Programme Director,
Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa, Adv Kholeka Gcaleka,
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Andries Nel,
Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Cllr Geordin Hill-Lewis,
Members of Parliament,
Former Public Protectors,
Members of the Judiciary and Magistracy,
Ombudspersons, mediators and anti-corruption institutions from across the world,
Representatives of the legal fraternity and academia,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good Evening.

It is an honour and a privilege to be here to celebrate thirty remarkable years of the Office of the Public Protector, a symbol of the endurance of our constitutional order.

The Office of the Public Protector was enshrined in the Constitution to fulfil a number of vital purposes which i would like to allude to in a while.

The Office of the Public Protector has played a vital part in the revolutionary act of fundamentally changing the relationship between the citizens and the state.

As a country, we aspire to a society where government and national institutions treat citizens justly and with compassion, always and in all their affairs.

In reflecting on our Constitution, the late Chief Justice Ismail Mahomed wrote:

“All Constitutions seek to articulate, with differing degrees of intensity and detail, the shared aspirations of a nation; the values which bind its people and which discipline its government and its national institutions;… and the moral and ethical direction which the nation has identified for its future.”

Yet, in pursuit of that future, in pursuit of those shared aspirations, we know that failings can occur. Power can be misused and abused.

Public institutions and public officials can neglect the needs of those they are meant to serve.

When they do, they have to be held accountable. The deficiency needs to be remedied.

That is why we need the guardians. We need those institutions that will safeguard the vision of a South Africa that is equal, united, democratic, prosperous and free.

We need those institutions that ensure that the exercise of state power is restrained by law and rooted in accountability.

When the Chapter 9 institutions came into being, the drafters of our Constitution were clear in their intent and formulation.

They were clear that those institutions would be given substantial powers and a great responsibility to support and strengthen constitutional democracy.

They would be given a mandate to operate without fear, favour or prejudice.

The Office of the Public Protector was envisioned as, and remains, the moral mirror of the state. The public protector is that guardian of the public interest, a shield for the citizen against state excess, and a key mechanism for ensuring that the government serves the people, not the other way around. Its effectiveness is often a key indicator of the health of a nation's democracy.

The Public Protector is responsible for setting a standard for governance and service delivery that is the right of every South African man, woman and child.

Over the past 30 years, the Office of the Public Protector has been the pride of our constitutional order.

This is so because the public protector has fulfilled many roles but I want to single out five of its important roles:

Firstly, the real cornerstone of the public protector role is to uphold accountability and the rule of law. The executive as in the president, ministers, departments and officials wield significant power. The public protector provides a crucial check on this power ensuring it is exercised legally, fairly, and without corruption. The other role of the PP is to investigate actions or decisions by government bodies that are unlawful, unreasonable, unfair, or otherwise improper. This could include delays, bias, negligence, or not following proper procedures.

Secondly, the public protector strengthens democracy and good governance. A healthy democracy requires more than just elections; it requires ongoing oversight.

The PP promotes ethical conduct by exposing corruption, nepotism, and unethical behaviour through this the Public Protector helps to foster a culture of integrity within the public service. Consequently the PP through investigations and recommendations to changes, making them more efficient thus making government more transparent, and responsive to the public's needs.

Thirdly the PP protects the human rights of the citizens of our country. Many complaints brought to the Public Protector involve the violation of socio-economic rights.

When a citizen is denied a social grant, their housing application is unfairly rejected, or they receive poor service from a state-owned enterprise, they may not have the resources to sue the government. The Public Protector provides a free and accessible avenue for seeking redress. This the office ensures that all citizens are treated fairly and equitably by the state machinery.

Fourthly, The role of the PP gives a voice to the voiceless. As a free service, the PP is accessible to the poorest and most vulnerable members of society who would otherwise have no recourse against a powerful state institution.

When citizens see that there is an independent body that can hold the government to account, it helps to restore and maintain public trust in democratic institutions, which is essential for social stability.

Fifthly, the PP acts as an Agent of Social Justice.

The Public Protector often tackles issues that have a broad impact on society. Investigates systemic Issues. While they handle individual complaints, their work often uncovers widespread problems affecting many people. Their reports can lead to policy changes that benefit the entire population.

The PP’s office Holds the Powerful to Account. The office has the authority to investigate the highest levels of government, including presidents, ministers, and senior officials, demonstrating that no one is immune from scrutiny.

These roles remind us that a Constitution only has worth if the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable are defended as much as those of the strong.

The PP’s work often that take place far from the glare of the cameras, into the systems that are failing victims of gender-based violence and into the bureaucratic failures that are holding back our people’s chances of leading lives of dignity.

The Office of the Public Protector, commands great influence – the public’s trust.

The Public Protector stands with the people, and for this, the people trust this office.

The PP is seen as impartial and independent.

