President of World Netball, Mrs Dame Liz Nicholl,
President of Netball South Africa, Ms Cecelia Molokwane,
CEO of Netball South Africa, Ms Blanche de la Guerre
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa,
The Premier of the Western Cape Province, Mr Allan Winde,
Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Cllr Geordin Hill-Lewis,
Head Coaches, Captains and members of the various national teams,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Sanibonani! Molweni! Dumelang!
 
I would like to welcome you to the Netball World Cup 2023, the first ever on African soil.
 
As the history of the relationship between World Netball and our country amply demonstrates, sport has the capacity to unite people within and between countries. We are therefore grateful to have been given the opportunity to host this World Cup.
 
In the next nine days from today until the end of this world cup on the 6th of August, I will make sure to follow the games when the various national teams battle for first position. I wish every player and national team success.
 
In particular, I wish head coach Norma Plummer, Captain Bongiwe Msomi and the the SPAR Proteas team members victory in this World Cup.
 
You will do the country immense pride were you to make it possible for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be here on the 6th of August to carry the cup on behalf of our nation.
 
Let the games begin!

Thank you.

Programme Director;
Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu;
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr Buti Manamela;
United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Mr Nelson Muffuh;
Resident Representative of UNDP in South Africa, Dr Ayodele Odusola;
Executive Deputy Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency, Ms Karabo Mohale;
Acting Statistician-General of South Africa, Ms Nthabiseng Makhatha;
Chief Executive Officers of the Human Sciences Research Council and of the National Youth Development Agency, Prof Sarah Mosoetsa and Mr Waseem Carrim;
The youth of South Africa;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon!

I would like to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for inviting us to the launch of the South Africa National Human Development Report 2022 under the theme "Harnessing the Employability of South Africa’s Youth."

The government commends the UNDP and its partners for undertaking the research and producing this timely report. Hopefully, the report will shine the light on blindspots on the work we are doing to develop the youth of our country.

To this end, we endorse the five strategic areas recommended in the report; namely:
• the urgent prioritisation of public sector investment in education and skills development as well as scaling up initiatives that harness youth participation in the economy;
• the development of one-stop job services that consolidate existing tools and services;
• the necessity for the expansion of youth entrepreneurship in technology-based and green industries;
• building on shifting gender norms to achieve greater women’s economic empowerment;
• strengthening and expanding the National Youth Service to bridge the school-to-work gap.

We agree with the UNDP when you say: "There is no doubt that the high unemployment rate is a ticking time bomb.

Accordingly, in addressing youth unemployment, the country will simultaneously address poverty and income inequality. Addressing and tackling youth joblessness is not only sound economics but also a development imperative." For its part, the government is pursuing several youth empowerment programmes.

In 2018, we launched the Youth Employment Service Programme, which is part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, and aims to combat youth unemployment. A collaborative effort between government, business and labour, the programme has placed over 100,000 young people in employment. This concrete evidence of how far we can go when we work together. Without doubt, more needs to be done to benefit as many young people as possible.

As part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, the government also launched the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI). Since 2020, the initiative has made significant progress in addressing the difficulty of transitioning youth from learning to earning. Despite its three year existence, more than four million youth have joined the network.

To respond to employers’ requirements for work experience, which first-time entrants into the labour market do not possess, the government has also launched the Public Service Graduate Internship and Learnership Programme, which provides interns with the necessary work experience.

Yet another initiative is the National Rural Youth Service Corps programme, which trains young people in areas such as leadership, community service and interpersonal communication.

Cumulatively, these initiatives should impact positively on moulding young people into responsible members of society who appreciate the relationship between their rights and their responsibilities to society inasmuch as they assist them in acquiring occupational skills necessary to access livelihood opportunities.

Evidently, the challenge is not one of a lack of programmes. It is one about the effectiveness, acceleration and massification of our programmes.

In doing so, we will also have to address leakages throughout the public policy system. For example, the report we are launching found that those without a matric qualification make up a significant proportion of the youth unemployment rate at around 40%, in contrast with only 13 percent of graduates who are unemployed.

However, the Development Bank of Southern Africa also found that: "there is a discrepancy between employers’ needs and the skills of the youth entering the labour force. Paradoxically, many graduates are doing menial jobs that are not in any form linked to their degrees due to the unavailability of opportunities in their chosen fields of study."

Among other things, this means that we should return to the "youth lens" adopted by the drafters of the National Development Plan. 

It is worth recalling that amongst other interventions, the NDP called for:
• the accelerated improvement of the quality of education, skills development, and innovation;
• strengthening of the youth service programmes and the introduction of new, community-based programmes to offer young people life-skills training, entrepreneurial training, and opportunities to participate in community development programmes;
• strengthening and expanding the number of FET colleges to increase the participation rate to 25%;
• increasing the graduation rate of FET colleges to 75%;
• a tax incentive to employers to reduce the initial cost of hiring young labour market entrants;
• a subsidy to the placement sector to identify, prepare, and place matric graduates into work;
• a formalised graduate recruitment scheme for the public service to attract highly skilled people, and;
• expanding the role of state-owned enterprises in training artisans and technical professionals.

