/22. 
 
2. Investment 

2.1. Cabinet welcomed the R16-billion investment by the Ford Motor Company of South Africa in its Silverton plant. This investment will increase the country’s automotive export output and create about 1 200 direct jobs.
 
2.2. It forms part of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone that was launched in 2019 to create the biggest manufacturing hub in Africa. It has attracted 12 automotive component suppliers and the construction of their factories have commenced, to the value of R4.33 billion. These investments affirm South Africa’s attractiveness as an investment destination and demonstrate the confidence that global automotive producers have in our country.
 
3. COVID-19 vaccine roll-out 

3.1. Government has prioritised the country’s vaccination programme to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Cabinet reassures South Africans that this programme remains on track. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will now be used instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
 
3.2. This change follows the comprehensive research conducted by medical scientists which showed that the AstraZeneca had a minimal efficacy against the COVID-19 501Y.V2 variant. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has proven effective against the 501Y.V2 variant that is predominately found in the country.
 
3.3. Cabinet commended the work of the scientists and researchers who made the breakthrough on the efficacy of the vaccines against the 501Y.V2 variant. This affirms the country’s well-established scientific capability that is recognised the world over. 
 
3.4. The procurement of the AstraZeneca vaccine was based on its proven efficacy before the discovery of the 501Y.V2 variant in the country. The consignment that was received from the Serum Institute of India on 1 February 2021 has not expired and was within the period of the roll-out of the first phase of the vaccination programme. 
 
3.5. Cabinet expressed confidence on the planned vaccine roll-out that will commence with the more than 1.2 million frontline healthcare workers. The Department of Health, working with National Treasury, will continue to procure more vaccines to ensure the country achieves its population immunity.  
 
3.6. To ensure the smooth vaccine roll-out, the Department of Health has launched the Electronic Vaccine Data System that can be accessed at https://sacoronavirus.co.za/evds/tscs/. Cabinet encourages those eligible for the first phase to self-register for their  vaccination. 
 
3.7. Cabinet urges all people in South Africa to continue adhering to the safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections by avoiding large gatherings, washing hands with water and soap or a 70% alcohol-based sanitiser, wearing masks in public places and maintaining the 1.5 metres social distance.
 
4. GBVF Response Fund

4.1. Cabinet welcomed the launch of the GBVF Response Fund set up by the private sector. The fund will strengthen the country’s response to GBVF and the implementation programme of the adopted National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

4.2. This fund gives effect to one of the resolutions from the Declaration of the GBVF Summit held in 2018, which calls on all social partners in the country – including government, civil society and other role players – to work together to find lasting interventions to end GBV.

4.3. Cabinet welcomed the two life sentences handed down to Lungile Nxelelwa at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court for the rape and murder of 27-year-old Keneilwe Pule of Sebokeng in 2019.

4.4. Cabinet also commended law-enforcement agencies for their good work after the Lebowakgomo Regional Court sentenced a 27-year-old man from Ga-Tamatis in Limpopo to life behind bars after he was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old disabled girl. 
 
4.5. Cabinet reiterated that it would continue working tirelessly to strengthen the country’s justice system to deal harshly with perpetrators of GBVF, ensure speedy justice for victims and provide for safe communities.  It also called on all sectors of society to join the fight to end the cycle of violence against women and children by reporting perpetrators to the police.
 
5. African Union (AU)

5.1. South Africa’s term as Chair of the AU has ended following an unprecedented year for the continent and the world. South Africa’s term was severely impacted by COVID-19, which has affected all the countries on the continent. Despite the many challenges posed by the pandemic, South Africa successfully moved the AU agenda forward, particularly how the continent responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.  
 
5.2. During South Africa’s chairship, the African Continental Free Trade Area was launched, heralding a new era of intra-African trade and economic integration. South Africa actively contributed to the AU’s peacekeeping initiatives in South Sudan and Ethiopia.
 
5.3. Cabinet congratulated President Ramaphosa for his leadership during this tenure and his unanimous appointment as the Champion of the AU Response Fund to COVID-19. Beyond South Africa’s tenure, Cabinet will support the continued fight towards the economic empowerment of women in Africa throughout the declared Decade of African Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion to 2030.
 