In State vs Glenister, the Constitutional Court held that “public confidence in mechanisms that are designed to secure independence is indispensable.”

If government creates an institution that does not appear, from a reasonable person’s point of view, to be independent, it has failed to meet a critical benchmark.

That is why we all carry a responsibility to both safeguard the independence of the Office of the Public Protector and affirm the binding nature of its remedial action.

We know that as much as the influence of the Office of the Public Protector lies in the faith it inspires, budgets do matter.

The Office of the Public Protector, like most public bodies, faces challenges of capacity and resources.

The institution needs both capacity and resources to keep people’s faith in it alive.

We have been able to direct additional funds to the baseline of the budget of the Public Protector and use funds from the Criminal Asset Recovery Account. This is part of our commitment to ensure the institution is independent and that it has the capacity and capability to prevent corruption.

Over 30 years, the Office of the Public Protector has forged a bond with the citizens of this country.

At the same time, it has forged relationships with institutions across the arms of state and throughout society.

It has sought to promote cooperation and collaboration, understanding that an efficient, effective and ethical state is an aspiration that we all share and a responsibility that we all have to carry.

It is essential for all organs of state to see the Public Protector as a partner in serving the people of this country.

It is true that all organs of state and all public officials must abide by and enforce the Public Protector’s remedial action. But they must do more. They must support the Office of the Public Protector in its work and must create awareness about its role.

The Public Protector has also built strong relations – and shares best practice – with its counterparts in other parts of the African continent and across the world.

It is a matter of great pride that the OR Tambo Minimum Standards for Effective Ombudsman Institutions were adopted here in South Africa, and that these standards prioritise the independence and autonomy of such institutions.

The Office of the Public Protector has been working tirelessly for the past 30 years towards a future where no citizen would need to ever knock on its door needing help.

This office does not seek power or influence. It seeks change.

It seeks a better government, better laws, better regulations and a better society.

As we mark this milestone, we extend our thanks to all the Public Protectors and Deputy Public Protectors who have served our democratic nation.

We thank the staff of the Office of the Public Protector for their resilience and integrity even during difficult times.

As the Office of the Public Protector enters the next era in its remarkable existence, on behalf of all South Africans, we wish it well, we wish it strength and we assure all those who work within it of our abiding support and appreciation.

I thank you.

Programme Director, Ms Yolisa Blom;
Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Cllr Gregory Nthatisi;
Principal of Motheo TVET College, Professor M. D. Phutsisi;
Representatives from SETAs and the Free State Development Corporation;
Leaders of student organisations, the SRC, and alumni;
Distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen;
Good morning;

It is a pleasure and an honour to join you today at this important G20 Outreach Programme, held at one of South Africa’s most dynamic institutions of learning, Motheo TVET College. I wish to begin by expressing my gratitude to the college leadership, staff, and students for hosting us with such warmth and enthusiasm.

We are gathered here at a time of great significance in our country’s history. South Africa is leading the G20, the world’s premier platform for international economic cooperation, for the very first time. This is a proud moment not only for South Africa but also for the entire African continent. Our Presidency of the G20, under the theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” marks an opportunity for us to demonstrate leadership, vision, and unity on the global stage.

The G20 brings together the world’s largest developed and emerging economies. Together, these nations represent about 85 percent of global economic output, 75 percent of international trade, and nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. This means that decisions taken within the G20 have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of billions of people, influencing global financial systems, food security, climate policy, job creation, and technological development.

The Significance of South Africa’s G20 Presidency

For South Africa, holding the G20 Presidency is both an immense honour and a serious responsibility. It allows us to bring the priorities of Africa and the Global South into the heart of global decision-making. Through this Presidency, we are not only representing ourselves but also carrying the aspirations of a continent that has for too long been on the margins of global economic policy.

Our theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability is a reflection of South Africa’s vision for a fairer, more inclusive, and more resilient world. Solidarity means standing together to address global challenges that no nation can solve alone, whether it be climate change, pandemics, or debt crises. Equality speaks to creating fair opportunities for all countries and all people to participate fully in the global economy. Sustainability calls on us to pursue economic growth that protects the environment, uplifts communities, and ensures that future generations can thrive.

Through our Presidency, South Africa seeks to drive practical outcomes on issues that matter deeply to our people. We are prioritising inclusive and sustainable economic growth, job creation, industrialisation, digital transformation, and the empowerment of women and youth. We are championing fair access to finance, energy security, and climate resilience. We are also working to ensure that the benefits of global growth are shared more equitably across all regions of the world, including Africa.

Why We Are Here

We gather today as part of a series of dialogues taking place across the country under the banner of the G20 Outreach Programme, a nationwide initiative that brings South Africa’s G20 Presidency closer to its people. This is our third student dialogue, following successful engagements with young people at the Tshwane University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University. Each of these conversations helps us deepen the link between global discussions and local realities.

