Programme Director, Principal of the National School of Government, Professor Busani Ngcaweni;
Deputy Minister, Pinky Kekana, thank you for the wam welcome and introduction;
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg, Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi;
Vice Dean: Faculty of Humanities, Professor Bhaso Ndzendze;
Auditor General of South Africa, Ms. Tsakane Maluleke;
Commissioner of the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment Commission, Mr. Tshediso Matona;
MISTRA representative, Mr Abba Omar;
Chairperson of the Nedbank Group, Mr Daniel Mminele;
Dr Ra’ed Mohammed BenShams, Former Director General in Bahrain National of Government;
Senior public servants from The Presidency and across Government;
Students and labour representatives here present;
Ladies and Ggentlemen,
Good morning, 

Thank you for the invitation to participate in this conference. I had hoped to join you at the beginning of the conference as you discussed some of the crucial issues that confront our government and affect our developmental path.

Nevertheless, we got a report from our team, and we are looking forward to putting the outcomes of yesterday's and today's conversations into action as we navigate the important work of strengthening our democracy and service delivery.

I regard this conference as important and strategic, especially considering that we come out of one of the most complex elections we have seen since 1994. The Conference gives us an opportunity to reflect on our country's socio-economic trends over the past 30 years, as well as to further reflect on the achievements and challenges we have surmounted as we look into our future in the next 30 years.

As has been deliberated upon in the past day, this reflection must enable us to ensure that over the next 3 decades we must see meaningful social, economic, and global transformation.

In our reflections, we need to show an understanding of the world we live in in order to develop appropriate responses that are scientific, and evidence based. This requires allocating resources towards research capabilities and economic modelling, focusing on answering the fundamental policy questions of why, what, and how.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Since the advent of our democracy, 30 years ago, South Africa has made significant strides in overcoming divisions of the past, demonstrating remarkable progress in social transformation. The impact of democracy on social change has indeed been profound and far-reaching.

The advocacy and respect for human rights is the most important way in which our democracy has changed our society. Today, all South Africans, irrespective of their race, gender, or class have the same rights and duties.

In addition, this democracy has helped to promote social justice and equality. Citizens have used democratic processes, such as free and fair elections, to hold their government accountable and lobby for measures that address social injustices and imbalances.

This has resulted in the establishment of social welfare programs, affirmative action policies, social policies, and other initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion.

The democratic political systems' efforts to create an environment that promotes economic growth and development have transformed the lives of many South Africans. We have designed and executed a variety of policies and initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment, including tax incentives, small business development grants, and the establishment of incubators, accelerators, and other support structures.

While we have made significant progress in changing the spatial outlook of our towns and cities, we are going to invest in building developmental, resilient and strong local government. This is because local government is at the coal face of service delivery.

Compatriots,

The world we live in today is characterised by global megatrends such as; poverty, inequality, climate change, geopolitical changes underscored by populism, wars, and a growing multipolar world.

According to the World Bank, South Africa is amongst the most unequal societies in the world. In 2015, more than a quarter of the population lived below the food poverty line.

Moreover, according to the findings of Stats SA’s annual General Household Survey (GHS), released in May this year, grants are the main source of income for almost one-quarter (23%) of households nationally.

The official unemployment rate stands at 41.9%, an increase of 0.8% in Q1 2024 compared to Q4 2023. Youth aged 15–24 years and 25–34 years continue to have the highest unemployment rates at 59.7% and 40.7%, respectively.

We highlight these facts because we do not want to ignore the reality of our economy being fraught with challenges. We also do this to emphasise that we recognise that government must strengthen its endeavours in implementing reforms and coming up with innovative approaches that will transform the economy and, subsequently, the lives of the people.

In our critical reflections, and efforts to come up with solutions to some of the problems that we face, we must have an appreciation of the role that Chapter 9 & 10 institutions of our constitution have and continue to play in stabilising our democracy as it relates to engendering a platform for sound public administration, as well as protection of all human rights as enshrined in our law. 

These institutions alongside sound policies have made it possible for us to usher in social transformation to the extent that it is seen in our education, health, social welfare and infrastructure development. While we still have a long way to go, specifically as it relates to dealing with unemployment, poverty and inequality, we should never undermine the strides that we have made thus far.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Three of the main contributions I wish to deposit into the discussions for consideration are on climate change, intra continental trade, and global peace efforts.

Firstly, we cannot ignore the reality that climate change negatively impacts our economy’s development and most importantly livelihoods. It is therefore imperative that we think about our economic growth and development in very specific ways. This means that we must consider its implications for trade, finance and the management of businesses.

This week, the President assented to the Climate Change Bill, which outlines the country's response to climate change, including measures for adaptation and mitigation. This Bill also provides for South Africa to lead intra-African trade that is anchored on greener economic pathways that are more sustainable.

Second, as South Africa, we must take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is one of the flagship projects of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

The AfCFTA is a comprehensive scope that includes critical areas of Africa's economy, such as digital trade and investment protection, among others. By eliminating barriers to trade in Africa, the objective of the AfCFTA is to boost intra-Africa trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa’s economy. The AfCFTA agreement will help us to move closer to building a better Africa, and ultimately a better world.

Thirdly, supporting peace efforts on the continent is one of the most important interventions that we can make towards our own social cohesion and nation building efforts, as well as those at a global stage.

We must as such treat the issue of silencing the guns in Africa as one of critical importance. Towards this end, we are working with the people of South Sudan to bring about peace and ensure that they can hold peaceful elections in December 2024.

Together with the Minister of International Relations, we have set up a task team shuttling between Juba and Pretoria to support these efforts. We recognise this as important and appreciate the President's recent visit to ensure that we realise our shared vision of a peaceful election that will bring about stability in that part of the continent.

Additionally, we will continue to work with regional bodies for peace and development on our continent, including the African Union. We will not seize to echo our voices against global conflict, including the Palestine-Israel conflict. We are committed to global peace and our own struggle against apartheid has shaped our posture on these issues and provided us with key experiences and lessons learnt.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to make a few reflections on the political reality of the Government of National Unity (GNU) that is currently faced with the task of taking South Africa forward in this epoch.

Some among you may recall that the process of adopting the 1993 interim Constitution and the CODESA process, included engaging sectors of society that contributed to the multi-party process, which led to the adoption of the 1996 Constitution.

We have always known that the nation-formation process is thoroughgoing.

As I said at the beginning, this conference is appropriate for asking a critical question as to whether we are on track toward attaining the goal of a socially inclusive and cohesive nation.