We seek to understand the factors that lead to dropouts throughout the schooling system. Implicit in this fact is a deficit of skills and exposure for the young person who does not possess a matric. This means that our interventions have to be more specific and targeted, taking into account the urban-rural divide, race, gender, and the availability of opportunities.

Work also needs to be undertaken by all the social partners to examine the quality of the tuition in FET colleges, the better to derive maximum benefits to the enormous public resources we are expending into this important sector.

None of us needs any tutelage about the importance of skills development. To illustrate the point, in the three days from September 12th to the 15th, South Africa will host the BRICS Future Skills Challenge, in which young people from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will compete to show solutions to the 21st century’s most pressing challenges. 

The skills in question are in the areas of:
• Aircraft Maintenance;
• Agri IOT;
• Building Information Modelling;
• Cyber Security;
• Data Science;
• Digital Twin;
• Drones;
• Internet Marketing;
• Manufacturing Robotics;
• Mobile app development;
• Renewable Energy, and;
• Robotic Process Automation.

It goes without saying that to compete amongst the BRICS nations and the world on a sustained and sustainable basis, we cannot but empower the youth with the wherewithal to acquire the skills of the 21st century. It is here that that the expression: “a country that does not value its youth does not deserve its future” becomes glaringly obvious.

It is equally obvious that the government’s efforts to empower young people must be premised on a growing and inclusive economy. 

This is why it is crucial that the social partners all act in unison about re-industrialising and growing the economy.

We look forward to studying the report to benefit from its insights in our work to empower young people. 

Since the report is about the plight and well-being of young people, we call upon the youth of our country to read and study it and to make the necessary input which only those who feel and know it can expertly make.

I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will attend and deliver a keynote address at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) and the Green Energy Summit (GEA), taking place from 09 - 13 October 2023 in Cape Town under the theme: “Maximising Africa's Natural Resources”. 

It is envisaged that this year’s AOW will connect more than 50 global Energy Ministers and Government Leaders, an expected more than 100 leading speakers, and more than 2 000 delegates during the five-day conference to share insights and explore opportunities for cooperation and trade among the participating countries.

The Deputy President will use the opportunity to explore avenues for the development of power generation, creation of new jobs in the energy sector, reduction of the energy deficit, and acceleration of socio-economic development for South Africa.

Deputy President Mashatile will be supported by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, as well as senior government officials.

Details of the attendance and address are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre 2

Media wishing to cover the event should please send their details for accreditation to Bongani Majola (The Presidency) on 082 339 1993 or bonganim@presidency.gov.za or Pabalelo Serepo on 076 757 5140 or pabalelo.serepo@ogilvypr.co.za 

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on matters of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, will on Saturday, 14 October 2023, visit the Limpopol Province in Tshikombani, Venda, to attend and deliver a keynote address at the Tshivhase Day Celebration.

The event will be held under the theme: “Celebrating the life and time of His Majesty King Frans Rasimphi Tshivhase contribution to the struggle for a free, just and democratic South Africa”

Members of the media are invited to cover the event as follows:

Date: Saturday, 14 October 2023
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Prince Thikhathali Stadium, Tshikombani, Vhembe District, Venda, Limpopo Province
 
For media accreditation, please send your full details including ID Number by 18h00 on Friday, 13 October 2023 to the following officials:

1. Sam Bopape in The Presidency on 082 318 5251
2. Tshamano Makhadi on 082 223 0621

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 083 779 3086
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director, Ms Nuraan Alli;
SEIFSA CEO, Mr Lucio Trentini and All Board Members present;
Leaders of Business and Investors on the platform,
Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Cllr S Ngodwana;
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning! 

Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed CEOs and distinguished guests from the Metal and Engineering Industries, thank you for inviting us to this roundtable discussion this morning. 

We are pleased to have this opportunity to address you and discuss the government's view on restoring business and investors' confidence under the theme, “Restoring Business and Investor Confidence”.

As we convene here today, it is clear that our industries have recently faced severe challenges. The global economic landscape has been thrown into disarray as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Moreover, the South Africa's economic and social challenges are mounting, risking stagnation amid an unprecedented energy crisis, increasingly binding infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks, high unemployment, crime and corruption. 

These are the real problems that need real answers from society, business, and the government. We must always keep in mind the most important parts of our country, which, based on how they affect our efforts, can either help or hurt those efforts.

As a result, we must never be disheartened by our divergent approaches to overcoming these obstacles; rather, we must use dialogue such as this one to find common ground and develop an amicable strategy that will propel our nation forward.