Through these student dialogues, we want to ensure that South Africa’s G20 Presidency is not a distant, diplomatic event, but a living platform that speaks to the daily aspirations of our citizens particularly our youth, students, and emerging entrepreneurs.

Tangible Results for the Free State and Rural Communities

Over the past few months, the Free State province and the Mangaung Metro have played an active role in advancing South Africa’s G20 Presidency by hosting several engagements that connected global priorities to local action.

In February 2025, the University of the Free State (UFS), in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, hosted the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group and Bioeconomy Meetings in Bloemfontein. These sessions brought together scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen South Africa’s role in driving inclusive innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable bio-industrial growth. 

In August 2025, the province hosted the G20 Cultural Diplomacy Roadshow in Bloemfontein as part of the MACUFE Festival. The event showcased South Africa’s creative economy and promoted cultural exchange under the G20 theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability. Local SMMEs, artists, and entrepreneurs participated in exhibitions and performances.

In September 2025, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) led a G20 Community Mobile Service Outreach in QwaQwa, Free State. This two-day initiative brought essential communication and digital services closer to rural residents, advancing the Presidency’s goal of bridging the digital divide and expanding access to information.

Together, these events demonstrate that the Free State is not a bystander in South Africa’s G20 Presidency. It has been an active platform for dialogue, innovation, and community participation showing how global cooperation can translate into practical outcomes for local development.

Opportunities for Students and TVET Graduates

Motheo TVET College is at the heart of the skills revolution that South Africa needs. The G20’s focus on youth empowerment, skills development, and digital innovation speaks directly to your reality as students preparing to enter the workforce.

Through the G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation for Sustainable Development, South Africa is working with global partners to expand digital infrastructure, improve data access, and promote ethical use of AI. The aim is to create opportunities for young people to participate in the digital economy not as consumers, but as creators, technicians, developers, and entrepreneurs.

In the TVET sector, we are aligning our skills programmes with these priorities. For example:

•    The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, in collaboration with industry partners, is introducing Digital Skills Academies in selected TVET colleges to train students in coding, drone technology, and renewable energy maintenance.

•    The Department of Higher Education and Training is expanding work-based learning partnerships with local industries to give students practical experience while studying.

•    Through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, opportunities are being created for TVET graduates to enter internships linked to public infrastructure, energy, and technology projects that are consistent with the G20’s sustainability goals.

These initiatives are not abstract ideas; they are pathways to meaningful work and entrepreneurship for students in institutions like Motheo.

How the G20 Benefits SMMEs and Entrepreneurs

Another frequent question we receive is how the G20 benefits small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially in towns and townships. This is an important conversation, because small enterprises are the backbone of job creation and innovation in South Africa.

The G20’s agenda on inclusive growth and sustainable development recognises that economic transformation cannot happen without small and medium enterprises.

Through South Africa’s leadership, we have pushed for measures that enable SMMEs to participate in green supply chains, access affordable financing, and benefit from technology transfer.

Here in the Free State, the G20 Outreach Programme is already connecting local SMMEs with national and international development finance institutions. These include the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and private sector partners who are providing technical support to small manufacturers, agri-processors, and digital entrepreneurs.

Africa’s Voice on the Global Stage

For far too long, Africa has been a subject of global discussions rather than a participant in shaping them. South Africa’s G20 Presidency changes that narrative. It allows us to bring African solutions to global challenges and to highlight the innovation, resilience, and creativity that define our continent.

Through our leadership, we are also working to strengthen the partnership between the G20 and the African Union, which is now a permanent member of the G20. This is a historic step towards global governance that reflects true inclusivity. It means that the concerns of African farmers, entrepreneurs, workers, and young people can now inform the policies that drive the world economy.

Creating Opportunities for South Africa

Hosting the G20 is not only a matter of prestige. It is an opportunity to strengthen our economy and build national pride. The Presidency brings increased international attention to South Africa, opening doors for investment, tourism, and trade. It stimulates sectors such as transport, hospitality, and technology. Most importantly, it positions

South Africa as a confident, forward-looking country capable of leading global dialogue on complex challenges.

The Presidency also enables us to showcase the best of who we are: a nation that values democracy, equality, and human solidarity. It gives us a platform to share our story of resilience, transformation, and hope.

Conclusion

As I conclude, I want to return to the importance of gatherings like this one. The G20 Outreach Programme is about connecting the global to the local and ensuring that every South African, regardless of background, can see their place in the country’s global journey. It is about showing that diplomacy is not distant from development, and that international cooperation can directly improve lives here at home.

To the students of Motheo TVET College, I urge you to see yourselves as active participants in South Africa’s G20 story. The future belongs to you. The world is changing rapidly, but it is also opening up new possibilities for those who are prepared, skilled, and determined. Continue to learn, innovate, and lead with purpose.