6. Severe weather 

6.1. Cabinet received an update on the implementation of a disaster management national seasonal contingency plan as well as an integrated response to Tropical Cyclone Eloise and associated rainfall conditions. Cabinet conveyed its deepest condolences to all who lost loved ones during the recent heavy storms and wished those injured a speedy recovery. Government continues to work with communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist those who lost their homes during the heavy rains.
 
6.2. The heavy rainfall resulted in damage of infrastructure in various provinces. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of further possible flooding in Limpopo, the Free State and North West in the coming days. Cabinet has urged people to exercise extreme caution during severe weather conditions. Members of the public are advised to rather stay indoors during heavy rain and stormy weather. 
 
6.3. The SAWS will continue to submit daily and weekly weather forecasts, and also alert the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) of any severe weather conditions. The NDMC will disseminate this information to relevant role players to alert all communities. 
 
6.4. Government is working with NGOs, a team of Ministers, members of the executive councils and local leaders – including the NDMC – to coordinate effective emergency services in affected provinces.  
 
B. CABINET DECISIONS
 
1. National State of Disaster

1.1. Cabinet approved the extension of the National State of Disaster to 15 March 2021, in terms of Section 27(5) (c) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (57 of 2002).
 
C. MESSAGE

1. Anniversary  
  
1.1. Cabinet commemorated   the 24th anniversary of the democratic Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, which came into effect on 4 February 1997 after being promulgated by former President Nelson Mandela. This world-acclaimed Constitution solidified our hard-won freedom and democracy that we should all cherish.

2. Cabinet extended its congratulations and well-wishes to:

2.1. Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC on being elected as a Judge to the African Court of Human and People’s Rights.

3. Condolences

Since this was its first sitting in 2021, Cabinet extended its belated condolences to the families and friends of:
 
3.1. Mr Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu, who was the Minister in The Presidency of the sixth administration. He was a dedicated activist and served in the public office with distinction.
3.2. Mr Jonas Gwangwa, the cultural icon who was a globally recognised composer, arranger, producer and jazz trombonist.
3.3. Dr Sibongile Khumalo, the multi-genre performer and music educator who contributed to the development of South African art and culture in the musical fields of jazz and opera. 
3.4. Mrs Rebecca Kotane, fondly known as MmaKotane, who played a crucial role in the country’s struggle for liberation. She is remembered for her participation in the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings and she was also wife to the late leader of the South African Communist Party, Mr Moses Kotane.
3.5. Justice Khayelihle Kenneth Mthiyane, who served as the former Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
3.6. Ms Thoko Ndlozi, the only surviving member of the female vocal group, Joy that made history with their chart-topping hit, Paradise Road.
3.7. Mr Wandi Nzimande, co-founder of the South African streetwear label Loxion Kulca, who gave us a blueprint of Mzansi streetwear.
3.8. Mr Knowledge Simelane, who was dedicated to the preservation of indigenous languages. He has left a void in the newspaper-publishing world.
3.9. Mr Welcome ‘Bhodloza’ Nzimande, who joined Ukhozi FM in 1978 and his love for Maskandi music unearthed many South African indigenous musicians.  
3.10. Mr Kabelo ‘KB’ Molopyane, the renowned broadcaster whose career dates back to 1996 and he became most prominent when he joined Motsweding FM.
3.11. Dr Sam Phillips, the internationally acclaimed and award-winning screen actor, writer, music composer and director.
3.12. Mr Edwin De Lille, the husband of Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille. 
3.13. His Majesty Thulare Victor Thulare III, King of Bapedi nation, who received a certificate confirming him as King from President Ramaphosa in 2020.  
 
D. APPOINTMENT

All appointments are subject to the verification of qualifications and the relevant clearance.

1. Advocate Doctor Mashabane – Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 
 
Enquiries:
Ms Phumla Williams – Cabinet Spokesperson 
Mobile: 083 501 0139

A. Issues In The Environment

1. Class of 2020

1.1. Cabinet congratulated the Class of 2020 who persevered against all odds and obtained a sterling set of matric results. The 2020 exams which saw an increase in the number of learners who wrote their final examinations when compared to 2019, also saw an increase in the number of learners who attained a Bachelor’s admission pass.

1.2. Cabinet wishes all the learners well as they embark on their respective post-schooling years. In addition to university studies, learners are encouraged to also explore vocational skills training that is available through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as part of strengthening South Africa’s technical skills base that is essential for our economy. Learners who do not qualify for the TVET colleges or universities are encouraged to explore the Second- Chance Matric Programme.