In everything we do, we must remember that our end goal is to help our country grow by getting more people to work together in resolving the key challenges listed in the National Development Plan 2030.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I firmly believe that amidst adversity lies opportunity. 

In order to restore faith in our economy and the Metal and Engineering industries in particular, we need to come together, change with the times, and take decisive action.

As a first step, we must recognize the importance of government in creating a dependable and helpful atmosphere for businesses to flourish. We recognize the critical importance of having encouraging policies, solid infrastructure, and a receptive regulatory framework. 

Our commitment to establishing a favourable business climate remains unwavering. 

To this end, Government has already undertaken various initiatives to restore confidence and promote growth. 

We have implemented tax incentives and relief measures to alleviate the burden on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

We are actively finding solutions to streamline regulatory processes, reduce bureaucracy, and enhance ease of doing business.
Ladies and Gentlemen

With regard to reducing bureaucracy, you will recall that President Ramaphosa last year in his State of the Nation Address introduced the Red Tape Reduction (RTR) task team.

The task team's goal is to make tangible progress in reducing excessively complex rules, regulations, procedures, and processes that stifle economic growth and job creation in key areas of the economy, and to collaborate with relevant stakeholders from government, the private sector, and community-based organizations.

The team is also supporting initiatives to simplify processes relating to property registration, cross-border trade and construction permits.

In addition, we understand the value of putting resources into infrastructure improvement. Transportation networks, power grids, and Internet access are all examples of essential infrastructure that may spur development and bring in capital. 

In this regard, we have allocated significant resources to upgrade and modernize our infrastructure.

Our infrastructure development priorities are appropriately aligned with continental and global economic development imperatives, particularly through the NDP, which is our country’s development blueprint.

For example, The National Rail Policy has been enacted as a road map for modernizing and reforming the rail industry, and it includes provisions for third-party access to the railway network.

To implement the policy commitments, the government is constructing a Transnet Roadmap, which will include reorganizing Transnet Freight Rail to appoint a new Infrastructure Manager for the rail network by October 2023. 

In the Durban and Ngqura container terminals, Transnet and private sector business partnerships encourage fresh investment in the nation's ports as well as boost their effectiveness.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Improving the country's ports will also help them get back to being some of the best ports in the world like they used to be. 

The repositioning of the Port Elizabeth Automotive Terminal for instance has already been a huge success. It has more than doubled its capacity, and exports have already gone up.

A lot of vehicles are leaving the Port Elizabeth auto port for markets outside of South Africa. Transnet is also adding to its fleet and fixing up trains that aren't being used.

Thirteen commuter train lines have been restored as a result of the PRASA restructuring, greatly lowering the cost of transportation.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited SOC (SANRAL) is still working to fulfil its duties related to funding, enhancing, managing, and maintaining the country's road system.
Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the economy. It makes it possible to transport goods and services, but it also enables movement for people to gain access to basic healthcare. 

As government we have also invested heavily on the improvement of our roads. SANRAL recently announced two big road infrastructure development projects for the Great Kei Local Municipality. Together, they will cost more than a billion rand (R1.165 billion).

Investing in projects like this one could make a big difference in the lives of a lot of people by creating jobs and making it easier for things to get from one place to another. This would also help our economy grow. 
Ladies and Gentlemen

As Government, we understand that we have a huge role to play in the advancement of our economy and changing the course of our economic trajectory, hence our implementation of the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, keeping in mind that the plan requires all society to succeed. 

As part of the Plan, reducing and ultimately ending load shedding is one of the foremost priorities of Government. 

The current issue of load shedding is being addressed through the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and a variety of other adjustments and efforts aimed at maintaining a reliable electricity grid.

In addition, the Minister of Electricity has currently been working toward a resolution to the matter of load shedding before the end of the year. He has been engaging with various stakeholders, including businesses, to find a long-lasting solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allowing private developers to generate electricity is one of the country's significant reforms. In this regard, there are already over 100 projects underway, with a total capacity of over 9,000 MW planned to be added over time.

Many enterprises involved in the renewable energy programme will shortly begin building on a total of 2,800 MW of new capacity. To close the immediate shortfall, Eskom will acquire emergency power that can be installed in the near future. 

The Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape, and the Western Cape are seeing a disproportionate amount of new transmission lines and substation construction. Over the next 12–18 months and beyond, all of these measures will significantly increase power to the system.

South Africa already has a diverse energy mix that includes coal-fired power plants, solar, wind, gas, nuclear, hydro, and battery storage, all of which are compatible with the enhanced power output. 

We also appreciate the US Trade and Development Agency's (USTDA) R18.6 million grant, which will fund expert assistance to investigate the economic, technical, commercial, and financial viability of employing new technology to improve our transmission system. 