Responding to this question requires that we borrow a page from our history books, specifically the period in 2012 when we held a social cohesion summit in Kliptown that discussed whether we are indeed working together toward building an inclusive nation as envisaged in the Freedom Charter.

Our vision as found in the Freedom Charter is one aimed at building a society based on the best in human civilisation in terms of political and human freedoms, socio-economic rights, value systems, and identity. This human civilisation should manifest itself through the continuous enhancement of methods to harness our natural environment, transform it into a shared human benefit, and guarantee its renewal for future generations.

It should also find expression in human relations management based on political equality and social inclusivity. If there were to be any single measure of the civilising mission, it should be based on how the most vulnerable in society are treated.

The GNU is therefore guided by these aspirations that underscore the Freedom Charter’s call that ‘The people shall govern.

Indeed, this is a historic moment which leads us to draw from the wisdom of one of the founding leaders of our Movement; Pixley ka Isaka Seme, who said; 

“The demon of racialism, the aberrations of the Xosa-Fingo feud, the animosity that exists between the Zulus and the Tongaas, between the Basutos and every other Native must be buried and forgotten; it has shed among us sufficient blood! We are one people. These divisions, these jealousies, are the cause of all our woes and all our backwardness and ignorance today”.

More than 140 years since the historic speech by Pixley ka Isaka Seme and 30 years into Freedom and Democracy, and guided by the Constitution as adopted in 1996, we are called upon to implement our commitment to the Freedom Charter which calls on us to build a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it. The Freedom Charter equally calls on us to fight side by side for the realisation of its ideals.

In the same vein allow me to paraphrase Former President Oliver Reginald Tambo who envisaged a society wherein; “We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity”.

Therefore, the 2024 election outcomes present us an opportunity to return to the task of building a South Africa that will no longer be defined by race, class or gender, a South Africa where all have equal opportunities.

As a testament to the 7th Administration's promising start and the commitment of various political parties within the GNU, we have agreed to develop a common programme to create a better, more equal, and more just South Africa.

For us to reach our objective, the National Development Plan 2030 goals remain the central pillar to guide the development approach, which will inform the outcomes to be achieved in this Administration.

Therefore, in the next five years, our strategic priorities are as follows:

●    To create inclusive economic growth and job creation
●    Maintain and optimise the social wage
●    Build a capable ethical and developmental state

Our goal is to encourage fixed capital investment, industrialisation, job creation, and the transformation of our people's lives. We remain intentional in investing in people through education, skills development, and providing quality health care. We want to change our communities' spatial outlook by building inclusive cities and providing them with services.

We call upon all sectors of society to work with us and ensure that ours is a stable, efficient, and effective democracy that brings all people together.

As you might be aware, following our successful initiative to rally all parties behind a united agenda, we have now set our sights on deepening this initiative by engaging in a substantive national dialogue as proposed by the President.

The national dialogue aims to initiate fresh conversations that tackle relevant and unresolved issues that affect most South Africans, particularly the impoverished. While there is no drawn agenda yet, we are optimistic that a planning process involving political formations and social formations will define the form and content of the dialogue.

We believe that developing a solid strategy for economic transformation should be at the centre of our dialogue, without pre-empting the task of collective agenda setting. Such an approach will have a positive effect on poverty, inequality, and unemployment levels.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Throughout this process, academic and research institutes such as this, have an important role to play, it is in these institutions where we place our confidence of where solutions to some of the identified challenges will come from. It is through these knowledge institutions that we believe capacity exists to both theorise and provide practical solutions.

Therefore, I invite all of you seated here today, to take the lead in providing answers that will harness the potential for South Africa to become the world's finest civilisations.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that our nation possesses sound policies, yet we struggle with their execution due to inter, inter alia, a deficiency in accountability. I believe that accountability is essential for successful implementation. Our motto now is to strategically put our policies into action.

To deliver results, we must invest in preparation, devise a workable plan and be more meticulous in our implementation. We are exploring the concept and science of deliverology as a way to do our work.

The term deliverology was first used and developed by Sir Michael Barber from the UK government. It emphasises the significance of establishing unambiguous targets and performance metrics, followed by continuous monitoring to guarantee the achievement of deliverables.

The most effective deliverologists prioritise these questions: "How will our actions impact citizens?" And how will we know?

In this regard, through mechanisms such as Operation Vulindlela in the Presidency, we will continue to monitor and strengthen the transformation efforts and improve the lives of many South Africans. Primarily, we will assess the areas that require significant attention to tackle poverty, racial inequality, and economic development.

As we continue to reflect on 30 years of democracy, let us remember the people who gave their lives and fought for freedom, equality, and justice. Let us draw inspiration from our collective journey and utilise it to propel us towards a better future.

I thank you. Ha khensa! Inkomu!

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, appointed current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa with effect from 1 September 2024.

The appointment follows the President’s consultation, in accordance with Constitutional prescripts, with the Judicial Service Commission and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

In a letter addressed to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on 22 February 2024, President Ramaphosa informed the Judicial Service Commission of his intention to appoint Deputy Chief Justice Maya as the Chief Justice of the Republic upon the expiry of the term of office of Chief Justice Zondo on 31 August 2024.

The President invited the Judicial Service Commission to provide its views on the suitability of Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice.

Discharging its consultative mandate set out in Section 174(3) of the Constitution, the Commission interviewed Justice Maya on 21 May 2024 to ascertain her suitability to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Republic.

The Commission subsequently assured the President of Justice Maya’s suitability to lead the judiciary in the country based on the interview, Justice Maya’s qualifications and judicial record, her leadership qualities, her experience as a judge in various courts, her past leadership of the Supreme Court of Appeal and her role as Deputy Chief Justice in the period leading to her nomination by the President.

The Commissioners also advised that Justice Maya’s appointment would be a significant milestone for the country as Justice Maya would be the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice.

President Ramaphosa appreciates the confidence expressed by the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of political parties in the suitability of the incoming Chief Justice, who can draw inspiration and support from the confidence expressed in her.

 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, has expressed deep sorrow and condolences following the recent landslides in Gofa, South Western Ethiopia, which tragically took the lives of at least 250 of people at this stage. 

President Ramaphosa said the South African people's thoughts are with the people of Ethiopia, particularly the bereaved families, during this period of mourning. Our hearts goes out to the Government and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia at this difficult time. 

President Ramaphosa recalled the strong and historic relations between South Africa and Ethiopia, dating back to the struggle against apartheid.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Friday, 26 July 2024, honour the invitation to attend the BBQ Awards ceremony and Gala Dinner in Kempton Park, Gauteng Province. Now on its 20th year, the BBQ Awards ceremony recognises and promotes sustainable black business and transformation by honouring exemplary corporate governance, leadership and achievement in South Africa.