1.3. Cabinet also congratulated all officials and the management of the Department of Basic Education who – in addition to implementing health and safety measures at schools in 2020 to protect teachers and learners from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic – worked tirelessly to achieve the impressive matric results.

1.4. Cabinet wishes to express its appreciation to all the teachers, school managers, officials within the basic education systems, teacher unions, learner organisations, the learners and their parents for their hard work and collective dedication to ensure that we achieve the kind of results we can be proud of despite the difficulties experienced in 2020.

1.5. Cabinet is pleased that the 2021 school year has officially started and is confident that the measures in place are sufficient for safe teaching and learning. Everyone has a responsibility to remain vigilant and to strictly adhere to health and safety protocols, which are designed to safeguard the health and safety of teachers, staff and learners. Cabinet calls on all South Africans to support our learners and to ensure that they succeed.

2. State of the Nation Address (SoNA)

2.1. Cabinet welcomed the 2021 SoNA that was delivered by His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, to a hybrid Joint Sitting of the two houses of Parliament – the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces – in Cape Town on Thursday, 11 February 2021.

2.2. The SoNA and the President’s Response to the SoNA Debate offered a progress report on the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) and roadmap to the impactful implementation of government’s plans. Cabinet is resolute to fully implement all the commitments announced by the President.

2.3.  While acknowledging the socio-economic challenges confronting us, Cabinet remains confident that they will be addressed through the implementation of the ERRP and government’s Programme of Action (PoA), with a focus on achieving an inclusive growth and the goals of our Vision 2030 as set out in the National Development Plan (NDP).

2.4. In spite of the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020, the overall PoA remains on track though somewhat slowed down. On Wednesday, 24 February 2021, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni outlined the budget to fund this year’s plans.

3. NDP Review Report

3.1. Cabinet noted the report on the outcomes of the review of the NDP and will endeavour to restore progress on government’s contribution towards Vision 2030. The National Planning Commission will release the NDP Review Report.

4. Local vaccines development

4.1. Cabinet welcomed the efforts and progress made by our scientists, researchers and medical experts towards a national initiative of developing our own vaccines to deal with current and future pandemics. Our scientists, researchers and medical experts have been at the forefront of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and have led the genomic surveillance of COVID-19 virus, which resulted in the discovery of the 501Y.V2 variant. In this regard, Cabinet would like to congratulate all the South African scientists and researchers who managed to recreate the virus in the laboratory for purposes of enhancing research on the treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic.

4.2. Cabinet believes that our national science and innovation system is a valuable resource that should be nurtured and developed.

4.3. Even beyond the research on COVID-19, South Africa’s world-renowned scientists and innovators have delivered cutting-edge technology such as the world’s first digital laser and the Lodox full body x-ray scanner.   

5. COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

5.1. Cabinet appreciated the commencement of the national roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, with the first doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) in both the public and private sectors.

5.2. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our HCWs have been the shield that kept our nation safe. They have faced the virus head-on and have persevered against an unrelenting virus. Their selfless sacrifice has saved countless lives and our nation owes them an immense debt of gratitude.

5.3. Their vaccination will help protect them against infection and ultimately return our nation to normalcy. Cabinet is pleased that millions of additional vaccines procured from several sources will arrive at varying intervals in the coming months, beginning in March 2021.

5.4. Once HCWs have been vaccinated as part of Phase 1 of the vaccination roll-out strategy, Phase 2 will focus on essential workers and vulnerable groups, which include people over the age of 60 years, people with comorbidities as well as those living in places such as nursing homes and hostels.

5.5. Citizens are reminded that vaccination is free and voluntary, and remains our best defence against the virus, coupled with the continued adherence to the health protocols of avoiding large gatherings, wearing a mask in public, sanitising hands with water and soap or a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser and maintaining a social distance of at least 2,5 metres. These measures are critical to the health of our nation. 

6. 4th Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)

6.1. The 4th QLFS released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, 23 February 2021 continues to remind us of the challenges of unemployment facing the country. Cabinet is however encouraged by the green shoots that our economy continues to demonstrate amongst the current harsh economic realities.