We are completely committed to transitioning to renewable energy sources. We cannot transition while sitting in the dark, so the pace of this change will be optimal for us, establishing a balance between economic growth and job security, social justice and environmental responsibility.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Our efforts to fight for a better South Africa are not limited to the energy crisis, but our Government is also up in arms to fight crime and corruption which are a thorn in the flesh to our democracy. 

Corruption undermines the functioning and legitimacy of institutions and processes, the rule of law and ultimately the State itself and it also damages the economy.

Therefore, the fight against crime and corruption is vital for the success of our country. As Government, we are committed to fighting corruption in all sectors of society.

Remember corruption in Government is no better than corruption in the private sector. The battle to root out corruption and strengthen the rule of law can succeed only it is taken on by the whole of society. 

We must therefore all join forces to fight this scourge.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy is one of the necessary instruments for addressing the issues of crime and corruption. The plan outlines the steps necessary to achieve a society devoid of corruption by leveraging the most significant provisions of our Constitution, our anti-corruption legal framework, the National Development Plan, and other instruments such as international treaties. 

This whole-society effort aims for a state, business, and society that are ethical, accountable, and accountable and have high levels of integrity and respect for the rule of law. It encourages people to be involved citizens who are able to hold leaders and organizations accountable and responsible 

In order for it to be successful, an integrated approach that addresses socio-economic initiatives, the development of the criminal justice system, and the attending to of intangibles such as society's moral perspective would be required.  

By cooperating with one another, we will be able to eradicate corruption from our society and build institutions on the principles of fairness and equity. 

At the same time, Ladies and Gentlemen, fostering a skilled workforce is essential for the success of our industries. 

The Government is committed to collaborating with industry leaders and educational institutions to equip our workforce with the necessary technical skills and knowledge. 

Through vocational training programmes, apprenticeships, and continued professional development, we aim to bridge the skills gap and ensure that our industries have the expertise required to thrive in the modern world.

Additionally, we recognise that international trade and investment partnerships are vital for the success of our industries. 

We are actively engaged in promoting investment opportunities and forging stronger ties with countries that show potential for collaboration. By enhancing our exports and diversifying our markets, we can reduce our dependency on any single market and mitigate risks associated with economic volatility.

Hence we are signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which holds the potential to inject $450 billion worth of investments into the African economy and help lift between 50 and 100 million people out of poverty by 2035.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Government is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

We recognise that advancements in technology and disruptive innovation are transforming industries around the world. 

Therefore, we are investing in research and development, promoting innovation hubs, and supporting start-ups to harness the power of innovation and create a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, we stand at a crucial juncture, where restoring business and investor confidence in the Metal and Engineering industries is of paramount importance. 

The Government is fully aware of the challenges facing our industries, and we are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to ensure their growth and resilience.

As Government, we are not going to stop working until we have developed a domestic steel sector that is healthy, robustly competitive, and well-positioned for the coming decades.

We invite you all to join hands with the Government in this endeavour, as together, we can overcome any obstacle, unlock investment in the sector and emerge stronger than ever before.

I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on matters relating to traditional and Khoi-San leaders, will on Saturday, 14 October 2023, attend and deliver the keynote address at the Tshivhase Day Celebration in honour of His Majesty Malilausumbwa Rampisi “Phiriphiri” Frans Tshivhase of the VhaVenda nation.  

The Tshivhase Day Celebration will be held at the Prince Thikhathali Stadium, Tshikombani village, Nzhelele, in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. 

The event will be held under the theme:  “Celebrating the life and times of Mailausumbwa Rasimphi “Phiriphiri” Frans Tshivhase’s contribution to the struggle for a free, just and democratic South Africa”.

His Majesty Mailausumbwa Frans Rasimphi Tshivhase was born in 1900 in Mukumbani, in the former Transvaal, and took over the reins as the Paramount Chief of the Tshivhase people in April 1930.

During his days of activism, he played a significant role in the struggle for freedom and democracy and was resolute in his opposition to the expropriation of the land of his subjects and persuasive in his defence of the rights of his people. 

During his reign, His Majesty Mailausumbwa Tshivhase refused to live side by side with impoverished subjects, and he waged a monumental struggle to defend the inheritance of his people.

In recognition of the heroic role he played, former President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of Government and the people of South Africa awarded the Order of Luthuli in Bronze to His Majesty Mailausumbwa Tshivhase in June 2004. The Order of Luthuli recognises contributions to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, or peace and conflict resolution. 

It was founded in 2003, making His Majesty Mailausumbwa Tshivhase among the first South Africans ever to be so recognised in 2004. 

Deputy President Mashatile joins the celebrations in view of its potential to further contribute towards building unity and social cohesion amongst various communities in Limpopo.  