Over the past two decades, the BBQ Awards have continued to encourage the growth and success of black-owned and black-empowered companies, providing a platform to celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations across 10 categories. 

These categories include:

- Community Builder Award;
- University of Mpumalanga: Young Business Achiever Award;
- Digital Transformation Award;
- National Youth Development Agency (NYDA): New Entrepreneur Award;
- Industrial Development Corporation (IDC): Businesswoman of the Year Award;
- Disability Empowerment Award;
- Mercedes-Benz: New and Innovative Business Award; and,
- Best Established Black Business Award. 

Guests at this year's ceremony include the Deputy President; Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi; Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commissioner, Tshediso Matona; and Black Business Council (BBC) President, Elias Monage, who will be hosted by the Editor of BBQ Magazine, Professor JJ Tabane.

Among other things, Deputy President Mashatile leads initiatives to foster partnerships and cooperation amongst a wide spectrum of the South African population to build the economy, empower women and youth, as well as create the necessary atmosphere conducive for the business community to thrive.

In this regard, partners for the BBQ Awards 2024 include Mercedes Benz South Africa, Siyanda Resources, Industrial Development Corporation of SA, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), The Reclamation Group, HER Wine Collection, Sentech, Nedbank, the University of Mpumalanga, and Bonitas Medical Fund, among others.

Details of the awards ceremony are as follows:

Date: Friday, 26 July 2024
Time: 19h00 (media to arrive from 17h00 for set-up)
Venue: Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng Province

Media wishing to attend must please RSVP with Ms Linda Tom (Cape Media) on 079 791 8083 or Ms Tshiamo Selomo (The Presidency) on 066 118 1505.

 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

South African Patron for Global Alliance to end AIDS in 2030, Mrs. Humile Mashatile, has today, 24 July 2024, held a bilateral meeting with the UNAIDS Executive Director, Ms. Winnie Byanyima, on the sidelines of the 25th International AIDS Conference currently taking place in Munich, in the Federal Republic of Germany.  

The bilateral meeting took place in the context of urgent action required to accelerate the Global Alliance country Plan, to ensure that South Africa meets the global target of ending AIDS in children by 2030. 

This global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, is led by UNAIDS, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. UNAIDS remains an important institution which continues to provide strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services. 

Last year, on World AIDS Day, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, joined by Mrs. Humile Mashatile, as Patron of the Global Alliance, launched the Country Action Plan for Global Alliance to end AIDS in children by 2030.

In this regard, Mrs. Mashatile has utilised the opportunity to brief UNAIDS Executive Director on progress made in implementing the Country Plan, in line with the objectives of the Global Alliance pillars, to achieve the following:

• Early testing and optimised comprehensive, high quality treatment and care for infants, children, and adolescents living with and children exposed to HIV;
• Closing the treatment gap for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV and optimising continuity of treatment towards the goal of elimination of vertical transmission; 
• Preventing and detecting new HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding adolescents and women, as well as;
• Addressing rights, gender equality and the social and structural barriers that hinder access to services. 

The UNAIDS Executive Director has pledged her support to work with the Patron of her Global Alliance, Mrs. Mashatile, to ensure that the country meets the Global target of ending AIDS in children by 2030. She also thanked the South African Government for providing the best practice models in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and in particular, Mrs. Mashatile, for demonstrating commitment and enthusiasm to work with all key-role players such as government, civil society and development partners in South Africa.

Mrs. Mashatile was supported by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, SANAC Chief Executive Director, Dr. Thembisile Xulu, as well as senior Government officials.

 

Media enquiries: Sam Bopape +27 82 318 5251

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Speaker of the National Assembly,
Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Members,

Thank you to all the Honourable Members who participated in the Debate on The Presidency Budget Vote.

I have addressed this house three times in the past week, outlining the agenda of the Government of National Unity and the steps that we will take to place our country on a path of growth and renewal.

The programme of Government has also been presented and debated in detail in each of the departmental budget votes.

At the heart of all of the policies that we adopt and the actions that we take, running as a thread through all the debates, is the question of what kind of a country we want to build.

Many of us in this Parliament have dedicated our lives to the pursuit of a South Africa that is free, democratic, united and prosperous.

We believe in our country’s potential.

And we believe that the people of South Africa have what it takes to build a truly great nation, with a thriving economy that creates jobs and lifts millions of people out of poverty.

We seek to build a society in which every person enjoys the same opportunities regardless of their race, gender or background, in which every person is free to be exactly who they are, in which we embrace our diversity and the inherent worth of every human being.

Our struggle against apartheid was not only a struggle for liberation from racial oppression. It was also a struggle for a better life, for a life of dignity and for economic opportunity.

Yet for too many South Africans, despite the many ways in which their lives have improved over the past thirty years, the promise of a better life remains elusive.

This is true:

- for every person who is forced to live on the street for lack of shelter;

- for every parent who is forced to forego a meal so that their children can eat;

- for every young person who leaves school with a certificate but cannot find a job.

It is the plight of those who are poor, unemployed and living lives of great hardship that should occupy our attention. 

It is the great challenge of our democratic government and the intention of this Administration to fulfil that promise of a better life for all. 

We have the skills, the talent, the resources and the will to do this.

And we have an opportunity through this Government of National Unity to come together to make this vision a reality.

It is this belief in our enduring ability to improve our society, in what we can achieve as a nation by working together, that motivates me and that is the driving force of this Presidency.

The Constitution requires me, as President, to promote the unity of the nation and all that which will advance the Republic.

In carrying out this Constitutional mandate, I consider it my overriding duty, with all of us, to create a society that is more just, more equal, more compassionate and more humane. 

Our nation will never be truly united in the absence of equality and it can never truly advance in the absence of social justice.

As political leaders gathered here today, we owe it to the people of South Africa, just as we owe it to those who fought for our democracy, to pursue this task with dedication and with urgency.

As we roll up our sleeves and begin our work as the Seventh Administration and as the Seventh democratic Parliament, let us demonstrate this commitment in our deeds as well as in our words.

Let us engage constructively and with respect. Let us show modesty and humility. Let us draw closer to the people we represent, not further away.

Let us show in our actions that we are here to serve our people, not to enrich ourselves or to access positions of privilege.

Above all, let us show that Government will work for the people and that we can create a new era of growth and prosperity in our country.

That is the task which The Presidency will focus on over the next five years, working closely with all departments and all spheres of Government to implement the priorities that we have set out.

There are some, like the Honourable Hlophe, who question the role of The Presidency in undertaking this task or whether it really needs the budget that we have tabled in this vote.