6.2. According to the recent statistics employment increased by 333 000 jobs, with the formal sector contributing the largest (189 000 jobs) between Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 in 2020. Furthermore, there has been a decline in the number of the Not Economically Active by 890 000 in Quarter 4 in 2020 compared to Quarter 3 in 2020.

6.3. Cabinet remains concerned that the rate at which the economy creates jobs remains slower than the rate the country sheds jobs by 701 000 between Quarter 3 and Quarter 4. Although Quarter 4 noted an increase in the unemployment rate, the percentage increase of 1, 7% is still lower than the Quarter 3 increase of 9% to the unemployment rate.

6.4. It is disturbing that young people constitute the largest pool of the unemployed. African and coloured South Africans as well as women remain the most vulnerable groups in the economy of the country, and this strengthens government’s resolve to fast-track measures to support and enable the meaningful participation of youth, women and black people in the economy of the country. This is in line with the recommitment to economic reform and transformation made by the President in the 2021 SoNA.     

7. 2021 National Budget

7.1. The tabling of the 2021 National Budget is an important part of South Africa’s open and accountable system of democracy. Following President Ramaphosa’ s SoNA, the 2021 National Budget outlines government’s financial plan to support the implementation of the national PoA as outlined in the 2021 SoNA.

7.2. Cabinet welcomes the 2021 National Budget as the best available option in balancing fiscal sustainability whilst funding critical government priorities such as the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, supporting the most vulnerable in our society through a comprehensive social assistance programme and the ERRP in order to rebuild the economy, support job creation and attract investment, albeit under a challenging economic environment.

8. Copper cable theft

8.1. Cabinet welcomed the recent sentencing by the Western Cape High Court of five members of a syndicate found guilty of copper cable theft to a cumulative 1 250 years’ imprisonment. We congratulate our law-enforcement agencies for the arrest and successful prosecution of those who are involved in copper cable theft.

8.2. Cabinet is hopeful that the recent arrests and sentences sent a strong message that those responsible for such economic sabotage and crimes will face the full might of the law. We call on the public to report criminals to law-enforcement agencies.

9. Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF)

9.1. Cabinet welcomed the arrest of the man who brutally attacked Ms Dimakatso Ratselane, the journalist of Lesedi FM.

9.2. Cabinet also welcomed the sentencing of the murderer of the pregnant Tshegofatso Pule and the arrest of Nthuthuko Shoba, her boyfriend and father of her unborn child, for allegedly masterminding her murder.

9.3. Cabinet calls on the criminal justice system to ensure justice is served on behalf of Ms Ratselane, the late Ms Pule and other victims of GBVF. Ending violence against women and children requires all of us to take a stand to stop this scourge

10. Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards

10.1. Cabinet called on the South African media to submit their entries for the 2021 SADC Media Awards competition. Interested journalists can access more information about the competition from www.sadc.int(link is external) and www.gcis.gov.za.

10.2. The awards promote regional integration and cooperation by encouraging media practitioners in SADC member states to cover issues pertaining to the region.

B. Cabinet decisions

1. National State of Disaster

1.1. Cabinet approved the decision to declare a National State of Disaster following the destruction caused by tropical storm Eloise and summer seasonal rains which left infrastructure and homes damaged in various provinces. This is done in terms of Section 27(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002).

1.2. The declaration will assist government to enhance existing measures undertaken by various organs of state to mitigate the impact of the national disaster.

2. Presidential Remuneration Review Commission (PRRC) Report 

2.1. Cabinet received and approved the PRRC Report. The PRRC was appointed to investigate the remuneration and conditions of service in the Public Service and the national and provincial public entities listed in Part A and C, Schedule 3 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).

2.2. The priority sectors covered in the report are educators, health, security sector and public entities (Schedule 3A and 3B of PFMA of 1999. The report will be made available through the Department of Public Service and Administration website (www.dpsa.gov.za).

3. South Africa’s Country Report to the United Nations (UN) on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 

3.1. Cabinet approved the submission of South Africa’s ninth to 11th periodic country report on the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). South Africa signed the ICERD in 1994 and ratified it on 10 December 1998.

3.2. The report outlines progress made by South Africa in putting in place legislative, judicial and administrative measures to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

3.3. This periodic report focuses on the progress made in advancing equality, fighting xenophobia and other related intolerance, prevention of hate crimes, and highlights challenges that still remain. After its presentation to the relevant body, the report will be made public.