The Deputy President has further emphasised the fact that “the institution of traditional leadership occupies an important place in our communities and it contributes towards the restoration of the moral fibre of our society. It further plays a significant role in the reconstruction and development of the country, especially in the rural areas”.

In this regard, Government remains committed to continue working together with the Traditional and Khoi-San leadership in the fight against poverty, landllessness, and other social ills that afflict communities under traditional authorities.

Upon his arrival at the Tshikombani Village, the Deputy President will pay a courtesy call on His Majesty Mailausumbwa MPK Tshivhase and also meet with senior traditional leaders in the area, to provide an update on progress achieved by government in addressing issues raised by the traditional leadership.
 
Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the leadership of the National and Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Cabinet Ministers, the Premier of Limpopo Province, Members of the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council, Mayors and senior Government officials.

Date: Saturday, 14 October 2023
Time: 09h00 (media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Prince Thikhathali Stadium, Tshikombani village, Nzhelele, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
 
Media Programme

• 08h00 – Arrival and accreditation of members of the media at the Tshivhase Nature Reserve 
• 09h00 – Courtesy Call by Deputy President Mashatile to His Majesty Mailausumbwa MPK Tshivhase  
• 09h30 – Deputy President’s engagement with the Senior Traditional Leadership
• 10h00 – 13h00 - Main event at the Prince Thikhathali Stadium
 
For more information and accreditation, please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Tshamano Makhadi on 082 223 0621

Media enquiries: Mr Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile, on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria

Programme Director;
Family Representatives of our beloved late Comrade, friend, and Colleague Ronnie Mamoepa;
Cabinet Minister here present;
ANC Secretary General, Cde. Fikile Mbalula;
ANC Treasurer-General, Cde. Gwen Ramokgopa;
Senior Management of Freedom Park;
Members of the Media,
Ladies Gentlemen;

I am here to honour my friend, comrade, and someone I have worked with for many years, Ronald "Ronnie" Mamoepa.

Allow me to share anecdotes and fond memories with Ronnie. Prior to that, I would like to thank you our Sister, Audrey and your children for agreeing that we share in the collective memory of Ronnie.

Where we are today represents Ronnie in his totality. Ronnie and a great number of other people from our generation, both those who have already passed away and those who are still with us, have committed our lives to serving the people.

When it was not fashionable, Ronnie from the dusty streets of Pheli, joined the movement to fight for freedom. We are indeed today almost 30 years into freedom and democracy and this is because of the sacrifices and contributions of Ronnie and his generation.  
 
The youth at the time never stood on the side; they, like Ronnie, opposed the apartheid tyranny. Following the slogan of SAYCO, "Victory is Certain - Freedom or Death," he understood that his future and that of his offspring and generations depended on him.

Ronnie is a hero of our struggle!

He is worthy of being commemorated forever.

He was part of a group of people who helped build the ANC in Gauteng, and because of his skills and capacity to communicate effectively, he was able to transcend into government to become one of the best communicators. 

As a matter of fact, it is because of people like Ronnie and Thabo Masebe that today we have the best communication machinery for the government through the Government Communications and Information System.

For them to be memorialised, GCIS, the National School of Government, and Institutions of learning need to add to the curriculum that talks about political communication and institutionalising research to learn their legacy.

In this regard, we take this opportunity to thank the senior management of Freedom Park for hosting this important gathering to commemorate the life and times of Ronnie Mamoepa through the establishment of the foundation.

This commemorative event takes place under the theme, "Re-committing to the legacy of Ronnie Mamoepa through social activism” a clarion call for all our citizens to emulate the undying spirit of selflessness, dedication and humanity (Ubuntu) that Ronnie championed.    

Ronnie, "the griot," was one of the most esteemed struggle heroes, a defender of freedom and democracy, a seasoned government communicator, and a dedicated public servant.
 
Fellow Compatriots, we are happy that this afternoon, as part of commemorating the life and time of Ronnie Mamoepa, we observe the wreath-laying the ceremony at Hall of Name at Freedom Park, immortalising the name and legacy of this outstanding stalwart amongst the esteemed heroes and heroines who contributed to the liberation struggle, such as Chris Hani, Ruth First, Zachariah Keodirelang "ZK" Matthews, Goven Mbeki, Lilian Ngoyi, Charlotte Maxeke and many others.

We are also pleased that the work of the foundation we are launching is based on the principles that Cde. Ronnie upheld throughout his active life, including addressing socio-economic challenges by promoting equal opportunity in education, the arts, culture, and heritage, and most importantly, freedom of expression.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ronnie was a man of exceptional courage, unwavering determination, and deep compassion. He was a relentless advocate for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed.

His commitment to social change and his passion for justice were infectious, inspiring all those who had the privilege to work alongside him.

Today, as we lay this wreath, we are reminded of the profound impact Ronnie had on the lives of so many.