Some have argued that The Presidency should reduce its responsibilities, while others, like the Honourable Malema, have argued that we should take over more functions, such as the police.

It is important to understand that the role of The Presidency is to provide leadership and coordination, to ensure that the commitments that we make as a Government are implemented swiftly and effectively, and to steer the ship of government, working through all its structures, in the right direction. 

Some of you have correctly said that The Presidency has “convening powers”. But it is much more than that: it is to ensure that that there is intergovernmental cooperation and execution. 

Some of you in this House have said we are building a ‘Super Presidency‘ that subsumes the role of government departments. On the contrary, The Presidency complements and strengthens the work of Government as a whole.

The role of The Presidency is to guide planning, coordination and oversight, and support for the agenda of Government through institutions such as the Cabinet Office, the Project Management Office, and Policy and Research Services.

A number of speakers have raised the issue of the manner in which Parliament exercises its oversight functions with respect to The Presidency, including the possibility of a dedicated oversight committee.

It is correct and proper that Parliament, through its relevant structures, give this matter consideration and determine the most appropriate way to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. 

The Presidency, like the rest of the Executive, is committed to honour its accountability to Parliament. 

Some of you in the debate reminded of this house that the Sixth Parliament through its Rules Committee has for some time been seized with the question of how best the Assembly could oversee Vote 1: The Presidency, as part of the National Budget, mindful of the unique and overarching role of The Presidency. 

This question arose as some political parties in the Assembly suggested that the Constitution of 1996 required the Assembly to establish or mandate a committee for this purpose. 

Other parties suggested that the Office of the President had grown in recent years and now incorporated a host of office-bearers, advisors and functionaries. 
 
This matter was raised by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State (the Commission), in its report submitted to Parliament on 23 October 2023. The Commission recommended, among others, that –  
 
“Parliament consider whether it would be desirable for it to establish a committee whose function is, or includes, oversight over acts or omissions by the President and Presidency, which are not overseen by existing committees.”  

On 25 April 2023, the Rules Committee agreed that it would be instructive for a delegation of Members to undertake a study tour to engage counterparts in comparative Parliaments on the matter. The study tour to the UK took place from 16 to 20 July 2023.

The delegation engaged political representatives and procedural experts from Westminster, as well as independent institutions in order to establish, among other things – 
   
(1) the general procedures and conventions relating to the oversight mandate of the House of Commons and the accounting responsibilities of the Prime Minister as the head of the Government;

(2) the procedures and structures employed to oversee the Prime Minister and the administration of his office; and,

(3) details of the structure/s employed within Westminster and other institutions to scrutinise the Prime Minister and his office. 

On return from this visit the delegation recommendations are that -  
 
(1) While the South African Parliament already has comprehensive procedures to facilitate oversight and accountability, there remain features of the rules and practices that could be enriched, the National Assembly should remain proactive and open to reforms to support its systems and practices; and
 
(2) In the case of oversight over The Presidency, the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (or its equivalent in the Seventh Parliament) be mandated to scrutinise the budget and spending of the vote on The Presidency. 

As this matter has been raised by the number of speakers here, I do believe that what the delegation has recommended is in line with the manner in which The Presidency is able to exercise its accountability to Parliament. 

Some speakers raised an issue around the size of the Executive. While we continue to seek ways to use the resources of the state optimally, we have also had to ensure that we achieve inclusivity and balance. We believe that this is important for ensuring governance outcomes that serve the interests of all South Africans.

At this moment in our history, when we face complex and urgent challenges, strong coordination from the centre of government is critical.

We have seen in practice the value of this approach through mechanisms led by The Presidency, such as the coordinating committees we have set up to deal with challenges such as energy and logistics and the entire reform process, through initiatives like Operation Vulindlela.

With just a small team of dedicated officials in The Presidency and National Treasury, working closely with a wide range of government departments and entities, the reforms implemented through Operation Vulindlela have had a measurable impact on growth and investment.

These structural reforms are in the most strategic and critical sectors of our economy, as I indicated yesterday. They are in energy, in logistics, in telecommunications, in visa reform and in water. 

It is worth returning to this issue once more because it is important to see the bigger picture. We need to look beyond immediate challenges towards sustainability.

By way of example, yesterday a number of speakers rightly pointed out that communities around the country still suffer with acute water challenges, poor quality of water and such.

Some called for the issue of water as a key developmental issue to be located in The Presidency. 

The reforms that are underway in the water sector – like reinstituting water quality monitoring systems, developing a raw water pricing strategy, and establishing Water Partnerships Office to develop water infrastructure – have direct and material benefits for service delivery.

Improved water infrastructure ensures more reliable and sustainable water supply. Water quality management systems mean cleaner water and a reduced health risk.

The ultimate beneficiary is the people of South Africa, and strengthening and enhancing the economy of our country.

The same can be said of the other reforms being implemented. 

These are not some abstract plans going on somewhere. They are laying a robust foundation for sustained economic and social progress. 

A number of Honourable Members also raised the important issue of the reform of our state-owned enterprises ownership model.

As I indicated in the Opening of Parliament Address, we are introducing legislation to establish a state-owned holding company to oversee and coordinate key strategic SOEs. 

The legislation will assign the functions of the holding company, which will cover issues of governance, financial management, remuneration standards and similar matters.

This is in line with global best practice and is the approach taken by many countries with SOEs that successfully fulfil a social and economic development mandate.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has been assigned the responsibility to finalise the processes towards the establishment of the Holding Company and associated matters. It will establish a dedicated SOE Reform Unit with the appropriate expertise to oversee this work.

The SOEs that were previously under the stewardship of the Department of Public Enterprises will report to their respective line departments in terms of policy and regulatory matters.

While some in this House might be dismissive of the work being coordinated in The Presidency, let us not lose sight of what these measures mean for the everyday lives of South African citizens. 

They mean more affordable and reliable electricity, cleaner water, efficient trains and lower data costs. 

While the capacity to drive these reforms required a budget in the tens of millions, it has unlocked more than R500 billion in new investment in our economy.

We must therefore think not only of what it will cost for The Presidency to play its role effectively, but what value the work of The Presidency will have for our economy and our society. 

The Presidency will continue to nurture strong partnerships with business, labour, civil society and other stakeholders, including through the National Dialogue that we will convene to forge a common vision for our country.

We will work closely with this Parliament to drive an ambitious agenda of legislative reform and to enable Parliament to play its own important role in holding the executive to account.

Just this week, I signed into law the Climate Change Act, the Public Procurement Act, the Pension Funds Amendment Act, and the National Small Enterprise Amendment Act.