Let us continue to build a South Africa that embodies the values of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. Let us work together to ensure that our G20 Presidency leaves a legacy of inclusion, innovation, and global cooperation. Let us use this moment to lift our people, strengthen our continent, and shape a world that truly leaves no one behind.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday, 14 October 2025, deliver the keynote address during a dinner of the Public Protector South Africa 30-year Anniversary International Conference held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Western Cape Province.

The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) is celebrating 30 years of strengthening constitutional democracy with a high-level international conference taking place from the 13th to the 15th of October 2025 under the theme: “30 Years of strengthening constitutional democracy-a transformative journey.”

This historic event is going to bring together experts and leaders from across South Africa, Africa and the globe, including ombuds institutions, Public Protectors, Ant-Corruption Institutions, civil society, academia, and faith-based leaders, to reflect on the three decades of the PPSA supporting and strengthening constitutional democracy, and to assist in charting the way forward for implementing ethical governance and strengthening accountability in public institutions.

The program is packed with reflections of the transformative journey and discussions on combating maladministration, corruption, enhancing ethical governance, and shaping a resilient future for democracy and service delivery in public administration.

The PPSA has released several impactful reports that have impacted public administration in South Africa. The conference will also showcase the PPSA’s milestones, including landmark investigations, which have influenced governance reforms and accountability measures across the state and feature keynote addresses by global ombudsman leaders and discussions on administrative justice, public accountability, and international collaboration in oversight institutions.

The dinner will take place as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Time: 18h00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre ( CTICC2)

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Nonceba Mhlauli, together with the Northern Cape MEC for (MEC) for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Ms Limakatso Koloi, and the Executive Mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, Cllr Wende Marekwa, will convene the Second District Development Model (DDM) Meeting on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 at the Frances Baard District Municipality Lecture Rooms.
 
The meeting forms part of Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen coordination and alignment between the three spheres of Government to ensure integrated planning, service delivery, and accountability in line with the DDM’s “One District, One Plan” approach.

This engagement will review progress on the implementation of the District One Plan, assess catalytic projects under execution, and identify emerging challenges that require multi-sectoral intervention.

The session will also set out the roadmap towards Imbizos in the district and ensure that Government programmes respond effectively to the developmental priorities of local communities.

Details of the Meeting:
 
Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Time: 09h00 – 13h00
Venue: Frances Baard District Municipality Lecture Rooms, Northern Cape

 

Media enquiries: Ms Mandisa Mbele, Office of the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on 082 580 2213 or mandisam@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, brief the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, Cape Town, on various national developments including efforts to better monitor service delivery and the quality of services offered by all Government spheres.

In his response to NCOP Questions for Oral Reply, President Ramaphosa will also address the issue of criminality and corruption in South Africa.

The President will speak on Government’s revival of local industries and the strengthening the manufacturing sector through localisation.

This includes supporting the automotive and agricultural industries to strengthen their capacity to create more employment opportunities for local communities.

President Ramaphosa will outline Government’s plans to revive the rail sector that will contribute to job creation and economic growth.

President Ramaphosa will also provide an update on South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against the state of Israel.

Details of the engagement are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Time: 14h00
Venue: National Council of Provinces, Cape Town

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

 

President Ramaphosa to respond to questions for oral reply in the National Council of Provinces

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 respond to questions for oral replay in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, Cape Town, on various national developments.

Questions for Oral Reply is one of the mechanisms Parliament uses to hold the Executive to account.

The session will cover amongst other issues mechanisms to monitor the state of service delivery and quality of services that are offered by all government levels, progress in reviving local industries and strengthening the manufacturing sector and an update on South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ)case against the state of Israel.
 

President Ramaphosa to address the Public Protector SA - 30th Anniversary International Conference

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 deliver the keynote address during a dinner of the Public Protector South Africa 30-year Anniversary International Conference to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Western Cape Province.

The Conference will take place from 13-15 October 2025 under the theme: “30 Years of strengthening constitutional democracy-a transformative journey.

One of the primary aims of the International Conference will be to affirm the strength, resolve and resilience of South Africa’s Constitutional democracy.

Over the past thirty years, the PPSA institution has grown in leaps and bounds, and encountered a litany of challenges. It has, however, through sheer institutional resilience and resolve, recalibrated itself and has managed to maintain its key strategic role in South Africa’s democratic ecosystem and continues to play an important role in enforcing the democratic values of good governance, the rule of law and quality of life.

This Conference will bring together governance and accountability institutions from the BRICS group of nations, The Commonwealth, International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Africa Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), the European Union and the G20.
 

7th Social Justice Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 17 October 2025 deliver the keynote address at the 7th Social Justice Summit, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The host is Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with the United Nations, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), among other partners.