He boldly spoke out against injustice, stood up against discrimination, and fought for a better, more inclusive society.

His legacy serves as a beacon of hope for those who continue to carry on his work. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we must never lose sight of our shared responsibility to create more equitable and just communities.

Ronnie's dedication to the progress of our society was not without sacrifice. He faced countless obstacles, overcame numerous challenges, and endured personal hardship. But through it all, he remained steadfast in his convictions, never backing down from the fight for what he believed in.

Most importantly, he was a tireless leader who lived according to the values of our Constitution.

On this important occasion, we should perhaps ask ourselves this question: How would Ronnie have responded to the current social-political challenges facing our country?

With regard to the movement he really cherished and loved so dearly, will he be pleased with the current political paradigm?

The Ronnie we know will be concerned about the plight of our people.  He would be advocating for unity and accountability.

He would be asking questions about how far we are in dealing with the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequalities.   

It is, therefore, pleasing that together, as government, business, and civil society, through this foundation, we are beginning to envision a better future for our country.

In this regard, we commend the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) for honouring this fallen hero and exemplary citizen of our country, by renaming their Press Room – "The Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre".

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since we are all citizens of the same nation, we have an obligation to collaborate in order to solve the issues we face and establish the kind of nation we want for ourselves.

We need to invest all our efforts and energies in deepening our constitutional values to truly achieve a non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic society. 

Let us intensify our efforts to bring about a global order in which justice and equality are prioritised above all.

Let us recommit to combating corruption in all of its manifestations across the entire social fabric, including the public and private sectors.

Let us continue to work in harmony to make South Africa a country where people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic standing, enjoy complete human freedom and prosperity.

Let us also be motivated to continue his work and carry the torch to advocate for meaningful change in our communities.

We should all take inspiration from his life and work for a future where everyone's opinion matters, everyone is appreciated, and every life is treated with dignity.

As I conclude, to our Sister Audrey and the children, as well as the rest of the Mamoepa family, please know that you remain in our thoughts.

We will also ensure that the legacy of our brother, friend and Comrade, Ronnie lives on!!!

Thank you.

Our Chief Mourner, Limpopo Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha;
The Bereaved Families of Mathabatha and Moshoeshoe; 
Ministers and Deputy Ministers;
Members of the Limpopo Provincial Executive present;
Members of the NEC of the ANC and Leaders and Representatives of other Political Parties present;
Capricorn District Mayor and all Mayors and Councilors present;
Our Esteemed Traditional Leaders;
Leaders of Faith-Based Organisations;
Fellow Mourners, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Kgotsong! Bagaetsho Re a le dumelisa ka le bitso la Ntate!

We are gathered here this morning not only to pledge solidarity with our Chief Mourner and Leader of our Government and people, Limpopo Premier Stanley Chubu Mathabatha in this hour of darkness.

We are also here, on behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, to pay our last respects to a daughter of the soil, Mme Matlotlo Margaret Mathabatha, a liberation fighter in her own right, who spent most of her adult life dedicated to the socio-economic development of her people in the many leadership roles that she has played before and after the attainment of freedom and democracy in South Africa.

Premier Chupu and Comrade Maggie Mathabatha met and cemented their relationship in the trenches of our liberation struggle to free South Africa from the yoke of racial oppression, violent land dispossession and deliberate underdevelopment of the province and country they called home. Theirs was a bond formed in revolution.

Individually and collectively, both Mme Maggie and Premier Mathabatha took up arms, under the auspices of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the military wing of the then banned African National Congress, against an oppressor apartheid regime, which had been declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations.

In particular, Mme Maggie Mathabatha was relentless and undaunted, joining the progressive Trade Union Movement at a time when Workers Rights were not recognised as Human Rights by apartheid South Africa and the capitalist class.

In the 1980’s she lent her voice and energies to the workers struggle waged by the Commercial and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (CAWUSA), of which she was a member and a leader, affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. 

Cde Maggie took to heart as well as lived and led workers through the slogan: “An Injury to One is an Injury to All”. Many among us here would testify to Mme Maggie’s heroics at the shop floor, where she was a constant pain in the neck of employers in the private sector, especially at Eastgate Mall in the present day Ekurhuleni.

Mme Maggie was to later leave the retail sector, following a protracted strike which saw many workers lose their jobs.

However, she was never lost to the quest to build a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa for she took this struggle to the next level, becoming instrumental in the founding and ultimate formation of the South African Democratic Teachers Union or SADTU, especially in the then Pretoria, Witwatersrand and Vaal or PWV region, now Gauteng Province. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Those of you who knew Mme Maggie would attest to the fact that she had a lifelong passion for education. It was that passion that drove her to develop herself mentally, intellectually and educationally. Thus she enrolled at the University of the Western Cape, affectionately known as Bush University among the Comrades, where she later obtained her first higher qualification, a Bachelor of Arts degree, in 1991. 