These new laws will take our country forward, by strengthening our climate change response and building climate resilience, modernising our procurement system, giving workers access to their retirement savings, and streamlining support for small and medium enterprises.

We have noted calls for programmes to involve young unemployed people in various forms of work, training and development. Contrary to some suggestions in the debate, we do have such programmes.

These include the successful National Rural Youth Service Corps programme – known as NARYSEC – which provides opportunities to unemployed rural youth. We also spoke yesterday about other public and social employment programmes that have a large number of young participants.

The challenge we have now is to scale up these programmes within available resources to ensure that they have a greater reach and impact.

On the international front, we will continue to lead South Africa’s engagements with the rest of the world, including as the upcoming host of the G20 Presidency next year.

Most importantly, we will ensure that the machinery of government works efficiently, and that it is used to advance the people’s interests and improve their lives.

We will ensure that we reduce waste, rationalise and restructure our state-owned entities, and continue to direct the majority of our budget towards sustaining the social wage and investing in infrastructure.

Honourable members,

Thirty years after we brought an end to apartheid, we must recognise that many South Africans are disenchanted and frustrated.

Many people chose not to vote in the last election. Some are turning to extremes or even turning against democracy itself.

We must seize the opportunity that this Government of National Unity presents to restore these people’s trust in our democracy, and to realise the promise of dignity and equality that is contained in our Constitution. 

Now more than ever, we must demonstrate what the people of South Africa can achieve when we work together.

A society is made up of the choices that its people make every day.

Time and time again, in moments such as this, South Africans have chosen the path of progress.

We have chosen peace, not violence.

We have chosen unity, not division.

We have chosen hope, and never succumbed to fear.

We have risen above adversity, and we have beaten the odds.

Even as democracy comes under threat across the globe, with the rise of authoritarianism and ethnic nationalism in new forms, our democracy remains firm.

Once again, South Africa has taken the lead and shown the way.

Five years from now, let us be able to say that we have made a difference in the lives of our people. 

Let us ensure that we take our beautiful country closer to the society of which we have all dreamed. And let us make sure that we leave no-one behind.

I thank you.

Madame Speaker,
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa,
Deputy President of the Republic, The Honourable Paul Mashatile,
Members of the Executive,
Honourable Chief Whip,
Honourable Members of the House,
Distinguished guests.

Mr President,  

It is rather ironic to be labelled a sellout by the right-wing brigade camouflaged as modern day revolutionaries. It is the nature of these Disneyland combatants to sit here under the very same law they pretend to be against, yet gladly pocket the salaries that come with that very same law. 

Similar to their cult leader, who for many years pocketed the spoils of the state only to now pretend to have a damascus moment. 

Mr President, the behaviour of the regressive caucus is not surprising. 

It is, after all, the nature of those who earn revolutionary credentials in times of freedom and democracy that you and true revolutionaries fought for to demonise and rewrite history on our struggle. 

These individuals, using the very rights for freedom of speech that you fought for, would regard true revolutionaries as sellouts and other derogatory names. 

You asked a simple question yesterday, Mr. President: where were they? They could not answer, for once they came into existence, their struggle was waged in the corridors of VBS banks, in the demolition of 16 million houses in Sandton, and in the looting of Limpopo through Ratanang, among other actions.

Honourable President, I can only imagine that you must find it rather amusing that the same people who today call you a “project” were busy calling you during negotiations wanting to be squeezed into the Government of National Unity.

They were very ready to enter as 2nd Deputy Presidents and Ministers under this very same “project” they proclaim today. One can only imagine what that makes them?

However, as the Hon Gungubele rightly pointed out a few years ago, they have no sense of self contribution. True to the characterisation of President Mbeki as scuttlebutt behaviour.

Honourable Members,

The Presidency as the strategic centre of government enters this phase of an ANC led Government of National Unity carrying the hopes and aspirations of the millions of South Africans.

It is up to The Presidency, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, to lead a formidable government towards achieving inclusive growth.

As stated by the President earlier today, one of the most important innovations of Operation Vulindlela has been to put in place a system to drive delivery on strategic priorities, to ensure that policy decisions made by Cabinet are translated into tangible results.

To inform the Hon Trollip, more than 94% of all reforms are either completed or progressing well. Vulindlela reforms have unlocked more that R500bn worth of investment.

Key reforms that have been completed since 2020 include:

- A Comprehensive review of the work visa system was completed, with recommendations to overhaul the work visa system and attract skills and investment. 

- The eVisa system was expanded to 34 countries, with almost all countries now covered by either a visa waiver or eVisa. 

- The release of spectrum has contributed to the reduced cost of data with the lowest price of a 100 MB data bundle reduced by 25% and increasing internet speed, helping to bridge the digital divide. 

This means a young person in Pofadder in the Northern Cape now has access to high speed internet at a reduced cost to either market their business, seek a job and do research online. 

- More efficient ports and rails will lower the cost of goods and help save jobs in the coal mining belt of Mpumalanga, the Natal Corridor which the farmers of the Free State depend on, and the Ore export channel from Kathu to Saldanha Bay among other export sectors.

Asimanga, ons stand nie stil nie. We move ahead under President Ramaphosa’s steady hand because our focus remains transforming the quality of lives of ordinary South Africans.

We are the weaver birds the President spoke of. However, like the weaver birds we remain conscious of what Ayo Kwei Armah said in his seminal offering titled “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”, where he says - 

“Alone, I am nothing… I have nothing. We have power… but we will never know it, we will never see it work, unless we come together to make it work.”

We therefore present this Budget Vote united and conscious that the ANC led GNU has birthed the beautiful ones…

We can and must do more, together.

I thank you!

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Friday, 26 July 2024, deliver a keynote address on the second day of the conference co-hosted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the National School of Government (NSG), to reflect on the state of South Africa 30 years into its democracy.

Held under the theme ‘Three Decades of Democracy in South Africa: Towards Social, Economic and Global Transformation’, the seminal gathering is organised in association with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).

It will feature key panelists from the public service, academia and civil society, fostering a national discourse through research and dynamic social dialogue. The conference aims to assess the country's democratic achievements and ongoing challenges, encouraging an inclusive discussion on the future trajectory of South Africa.

While significant strides have been made in dismantling the legacy of apartheid and establishing a participatory democratic system in South Africa, the country continues to grapple with challenges such as declining voter participation, inequality, widespread poverty, high unemployment, water insecurity, an energy crisis, corruption, and the mounting threat of climate change.

Addressing these complex issues demands a concerted effort from all sectors of society – government, civil society, and business – and Deputy President Mashatile has been tasked, amongst others, with fostering social cohesion and supporting nation-building initiatives across the length and breadth of South Africa.