The Summit will bring together policymakers, legislators, civil society, traditional leaders, academics and the Judiciary, to engage in high-level dialogue.

It is hosted under the theme: “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace: Pathways to Equality, Solidarity, Sustainability and Climate Resilience.”

The Summit aligns with the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) priorities, including mobilising finance for development, promoting social protection levels and addressing global public goods (GPGs) to enhance resilience.

The Summit will also continue to propel forward the conversation on accountability for constitutional governance, which includes the advancement of equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. That is essentially advancing social justice through transformative governance and civil society action, incorporating the role of business and development partners.

 

Three-nation visit to Southeast Asia: 22 - 28 October 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia from 22 to 28 October 2025, reflecting South Africa’s commitment to deepening strategic ties with this dynamic region. The visit will include a State Visit to Indonesia (22–23 October), a State Visit to Vietnam (23–24 October), and a Working Visit to Malaysia (25–28 October), where President Ramaphosa will also participate as Guest of the Chair at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. 

These engagements underscore the growing importance of Southeast Asia in South Africa’s efforts to diversify and expand its export markets, and to strengthen inter-regional cooperation. The President’s participation in the ASEAN Summits follows South Africa’s recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 2023, marking a significant milestone in advancing South-South cooperation and fostering inclusive, sustainable development through enhanced political, economic, and multilateral collaboration.

This visit to South East Asia, including several that precedes it and a few still to follow this year, are part of an ongoing intensification of opening new trade opportunities and expanding existing trade markets  for South African goods and produce. Over and above a laser focus on trade, President Ramaphosa has been seeking more opportunities for skills development exchanges that will benefit the youth of South Africa. In all the visits, in engagements with Heads of State as well as with captains of industry, the President has sustained a consistent theme of seeking out more and more skills development opportunities for young people.
 

Maumela house video

The Presidency would like to address falsehoods that have been spread through a video showing the President with Dj Tbo Touch outside Morgan Maumela’s house.  

The video shows 4 gentlemen, namely; Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, who at the time the video was recorded on the 29th of September 2023, was the Special Advisor to the President, you see President Ramaphosa in the middle with famous radio Dj, Tbo Touch and Bishop Noel Jones. 

It is well known that President Ramaphosa loves to walk whenever he finds time, that is how he keeps himself fit. On this day, he had invited Mr. Sibiya on a walk, which it’s something he does regularly to invite his staff, even ministers for walks. 

They passed a house which is now well known as Maumela's house. As they were passing this house, they were stopped by Tbo Touch, who was in the company of his mentor and friend, Bishop Noel Jones. They took pictures and recorded a video. During the walk, the President had stopped and spoke to several people along the way, including taking pictures with those people.

Indeed, where you see them is in front of Maumela's house, but they were not visiting the house or coming out of the house. It so happened that Tbo Touch stopped his car to greet the President as he was walking past what is now well known as Maumela's house. The President did not even know whose house it was. 

The President regularly takes walks and drives past the house because this is the street that is not too far from his house in Hyde Park. It's a street that he would use when driving to and from Sandton. I also do use the same street quite often when going to the President's house coming from Sandton direction or when departing the house heading to a northernly direction.

We have also heard a claim that the President visits Maumela’s house every week. It's a complete lie that the President visits Maumela's house or anybody every week. With his extremely busy schedule, there are 4 categories of people that can say they see the President every week. His family, his security detail, his Union Buildings staff, in particular, Private Office staff and ANC officials that he meets every Monday. 

There are two homes that are visited by the President whenever he finds a gap, but not every week. His sister, who resides in Soweto, and the home of his long-time comrade and mine workers union friend, Mr. James Motlatsi. There's no other household that can claim to be visited by the President every week. It is practically impossible with his work schedule. 

President Ramaphosa maintains that he has no personal relationship with Maumela. He is not related to him except that he was once married to Maumela's aunt. 

We note the ongoing desperate media attempts to link the President to this gentleman.

As the President’s Office, we have gone further to obtain confirmation from Dj Tbo Touch that the video and picture was his original post. He was coming from the airport going to the Saxon Hotel with Bishop Noel Jones. At the time, what we now know as Maumela's house was under construction. The President had no knowledge of whose house it was. Therefore, we reject the suggestion that the President may have been visiting Maumela's house as being very far from the truth.

Just before the President was appointed Deputy President, he gathered his immediate family and relatives and sternly instructed all of them to either exit or stop any business that they did or intended to do with the Government or State institutions. Maumela was not part of that family gathering. He couldn't have been part of the meeting because he is not part of the President's immediate family. It is for this reason that we're going to consistently reject the narrative that seeks to link his existence and whatever else he is involved in to the President.