4. Accession to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid 

4.1. Cabinet approved the tabling of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid to Parliament for accession. This is done in terms of Section 231(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. The convention, among others, declares apartheid as a crime against humanity and that it posed a serious threat to international peace and security.

4.2. Once approved by both houses of Parliament, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will deposit the instrument of accession with the UN. 

5.  Amendment of the agreement between South Africa and the Netherlands on social security 

5.1. Cabinet approved the amendment of the agreement between the government of South Africa and the government of the Kingdom of Netherlands on social security cooperation.

5.2. The cooperation agreement on social security was signed in The Hague in May 2001. The agreement facilitates the export of social security benefits for the respective citizens. The Netherland Social Security Policy has made amendments to its export social security in respect to the Dutch children. The proposed amendment is to align the agreement to these changes. 

6. Ratification of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)

6.1. Cabinet approved submission of the WRC-19 Final Acts to Parliament for ratification, in line with Section 231(2) of the Constitution. The WRC-19 is the outcome of the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference that are convenes annually to, amongst others, review and revise the radio regulations. South Africa is a signatory to the ITU. Once Parliament ratifies the WRC-19 Final Act, South Africa will amend the National Radio Frequency Plan accordingly.

7. Revised White Paper on National Transport Policy 

7.1. Cabinet approved the revised White Paper on National Transport Policy.  It replaces the 1996 National Transport Policy. The revised policy addresses the changes that have emerged over the years in the road, rail, maritime and aviation spaces. It broadly aligns the country to the international, regional and continental transportation trends.

7.2. The policy has gone through wide consultations with all the relevant stakeholders.  Once gazetted, the document can be accessed through the Department of Transport website (www.transport.gov.za). 

C. Bills

1. Land Court Bill 

1.1. Cabinet approved the submission of the Land Court Bill to Parliament for processing. The Bill establishes a specialist Land Court, with its judgements, orders and decisions appealable at the proposed specialist Land Court of Appeal.

1.2. The Bill will resolve the challenges that were experienced under the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act 22 of 1994) such as backlogs in land claims and dispute resolution mechanisms when disputes arise. It will also contribute immensely in the implementation of the Land Reform Programme.

2. Gas Amendment Bill of 2020

2.1. Cabinet approved the submission of the Gas Amendment Bill of 2020 to Parliament. The proposed Bill seeks to align the gas industry to, amongst others, new transportation technologies of natural and unconventional gases that were not catered for in the current Gas Act, 2001 (Act 48 of 2001). The amendments, which have been fully consulted with all the relevant stakeholders, will contribute to the ongoing investment infrastructure to ensure diversity of the country’s energy mix.

2.2. The Bill will undergo further parliamentary consultation processes to ensure it is widely endorsed for implementation once passed into law. 

3.  The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Bill of 2021

3.1. Cabinet approved the publication for public comment of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Bill of 2021. The proposed amendments seek to address the weaknesses that are in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act 4 of 2000). The proposed amendments will strengthen its ability to prevent discrimination and promote equality for all South Africans, as enshrined in Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996.

3.2. The Bill will be gazetted and made available through the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s website (www.justice.gov.za).

4. South African Postbank Amendment Bill of 2020

4.1. Cabinet approved the publication of the South African Postbank Amendment Bill of 2020 for public comment. The Bill amends the current South African Postbank Limited Act, 2010 (Act 9 of 2010).

4.2. The Bill provides for the establishment of the South African Postbank Holding Company in terms of the Banks Act, 1990 (Act 94 of 1990). The company will provide for the inclusion of financially excluded members of the public to participate meaningfully in the economic activities. It will also provide a facility for some of government’s financial services. 

D.  Upcoming events

1. International Women’s Day

1.1. Cabinet will join the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021. This day is used to reflect on progress made in achieving gender equality and also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996.

1.2. Since 1994, we have made strides in implementing policies and programmes aimed at advancing women’s rights and we remain committed to ensuring women are economically empowered.

1.3. In recognition of Struggle stalwart Mama Charlotte Maxeke’s individual and collective contributions to freedom and democracy in South Africa, government declared 2021 the Year of Charlotte Maxeke, to mark the 150th anniversary of her birth. She was a social and political activist with extraordinary courage and intellect.