In this regard, the Deputy President has said the conference “provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our achievements as well as the challenges we have surmounted, and those that await us as we embark on our journey to the country of our dreams.”

Details of the conference are as follows:

Date: 25 and 26 July 2024 (Deputy President to address on Day 2)
Time: 10h00 (Media arrival is from 08h00)
Venue: Arts and Culture Centre, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park

Format: Physical attendance and live streaming will be available.

Media wishing to attend must please RSVP with Masego Panyane on 084 067 7528 or Dikeledi Mokgokolo on 082 888 2355 or Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840.  

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Madame Speaker,
His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa,
The Deputy President, the Honourable Shipokosa Paul Mashatile,
Deputy Ministers in The Presidency, Honourable Kenny Morolong and Nonceba Mhlauli,
Honourable Chief Whip,
Honourable Members,

The period between 30 May 2024 and the early hours of Sunday, 30th June 2024 felt like South Africa was teleported to what the infamous British statesman, Joseph Chamberlain (1836 - 1914) described as “living in most interesting times…in which our history was so full, in which day by day brought us new objects of interest, and also new objects for anxiety.”

A period that required unquestionable patriotism and great leadership to ensure our democracy prove its maturity and for our country continues to hold its own in global standing. A period when class clowns also attempted to be actors, but we collectively breathed a sigh of relief when the heroes did not go off the stage. As we have witnessed in this house, the clowns came on, got the biggest, juiciest laughs, and then left the podium.

The business of leading remain the responsibility of great men and women because the African National Congress under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other reasonable South African political leaders opted to make prioritised the interest of South Africa and for that SA is still the great country of Nelson Mandela.

Those who live in glass houses must remember not to throw stones.

Tshivenda tshi ri “shango alilali, u ladza mudi wau” – ri a livhuwa President vho ladza Afrika Tshipembe.

Therefore, Mr President, the responsibility as the Department at the apex of the Administration, is to support you and the Deputy President, as you lead the implementation of Government’s priorities as you articulated in the recent Opening of Parliament Address and earlier in this Budget Vote Debate.

Whether in the production of goods or the delivery of services, coordination helps organisations achieve high performance outcomes – we deem the South African government as an organisation with its own dynamics.

As such the coordination role of The Presidency will be more critical as Government completes the outstanding work of the 6th Administration whilst bracing for the implementation of the 7th Administration priorities. Let me assure you, Mr President and Honourable Members, that we are ready for continuity and change.

For this period, 2024/25 financial year, The Presidency is allocated a budget of R612 million, which is a reduction in the baseline allocation by R40.7 million compared to 2023/24 financial year. The allocation is broken down per programmes as follows:

• Administration - R532,2 Million
• Executive Support - R50.9 Million
• Policy and Research Services - R20,4 Million

 

MTEF 2024-2027

Bearing in mind the fiscal constraints, we are determined to discharge our responsibility and mandate with commitment, resolve and dedication to provide the necessary support to the President and his Executive as per their mission.

A defining feature in the coordination role of The Presidency is ensuring Government-wide high-quality, data and evidence- based decision making. To achieve this, there is a need to fast- track “work already underway to professionalise the public service… and prevent undue political interference in the Administration of the State” to quote‘s Opening of Parliament Address (2024).

We therefore appreciate the 6th Parliament for passing the Public Service Amendment Bill and the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill. These Bills mark a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance the professionalism, efficiency, and responsiveness of the public service and Administration in South Africa. These two Bills introduce provisions aimed at enhancing administrative powers, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and improving efficiency in the public service.

These reforms align with President Ramaphosa's vision for a professional, efficient, and ethical public service which is also one of the three priorities in the Medium Term Development Plan of the Government of National Unity.

The Public Service Amendment Bill proposes amendments to the Public Service Act to empower heads of departments with administrative powers, enhance the role of the Director-General in The Presidency, clarify the role of the Public Service Commission, and provide clarity on the appointment and career incidents of heads of departments.

Similarly, the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill seeks to harmonise critical aspects of public administration across all spheres of government. The Bill also emphasises the promotion of ethical standards for public servants by prohibiting those employees participating in procurement processes from being employed by those service providers who did business with their entities.

The harmonisation of critical aspects of the public administration across all spheres of government through the PAMA Bill will also lend support to the local government reforms as will be coordinated through Operation Vulindlela. In this regard, we will soon consolidate the progress report on the work of the eThekwini Presidential Working Group to reactivate its work and support the initiatives of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and the newly appointed Executive Mayor in the work to turnaround the metro administration.

We are confident that through the work of this Presidential Working Group, we should be able to develop a workable blueprint to assist other metros facing challenges as directed by His Excellency, the President and the envisage local government reforms.

The local government reforms must also institutionalise the implementation of the District Development Model with its measurable and impactful One-Government, One-Plan approach. StatsSA has committed in the 2024/ 25 work programme to re-engineer the household survey programme so they can provide lower-level data to inform the District Development Model. This is part of our responsibility to implement measures to ensure that communities have access to dependable and high-quality services.

Last year when I was tabling the StatsSA Budget, I urged all of us to endeavour to use statistics for insight – what we refer to as data driven decision-making to avoid what the renowned Scottish poet Andrew Lang once warned against – “most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost, more for support than illumination”.

I do not wish to take this House to the intentional misinterpretation of statistics on the success and weaknesses of the 6th Administration last Friday during the OPA Debate when others designated themselves teachers dishing out exam fails with much drama but I expected no less performance from one pursuing a Masters degree in Theatre and Performance - it was just a wrong stage.

However, allow me to explain the context of South Africa’s employment situation. The year 2020 with its Covid-19 pandemic brought with what no human being could imagine or predict, it changed the world as we knew it. Covid-19 shook down everything we had, including our economy and its jobs. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLSF), South Africa had 16,4 million people in employment in the first quarter of 2020. We lost 2,3 million jobs in the second quarter of that year, down to 14,1 million jobs. Overall, the South African economy rescinded to 2008 levels

It was the Government in partnership with business and labour that developed and implemented the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan that enabled us to the current employment numbers even surpassed the pre-Covid-19 levels. Currently, the number of employed persons in South Africa is sitting at 16,7 million, an increase of 2,6 million jobs from the low of 14,1 million during Covid-19 and 16.4 million pre-Covid-19.

In the first quarter of 2024, nine of eleven industries showed higher employment levels than those recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notably, the finance industry has seen the most significant recovery, with 680,000 more jobs compared to the second quarter of 2020. The community and social services sector — which includes Government — increased by 547,000, and the trade sector followed with 525,000 more
 
individuals employed than during the pandemic levels, while the transport sector saw an increase of 177,000 employed.