In the following year 1992, Mme Maggie again took the expansion of her intellectual horizon further, enrolling at the University of Limpopo, then called the University of the North, where she obtained a University Education Diploma, UED.

But she was not done! She went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Development from the University of Limpopo’s Business School, EDUPARK in 2011.

Mme Maggie continued to be a shining light to both students and educators alike, providing a good example to her people in the manner in which she carried herself and how she imparted knowledge to those who sought it. 

It was the same compassion and dedication she exuded into her professional work first as a teacher in various schools, then as a dedicated public servant and finally as an esteemed Member of the Diplomatic Corps, representing South Africa in Ukraine, where she served as Madam De-charge in the South African Embassy until she returned to South Africa, together with her husband in 2013 when he was appointed as the Premier of Limpopo Province.

Fellow Mourners, 

As we bid farewell to our sister, mother and grandmother to some and a comrade, friend and colleague to many of us here, we would like to thank the Moshoeshoe and Mathabatha families for giving their daughter to the service of the people of Gauteng where Mme Maggie grew up, the people of Limpopo where she led the revolution and the people of South Africa as a whole in the struggle to defeat apartheid and build a better life for all. 

Your loss is our loss and the country is bereft of a dedicated care-giver and nurturer of a generation of our people. 

We have no option but to pick the baton and continue on a journey you started and led, for our people to be completely and finally liberated from the clutches of poverty, unemployment and inequality. For the workers to have their rights recognised as human rights and for all South Africans to enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy.

And finally, for our people to live in communities where they receive basic services such as water and electricity, housing, education and primary health. 
 
We once again wish to express our deepest condolences to Premier Chupu Mathabatha, the Mathabatha and Moshoeshoe families, the Limpopo Provincial Government, Comrades in the Tripartite ANC/COSATU/SACP Alliance, friends and former Colleagues of Mme Maggie Mathabatha.

May her soul rest in eternal peace!

Robala ka Kgotso Pebetse ka Sereto! 

I thank you!

Programme Director

Comrade Mag Pahad,

Comrades Govan and Amina Pahad,
Comrades Aziz Pahad, 
Prof Angina Parekh
Former President Thabo Mbeki,

Comrades and friends.

Today we woke up to the sad news of the passing of a tried-and-tested cadre and leader of the people of South Africa, Comrade Essop Goolam Pahad.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Cde Essop and his family. It was impossible and most painful to reconcile his frail state with the energetic, assertive, and forthright Comrade Essop I have known throughout the decades of struggle.

Personally, I first encountered Comrade Essop through the archives of the liberation movement, in which he, and his contemporaries feature in photographs on the margins of the 1956 Treason Trial armed with placards and posters outside the court with the unequivocal message: "Hands off our leaders!"

We thus accepted him as our leader because we knew that he grew up at the collective knee of the generation of Oliver Tambo, Yusuf Dadoo, "NT" Naicker, Reggie September, Joe Slovo, Helen Joseph, and other outstanding liberators.

An active member of the Congress Youth Movement, he was one of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress volunteers who produced and distributed ANC pamphlets and posters in the three years after the 1960 banning of the movement. For his activities against the apartheid regime, he was banned for five years and left the country for exile in December 1964.

His maturity into full membership and leadership of the ANC and the South African Communist Party spoke to the importance of political organisation as a school and teacher in society. He also trained in uMkhonto we Sizwe in Angola.

He represented the SACP on the editorial Council for the World Marxist Review from 1975 – 1985. He was thus one of the leading cadres of our movement and did much to advance the international pillar of our struggle.

Comrade Essop internalised the Marxist adage: "To leave error unrefuted is to encourage intellectual immorality." He was a robust intellectual who always sought the best possible decisions in the organisation’s, the national and ultimately humanity’s interest.

He said about his period in exile: "When you’re in exile, there are times when the light at the end of the tunnel is very dim. You always felt that you were very far away from home."

To underscore his interest in the free and democratic exchange of ideas, he also said: "You had a great amount of time to read, to study, to discuss, to debate, and to get involved in all of these discussions not only with your own comrades but also with many other people. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet representatives of communist parties from all over the world."

This was an all-around public intellectual whose political consciousness was shaped under the aegis of the Congress Movement.

In 1994, he became one of the cadres the ANC deployed into the first democratic parliament, which gave us hope about the future of democratic South Africa. When he left public service in 1994, Comrade Essop established The Thinker, a quarterly journal for discussion, which added to the diversity of opinion in our media and public discourse spaces.

This is yet another of his numerous notable and unerasable contributions to the betterment of our society.

Our movement and society is challenged to construct an environment in which, though they do not become clones, young people become as dependable as Essop’s generation. In this way, the democratisation project does not lose its way.