It was President Ramaphosa that signed the proclamation that has lifted the lid on the extent of the corruption and criminality in and around the Tembisa Hospital. In this regard, the President calls on all law enforcement agencies to accelerate their criminal investigations into the Tembisa Hospital matter in order to expedite the arrest of all those involved without fear or favour and regardless of who they are or purported to be related to.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, will today, Monday, 13 October 2025, host a media briefing to update the public on the President’s programme and address topical issues of interest.

Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
Time: 14h00 (Media arrival at 13h00)
Venue: Media Centre, Union Buildings, Pretoria
RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend the media briefing in person are requested to submit their details to Shadi@presidency.gov.za.

Media following remotely can text their questions to Shadi on 072 571 6415. The media briefing will be streamed live, and the link will be shared prior.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the nations of Zimbabwe and Malawi who have lost compatriots in a bus crash which took place near Makhado, Limpopo, on Sunday, 12 October 2025.

A reported 42 travellers died in the incident on the N1 on Sunday afternoon while they were en route to their home countries from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased while he wishes the dozens of injured persons a full and speedy recovery.

President Ramaphosa said: “This incident is a tragedy for South Africa and our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi alike.

“This sadness is compounded by the fact that this incident has taken place during our annual Transport Month, where we place a special focus on the importance of safety on our roads.

“Our roads are also economic networks that bring the people of our region together across our national borders.

“We must do everything we can as road users, as transport operators, drivers and passengers to ensure that we stay safe and that we share our roads responsibly and with care for one another.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 host a G20 dialogue with students at the Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.

The dialogue forms part of year-long G20 awareness outreach programme implemented by Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) in partnership with different stakeholders across the country which, among others, include civil society, traditional leadership, business and academia.

This programme will kick-start with an information exhibition wherein identified Government and non-government organisations will provide services and information to the students at the Motheo TVET College.

Members of the media are invited to cover the events to be held as follows:
 
Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Time: 08h30
Venue: Motheo TVET College main campus, Bloemfontein
 
RSVP with Mr Motseki Ngubeni: GCIS, on 060 363 7725 / motseki@gcis.gov.za 

 

Media enquiries: Ms Mandisa Mbele, Office of the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on 082 580 2213 or mandisam@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director;
My dear Sister and comrade, Ms Philisiwe Buthelezi and the children;
The Mthethwa family, nesizwe sonke soNyambose;
Ministers and Deputy Ministers;
Members of Parliament;
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thamsanqa Ntuli;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Leadership of the African National Congress and the Alliance;
Traditional leaders, nasebukhosini baka Mthethwa;
Religious leaders;
Fellow mourners;
 
Nina baka Dingiswayo,

We gather here today, in mourning and in gratitude, to honour the life of a remarkable leader—someone whose courage, conviction and compassion helped steer our nation toward freedom and justice. 

Comrade Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa has been taken away from us, yet in the echoes of his deeds, in the memories we share of him, and in the lives he touched, his spirit endures as does the many lessons we must learn from his illustrious life.

The man we are laying to rest today was an unapologetic activist. 

From the earliest days of his activism, Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa refused to accept the injustice of apartheid. 

Faced with laws that sought to divide, demean and destroy, he responded not with resignation, but with resolve. 

Whether organising workers at the Just Juice factory, organising underground meetings, mobilising young people, offering comfort where there was despair or organising for peaceful resistance, he placed himself on the frontlines – not because he sought glory, but because he believed in the correctness of our struggle for freedom and the dignity of every person.

For him living a life of activism was not just about protest – it was about purpose.

It was about committing yourself to something larger than personal comfort: justice, equality, dignity, freedom. 

It was about refusing to accept the world as it is, and working – every day – to build the world as it should be.

A life of activism is not easy. It’s often uncomfortable, even dangerous. But it is deeply human.

In essence the doctrine about activism is – even if I don’t benefit, I will fight for others to be free. Even if I am afraid, I will not be silent. Even if I fall, the struggle will go on.

That kind of approach to activism is powerful. That kind of life is meaningful. That kind of activism changes the world.

He knew from an early age that the path of activism he had chosen was a difficult one and that it would involve sacrifice. 

That he would pay a price. 

The price would be dismissal from his job at Just Juice where he was a shop steward, a loss of income. Perhaps it was exile. Perhaps arrest. Perhaps the heartbreak of seeing comrades fall, families torn apart, hopes threatened. 

Yet, even in adversity, Ambassador Mthethwa remained steady. He was a beacon to many, teaching us that freedom is never free, that resistance sometimes demands sacrifice, but that our highest obligation is to keep faith with the promise of human equality.

To Cde Nathi’s Mthethwa’s family: we know this loss is deeply personal. 

We recognise the many private sacrifices you made so that Comrade Nathi might carry public burdens. 

Today, we share your grief. We stand with you in sorrow, but also in pride: of a life lived with integrity, of a mission fulfilled that was bigger than any single person, but which needed people like Nyambose to bring it into being.