Private households saw an increase of 173,000 jobs, followed by 150,000 in manufacturing and 149,000 in construction compared to the second quarter of 2020. In addition, agriculture saw an increase of 142,000 jobs, while mining experienced an increase of 81,000 employed individuals than during pandemic levels.

Because of the ANC’s commitment to the eradication of poverty, unemployment and poverty, President Ramaphosa developed the Presidential Employment Stimulus, a special programme focused on coordinating government initiatives towards public and social employment creation.

The overall performance of this initiative from October 2020 until March 2024 continues to exceed set targets. The initiative created more than 2 million job opportunities with a total budget R42 billion. As the President highlighted, more than 84% of participants in the programme are youth and with 64% being women beneficiaries
 
Our largest programme under the Presidential Employment Initiative is the Basic Education Employment Initiative, commonly known as the Teacher Assistant programme, which to date has created over 1 million opportunities for young people to be placed as assistants in schools across the country, becoming the largest youth employment programme in South Africa's history and serving as teacher replacement pipeline.

The Social Employment Fund (SEF), another large-scale programme is aimed at supporting the social economy through the non-profit organisations and coordinated through the Industrial Development Corporation of the DTIC. The SEF supports the work of civil society organisations to create employment by building on the work they already do to enable community-driven solutions to local problems.

These include frail care, Early Childhood Development, combating gender-based violence, community safety, placemaking, river cleaning, support to creative industry amongst others. Since the start of the programme in April 2022, the SEF has created more than 167 000 job opportunities against a target of 100 000.

Other Presidential Employment Stimulus programmes include the subsistence farmers support through the subsistence producer relief programme, a revitalised national youth service, public employment programmes for Metros, and placement support for university graduates.

Another important initiative is the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, known as PYEI.

Appreciating the opportunity that technology provides to bridge access gaps and the rate at which the youth have adopted technology, the PYEI successfully established the SAYouth.mobi platform to create remote access to new opportunities for young people irrespective of their location. Through the SAYouth.mobi job seekers can access the network to find job opportunities, to earn income, and to stay engaged and connected.

The platform provides young people with ongoing recommendations to learning and for support so that they know what they must do to grow their profile and access more opportunities. Of the the SAYouth.mobi platform registered users, more than 1,3 million earning opportunities were secured by young people since its inception.

We will continue to work to ensure SAYouth.mobi becomes a platform of choice for young South Africans looking for opportunities.

The Presidency, together with development partners and other government departments, will continue to provide strategic oversight and coordination of the Presidential Employment Stimulus and the PYEI and other public employment initiatives.

Madam Speaker,

We will remain focused on the work of the National Logistics Crisis Committee to unlock the bottlenecks in our ports, freight and rail and ensure the full implementation of the National Logistics Roadmap with active and meaningful participation of all stakeholders, to achieve the same levels of success of NECOM.

We are cognisant of the magnitude of the work at hand and the scarcity of resources, it is for this reason that we are not only reliant on the convening power of The President but our firm belief in the importance of partnerships for the pursuit of the country’s shared goals and the business sense of using other people’s money, but we were socialised to know that Munwe muthihi a u tusi mathuthu.

Honourable Speaker, Ms. Thoko Didiza;
Deputy Speaker, Dr. Annelie Lotriet;
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa;
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers;
Honourable Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli;
Leaders of political all parties;
Honourable Members of the National Assembly;

INHLIKANI!

Let me begin by acknowledging the profound significance of the current moment in the history of our democracy. We find ourselves in an extraordinary social, economic, and political environment, a testament to the journey we have traversed over the years. A journey, marked by significant historical transitions, that connect us to our past, shape our present and future.

In 1994, we made a historic transition from a minority apartheid regime to a democratically elected government. That pivotal moment resulted in a Government of National Unity (GNU) led by President Nelson Mandela. 

Thirty (30) years after the first GNU, we have now formed a new GNU, driven by our people's resolute desire for us to work together and hold each other accountable. The reality of our recent election results is that no party represented in this house won an outright majority to work alone legislatively or at the executive level. This underscores the importance of our collective responsibility in this new GNU.

Our people want all parties to work together within the framework of our constitution and build a country founded on non-racialism, non-sexism, and equality. This commitment, without compromising national stability and peace, reassures us of a hopeful future.

In the words of one of the visionary leaders of our country, President Oliver Tambo, 'Our strength lies in unity, and our unity lies in our diversity.' These words continue to inspire and remind us of the power of our collective efforts.

Therefore, despite our diverse political party affiliations, it is crucial for us to combine our abilities to address and achieve the strategic goals set out by President Ramaphosa during his Opening of Parliament Address.

These goals, which include promoting inclusive growth and job creation, alleviating poverty, addressing the high cost of living, establishing a capable, ethical, and progressive state, are too significant to be achieved in isolation. We must  complement each other and recognise collaboration as the key to our success.

We should use our diverse political ideas to improve our country's course! 

Our actions must be motivated by the need to better the lives of our people and not by selfish political desires. Whatever we do, as members of this 7th Parliament must benefit the people. We must live up  to our commitment to serve. Batho Pele! 

The Presidency is committed to supporting and fulfilling its obligations as outlined in the statement of intent and the medium-term development programme.

As the centre of Government we will ensure broad representations and a solid mandate to govern the country, fostering increased transparency, accountability and trust in a people driven governance.

We will continue to play an essential role in bringing about significant reforms over the next five years and beyond. We will always act as the compass for our nation, leading the agenda to create an even more equitable, democratic, and prosperous South Africa.

President Ramaphosa has delegated several responsibilities to me to support him as the head of Government and the Executive.

These responsibilities include accelerating land reform, improving service delivery, assisting in the District Development Model rollout, championing social policy through the South African National AIDS Council and Human Resources Development Council, social cohesion and initiatives focusing on Traditional and Khoi-San leaders and military veterans, as well as the Water Task Team.

The Presidency is prioritising the need to improve the speed of execution and introducing the discipline of getting things done. 

For example, Operation Vulindlela is undergirded by the concept of deliverology, the science of delivering results. It is a target-driven process to ensure the successful implementation of reforms and the achievement of policy goals as outlined in the MTDP and the reforms introduced in the 6th administration. 

Through Operation Vulindlela, we have strengthened transformation efforts to improve the lives of many South Africans and, most importantly, assess the areas where much still needs to be done to address poverty, racial inequality, and economic development.
Equally, guided by the need to get things done, we are strengthening the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM) through better coordination across the various levels of government. This will improve municipal efficiencies and operations and address community concerns. Through the DDM, we engage industry leaders, among others, to promote entrepreneurship and employment creation in townships and rural areas.