2. India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Women's Forum Ministerial Meeting

2.1. South Africa – led by Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane – will participate in the IBSA Women's Forum Ministerial Meeting on 16 March 2021. The event is an important one for South Africa because when he was still Chair of the African Union in 2020, President Ramaphosa had prioritised women empowerment, entrepreneurship and the fight against GBVF.

2.2. The forum, which was established in 2007, will provide a platform for South Africa to advance its policies and key issues that impact on women.

2.3. The upcoming event will take place within the context of countries’ recovery plans related to COVID-19. It is generally acknowledged that women bore the heaviest burden of the devastating effects of the pandemic. 

3. Human Rights Month

3.1. President Ramaphosa will deliver the virtual keynote address at the 2021 National Human Rights Day commemorations on 21 March 2021 under the theme: “The Year of Charlotte Maxeke: Promoting and protecting human rights in the age of COVID-19”.

3.2. This year’s commemoration of Human Rights Month coincides with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, and it provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the bravery of men and women who protested on 21 March 1960 for the total abolition of the pass laws.

3.3. Cabinet calls on South Africans to use the day to remember and honour those who fought in the struggle for our freedom and democracy. 

E. Messages

1. Congratulations

Cabinet extends its congratulations and well-wishes to: 

South African filmmakers of the film, Address Unknown, for making it to the Official Selection of the 2021 Pan African Film Festival, which is America’s largest and most prestigious black film festival. The short film, which is dedicated to the people of District Six, was funded by among others, the National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Nigerian-born Dr Ngozi Okonjo-lweala, who was elected on consensus on 15 February 2021 as the seventh Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation, with effect from 1 March 2021. She is the first woman and the first African to serve as DG of the international organisation that deals with the global rules of trade between nations.

2. Condolences

Cabinet sent condolences to the family and friends of:

Thovhele Ranwedzi Gilbert Tshikalange (87) of the Mphaphuli dynasty in Limpopo, a stalwart of the liberation struggle and a fierce opponent against the implementation of Black Administration Act of 1927. He led the Tax Levy Boycott from 1964 – 1969. He was banished and deported to Kuruman in the Northern Cape from 1969 to 1974. 

Upon his return to his territorial area, he was further imposed with a banning order and placed under house arrest in the township of Makwarela in the Sibasa Magisterial District from 1974 to 1976. In 1987, together with other veterans of the Struggle and progressive traditional leaders, they founded the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) and he was elected its National Organiser.

Three ArcelorMittal workers – Mr Lesenyeho Mofokeng (31), Mr Thami Sampo Molefe (52) and Mr Mpho Meshack Madumisa (29), who died tragically when the building in Vanderbijlpark where they were working collapsed following an explosion on Wednesday, 17 February 2021. The Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services have launched an investigation into the incident. Cabinet urges all companies to prioritise employee safety and to constantly test their systems to ensure that workers are not placed at risk.

Ambassador Themba Muziwakhe Nicholas Kubheka (72), who passed away in January in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Ambassador Kubheka served as South Africa’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Denmark and the Republic of Angola. He also worked as an Intergovernmental Relations and Cooperative Government specialist in the Office of the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in Parliament. He went into exile in the 1970s and was trained in Angola in 1977 as a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, known by his nom de guerre of Aaron Mnisi. 

F. Appointments

All appointments are subject to the verification of qualifications and the relevant clearance.

1. Board of Directors of Amatola Water

a. Mr Mncedisi Malotana;
b. Ms Buhle Tonise;
c. Mr Abraham Pieter le Roux;
d. Dr Mosidi Makgae;
e. Mr Zamikhaya Xalisa;
f. Nkosazana NomaXhosa Jongilang;
g. Dr Gaathier Mahed;
h. Ms Tabiso Wana;
i. Mr Mxolisi Joe Skosana; 
j. Mr Makgobi Ramushu; and
k. Ms Lebogang Letsoale.

2. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Road Accident Fund Board of Directors: 

1. Ms Thembi Msibi; and
2. Dr Nomonde Mabuya.
3. Ms Nomkhita Mona – Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Post Office.
4. Mr Moegamat Ishaam Abader – CEO of the South African Weather Service.
5. Mr Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews – Group CEO of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. 
6.  Ms Melanie Rambally – Chief Financial Officer of SENTECH.
7.  Advocate Boyce Mkhize – Chief Ombud: Community Schemes Ombud Service, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. 

Enquiries:
Phumla Williams
Cell: 083 501 0139