Today as we say goodbye, let us not simply mourn. Let us resolve. 

Let us honour Nathi Mthethwa’s memory by renewed commitment. By ensuring that the freedoms he fought and worked for are protected. By confronting inequality wherever it still exists. By raising our voices for those still voiceless. 

Let us live up to the ideals that inspired Comrade Nathi to fight for equality, justice, compassion and unity.

Much as we are here to accompany Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa on his final journey more importantly we are here to return Nathi’s soul to this community, which gave him its blessing to leave and join the struggle for the liberation of our people.

He joined the anti-apartheid struggle in the early 1980s when he was barely a teenager.

Yet that youthful courage and that commitment saw him rise through the ranks to take up positions of leadership in the broader liberation movement.

Following his brave role as a shop steward in the food industry and as an underground activist he was recruited and became involved in the dangerous and high stakes President Tambo initiated Operation Vula. This was a signal of the confidence and trust that his comrades had in him. It was also a sign of his political maturity and his courage.

He was of a generation that came of age as our democracy was about to dawn.

It was a generation of young lions that saw the end of apartheid and ushered in a new era of freedom and justice.

Like our democracy, this generation was young. They were hopeful. They were full of vigour and purpose.

And at that young age, they shouldered many of the burdens of building a new nation.

Following the unbanning of ANC, Nathi carried his commitment forward into what would become a lifetime of leadership. He rose through the ranks of the Youth League, from regional secretary to National Executive roles.

He took on responsibilities as a branch secretary in Klaarwater, as regional secretary, then working on national organising. He became Member of Parliament in 2002, and from there he took up positions of ever greater responsibility - Chief Whip of the ANC, Chair of Parliamentary Committees, Minister of Police, then Minister of Arts, Culture, and Sport.

He served in Cabinet for about 15 years in various portfolios - portfolios that carried great weight in the lives of our people: safety and security, policing, culture, sport and heritage. He saw Public Service not just as a position of power, but as a duty. He believed that Government must serve, uplift, protect, and heal.

As Government and as his political home the African National Congress and the broader liberation movement, we thank the Mthethwa family for your sacrifice in supporting Nathi as a young activist and in his political leadership endeavours.

As we lay this gallant leader of our people to rest what shall we say of Nathi Mthethwa’s legacy? What endowments do we carry forward from his illustrious life?

What can we learn from the life of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa that would be inspiring firstly to young people and secondly to those in the ANC and those in Government.

The life of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa offers several deep and relevant lessons - for both young people and those within the ANC and Government - especially in a time when many are questioning the future of the struggle, leadership and Public Service.

I would suggest that he taught us what courage and commitment is. From being a shop steward, to his student days in Klaarwater, to being detained, to holding high office, he never lost sight of what drew him into the struggle: the belief that injustice must be opposed; that people deserve dignity, rights, opportunities.

He exhibited service before self. Friends and comrades say he was disciplined, loyal, sometimes controversial, but always believing he was working for “we, the people” — not for self-aggrandisement. He understood that leadership means responsibility, accountability, bearing burdens even when the path is difficult.

He was an advocate of culture, heritage and identity. 

As Minister of Arts, Culture and Sport, his work spoke to more than just policy. 

He believed in the power of culture to heal, to unite, to affirm who we are, people of many languages, many traditions, yet one nation. He believed in giving young people space to shine.

As ambassador, he took South Africa’s mission abroad seriously: not just in diplomacy, but in forging friendships, alliances, mutual respect. 

In doing so, he sought to ensure our story, our values, our hopes are known in the world, and that the world’s opportunities are open to us.

As Nathi Mthethwa started his activism as a young person what lessons does his life impart for young people.

Nathi Mthethwa didn’t begin as a Cabinet Minister or Ambassador - he began as a student leader in Klaarwater, organising at the grassroots level. 

He joined the Klaarwater Youth Organisation, not for status, but because he saw injustice and believed young people could make a difference. 

The lesson here is that you don’t have to wait to be powerful to be impactful. Leadership starts with action, commitment and courage at the local level.

Another important lesson from Nathi Mthethwa is that one must be willing to sacrifice for one’s beliefs. 

As part of the anti-apartheid underground and through Operation Vula, Mthethwa faced detention and political risk. He accepted the cost of standing for justice. 

Integrity may cost you comfort, but it builds character. Stand for something bigger than yourself.

Nathi Mthethwa didn’t give up activism after democracy was won. 

He committed to serving over decades - in youth structures, unions, Parliament, the Executive and eventually as a diplomat. His activism matured. 

A cause for a just and democratic society isn’t a season - it’s a lifetime commitment. Stay the course, evolve, but don’t abandon your values Nathi did not.

Many who knew Comrade Nathi described him as a “disciplined, loyal cadre” of the ANC. 