We are determined to strengthen partnerships with local communities, including traditional leaders, Government and community organisations. This cooperative interaction has already helped identify best practices and areas for improvement in executing the One Plan, which aims to integrate and connect public sector investments to maximise their impact on the long-term development of Districts or Metros.

Working with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs(COGTA) we will provide stability to municipalities, and additional work is being done to expedite the much-needed turnaround in service delivery in this sector. 

We will assess the progress and commitments made during Presidential Izimbizo, and further engage the private sector to improve the implementation of the agreed-upon tasks in the various social compacts. More importantly, we want to continue working with the private sector to create jobs, especially for the marginalised youth.

Honourable Speaker, through the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), we are also building collaborations with businesses, labour, and government to source essential skills for the economy and the state.

The HRDC for the next five years, aim to achieve the following outcomes:

● Enhancing fundamental education programmes in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, languages, and life skills.
● Increasing access to quality post-school education and training.
● Enhancing research and technology innovation outcomes.
● Producing skilled workers for the economy.

We will also include the Human Resource Development Council's activities in the Medium-Term Development Plan. In addition, we will support the Department of Basic Education's reading campaign by championing ongoing efforts to promote a reading culture in schools and communities, ensuring that our children can read for meaning.

Furthermore, we plan to strengthen our partnership with the National School of Government in its efforts to professionalise the public sector. 

This will enhance collaborations between the Government and social partners in addressing the skills needed for the 21st century.
Honourable Chairperson, this debate coincides with the 25th International AIDS Conference taking place in Munich, Germany, under the theme ‘Put People First’. As has been the case over the years, South Africa is represented at this conference by a delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, alongside the SANAC CEO, Dr Thembisile Xulu.

South Africa plays a crucial role in the global health space, specifically as it relates to making substantial progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. As of February 2024, over 5.9 million people were under treatment, and over 4.3 million had their viral load reduced.

Indeed, our work with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) is yielding results. Since its formation in 2002, SANAC's work has been governed by a five-year National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Sexually Transmitted Infections. The NSP is consistent with the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030.

We remain determined to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our country!

We will increase the intensity of demand creation efforts for the Cheka Impilo National Wellness Campaign and other National Strategic Plan campaigns. We must also increase efforts to find missing people with TB as part of implementing the National TB Recovery Plan.

With the world trailing behind in treating HIV in children, UNAIDS and its partners have now formed a Global Alliance to end AIDS in Children by 2030. During World Aids Day in 2023, we also launched the South African Chapter of the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030.

Honourable Members, Looking at how far we have come in fighting HIV/AIDS, I am confident we can mitigate the impact of these dual epidemics. Our next step is to ensure national and provincial governments work together to implement the 2023–2028 plan.
Honourable Speaker,

As The Presidency, one of the critical priorities we are concerned with is promoting social cohesion and nation-building. These efforts align with Chapter 15 of the country’s National Development Plan, which focuses on transforming society and uniting the country.

In this regard, we conduct series of engagements with various partners, including Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Traditional Health Practitioners, Military Veterans, Faith-Based Organisations, labour, and the private sector.

We have also been engaging with the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders to tackle challenges such as the safety of Traditional Leaders in our country. I must say that the killings of traditional leaders remain the biggest thorn. We are working with the Ministry of Police to find a lasting solution of protecting Traditional Leaders.

Honourable Members, land reform continues to be a top priority on our agenda. It remains a key programmatic response to achieving restorative justice and transforming colonial and apartheid spatial planning. We will continue to fast-track the land reform agenda regarding access and beneficial land use.

I am pleased to indicate that, since the inception of the Land Reform programme in 1994, 5.3 million hectares of land have been acquired through land redistribution, benefitting over 315 000 persons, including labour tenants, farm dwellers, and Extension of Security of Tenure (ESTA) occupiers. 

We have also redistributed 305 990 hectares, of which 127 525 hectares were allocated to women, 111 071 hectares to youth, and 2 781 hectares to people with disabilities between 2019 and 2024.

Honourable Members, many will agree that the government has made great strides to fast-track land reform, anchored on the rollout of an extensive agricultural support programme. As a country, we continue to invest in the productive and efficient use of land assets, which will boost agricultural output and encourage economic growth in targeted areas.
While we celebrate 30 years of democracy, Honourable Members, we must never forget those who fought for it, such as military veterans. In October 2020, the President established the Presidential Task Team (PTT) for Military Veterans to address their plight.

We are actively working with the military veteran community to achieve the objectives of the Military Veterans Act of 2011, which aims to improve the quality of life for them and their dependents, enabling socio-economic progress. Since its establishment, the team has made significant progress in enhancing the lives of veterans and their families.

In 2022, the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans approved the payment of a pension benefit for qualifying Military Veterans. As of March 2024, the Department of Military Veterans contracted the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) to process applications for the new pension benefits. The target for the 2024/2025 financial year is to process 4 000 applications.
In my capacity as the Leader of Government Business in, I will continue to monitor executive accountability to Parliament. In this regard, we will ensure that members of the Executive fulfil their parliamentary obligations, by appearing before portfolio committees and answer questions timeously.

The Deputy President's office will continue to participate in critical Parliamentary structures like the Chief Whip’s Forum and the National Assembly Programming Committee (NAPC) to ensure that the programme of the executive does not interfere with the programme of Parliament. 

Honourable Members, in silencing the guns, we are supporting peace efforts in the African continent. In this regard, we are already working with the people of South Sudan to ensure they can hold peaceful elections in December 2024. Together with the Minister of International Relations, we have appointed a task team that is busy at work.

We also appreciate the recent visit by President Ramaphosa to the Region to ensure that we realise the vision of a peaceful election and bring about stability in that part of the continent, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We will work with the African Union and the rest of the Regional bodies for peace and development in our continent.
In conclusion, as I stated at the beginning, we must all work together, complementing each other and using our expertise and experiences to make our country better and more admirable to the world.

Our nation's success is contingent upon our unity. As President Nelson Mandela once said, “It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build”.

Therefore, it is imperative for those of us who love this country and are committed to its purpose to pursue peace and strive for the good of our nation to build a better South Africa for future generations to come. 

In honouring the hard work and determination of all who have come before us and set the stage for progressive policies, we should be deliberate in designating the 7th administration as a period for the aggressive implementation of our policies. 

As President Ramaphosa previously stated, we, seated here today, have the opportunity to transform South Africa into what it should be.

Let us get down to work!

Ha Khensa! Inkomu!