He wasn’t always the loudest or most public-facing, but he was reliable, consistent, and strategic. The lesson here is passion brings you into the struggle, but discipline keeps you in it. Organisation and consistency matter more than slogans.

The lessons from Nathi Mthethwa’s life for those in his organisation and in Government. Mthethwa moved from activist to administrator - and while his time in office had its critics, he represented a generation who took the responsibility of transforming the state seriously. 

He understood that freedom meant not only fighting for democracy, but building institutions, delivering services and protecting rights. Freedom without delivery is betrayal. Those in Government must see Public Service as a duty, not a reward.

As Minister of Arts and Culture, he championed the role of culture, history, and heritage in national healing. This was often overlooked, yet it is vital in a country where identity was weaponised under apartheid.

Our role as leaders is about promoting national cohesion and unity and preserving the nation’s identity, and national healing. Leaders must safeguard the soul of the nation, not just its infrastructure. Nathi Mthethwa dedicated himself to doing that.

Later in his career, Mthethwa took up a diplomatic post, far from the limelight. That shift shows humility - the willingness to serve the country even without the recognition that comes with politics and limelight.

True commitment means serving wherever you're needed, not only where you're visible. Leadership includes sacrifice of ego.

Mthethwa remained loyal to ANC principles, even amid difficult terrains. His life invites reflection on how to renew the ANC’s moral centre - not through rhetoric, but through conduct.

Loyalty to the movement must not mean silence in the face of wrongdoing. The ANC must reflect, renew, and reclaim its mission in honour of those like him.

In the end to all of us Nyambose’s lesson to us is let your life speak. You are not entitled to a leadership position or any benefit. Organise, serve, endure and grow. You are not too small to shape history.

Ambassador Mthethwa was at one time the editor-in-chief of the ANC’s journal, Umrabulo, and I quote from an article he wrote in 2013:

“True cadres never aspire to or have an uncontrollable lust to lead. The main motivation for true leaders is to serve the movement and the masses at any level.”

“The leadership emerges from the people, it learns to articulate and champions the aspirations, demands, fears and hopes of the people.”

Let your leadership be measured by service, humility, and fidelity to the people - not just the politics. Be builders of what was fought for.

Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s journey reminds us that it is not where you start that defines your legacy - but whether you remain faithful to the struggle for justice, the people you serve, and the principles that birthed our democracy.

Let his life be not just remembered - but emulated. We should go beyond just memorialising him today. We must take a leaf of lesson from his life.

To Philisiwe Buthelezi, his wife, to his children, to extended family: you have lost a husband, a father, a brother. The nation weeps with you. 

The state may offer ceremonies, honours, statements - but none of that replaces presence, love, grief. May you find strength in memories: of who he was at home, the laughter, the small acts of kindness, the ideals he lived by.

To his comrades in the ANC, to those who knew him in unions, in youth activism, in Parliament, in Government, in diplomacy: may you carry forward with humility what he showed by example. 

May you keep alive both his ideals and his complexity - the understanding that leadership is never perfect, that mistakes sometimes shadow the good that is one, but that courage to stand, to act, to love one’s country, is itself a virtue.

Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is gone from among us, but not absent. His life’s work endures in the laws, in the institutions, in the people whose stories he touched. 

His voice, sometimes contentious, sometimes inspiring, was always part of the conversation that built our democracy.

Nathi Mthethwa championed the aspirations of our people and he did so with humility.

We will remember the Nathi Mthethwa who joined the underground movement barely out of childhood, a testament to a courage that few possess.

We will remember the Nathi Mthethwa who in his position as portfolio committee chair advocated for the rights of communities, and for the mining industry to be held to its commitments to uplift them.

We will remember the Nathi Mthethwa who sat with the victims of crime in their homes, offering words of solace and empathy – who during his tenure as Minister of Police spoke out against gender-based violence and opened victim empowerment facilities at police stations.

We have not forgotten the leadership he showed during violent protests directed at foreign nationals, nor his strong statements that helped to quell social tensions at the time. He distinguished himself as a true Pan Africanist and an Internationalist.

We know what his progressive stance would be as we have to deal with contemporary challenges on our continent and globally.

He would be troubled today as we hear news of the instability that is now unfolding in Madagascar and the cruel and senseless killing of civilians in the Sudan last night.

We have not forgotten that he was an advocate for the rights of our nation’s artists and performers, and that he championed legislative reform that would enable performers to benefit from their work, and render them less vulnerable to exploitation.

We have not forgotten his contribution to developing the creative economy.

May we be reminded to live with humility, and to lead with it even more.

To give credit where credit is due, and show mercy when we must.

To introspect more and judge less.

Ambassador Mthethwa served his people and served his country. For this we will forever remember him. And for his contribution, we thank him.

To the family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Hamba Kahle, Mkhonto. May your soul rest in eternal peace.

I thank you.