Essop Pahad has left a void. In his lifetime of struggle, he traversed the world to ensure that our struggle delivered victory to the ordinary masses of our people. We who remain are obliged to spare no effort to ensure that we stay the course.

The words of Nikolai Ostrovsky come to mind: "Man's dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once, and he must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live that, dying, he might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world ── the fight for the Liberation of Mankind"

He could have been speaking of Essop Goolam Pahad.

On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, we convey our sincerest condolences to the Pahad family, friends and comrades. 

May his soul rest in peace.

I thank you.

Programme Director;
The President of the Black Business Council, Mr. Elias Monage;
CEO of the Black Business Council, Mr. Kganki Matabane;
The collective leadership of the Black Business Council;
Ministers here present;
Representatives of the business community;
Distinguished Guests;

It is a great honour to be here tonight as we honour and celebrate black excellence and, most importantly, to be part of the conversation about accelerating the participation of black South Africans in the mainstream economy.

Today is the last day of the month dedicated to commemorating 1976 and celebrating the youth of our country. So we honoured the invitation to join Alex FM at Alex High School this morning. I also visited Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator earlier today, a partnership between government and business to absorb greater numbers of our youth into the economy through employment and entrepreneurship. 

What impressed me was how the youth remain positive and remain hopeful about the future. We want to assure the youth that we are going to continue to work hard together with them to build a sustainable future. We also want to urge many of you, as business people, to return to your schools and communities to invest resources for the growth and development of the future of the youth.

Ladies and Gentleman

The Black Business Council's decision to honour black business leaders in this manner is truly commendable, as we recognize that our nation is an intricate web of multiple interests. 

By celebrating black excellence, we prove that it is possible to not just survive but thrive while facing significant obstacles.

These awards are also taking place as we mark 20 years of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy framework.

Since its implementation over 20 years ago, there has been significant progress made in advancing economic transformation and empowering the historically disadvantaged.

Compatriots,

According to statistics, the number of black-owned companies in South Africa has increased dramatically, proving that through our joint efforts we ARE changing the look of this economy. 

As of 2021, it was estimated that approximately 2.5 million black-owned businesses employed millions of individuals across the country.

Black-owned companies have made significant advances in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, services, and technology. 

Black business is also claiming an increasing share of contribution to GDP growth, a trend we must accelerate. 

Recent figures show that black-owned businesses account for a growing amount of the country's GDP, with estimates ranging from 28 percent to 35 percent.

Nevertheless, there is still more work to be done. In order to see positive results from this policy, its execution must be strengthened and streamlined. We must work together as social partners to ensure its success.

Compatriots,

We must also address the issue of B-BBEE compliance reporting by companies. According to the 2021 National Status and Trends on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Transformation Report, the B-BBEE Commission's B-BBEE Portal submissions have decreased from 5,818 in 2019 to 1,475 in 2022 due to low compliance levels.

As Government, we are continuing to review and refine the BBBEE policy with a focus of making it more inclusive, transparent, and impactful.

The goal is to create more social and economic equity and make sure that all people have equal opportunities to take part in the economy of the country.

We are affirm that this is the correct policy to pursue.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Besides the B-BBEE policy framework, we have implemented various initiatives to support black businesses.

A key lever for us is the use of policy, legislation, and regulation to promote black economic empowerment. This includes the implementation of preferential procurement, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and employment equity, among others. 

We have also established institutions and programs to support black entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) provides business development services, mentorship, and access to finance.

Additionally, the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) offers funding and support to black-owned businesses, helping them overcome financial barriers and achieve sustainable growth.

Furthermore, the government has launched programs to enhance skills and entrepreneurship development among black youth.

These initiatives include the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Entrepreneurship Development Program, which provide training, mentorship, and funding opportunities for young black entrepreneurs.

Moreover, we believe that women's empowerment is central to the global development agenda and is a stepping stone to gender equality.

In this regard, we are deeply concerned that only a small percentage of board members in JSE-listed companies are female, while a significant proportion of JSE-listed companies have no female board representation at all!

It is equally concerning that women are experiencing higher levels of unemployment, while those who are employed generally earn 19 to 37 percent less than their male counterparts. 

Compatriots, 

We must all confront this reality together as a nation. It is our responsibility as government and private sector to create a conducive environment for equal participation in the economy for both women and young people.

As government, we have created a number of initiatives to promote women's economic participation. Government initiatives such as the Women Empowerment Fund and the National Empowerment Fund, to name two, are designed to increase funding for black women to enter the world of business.

For instance, in 2021, we introduced the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Strategy, which aims to ensure that women participate actively in the Energy Sector.

We also have the SheTradeZA Hub, which assists women entrepreneurs in increasing their international competitiveness and connecting to local, regional, and international markets.

We encourage women with an aptitude for business to take advantage of the many entrepreneurial opportunities that are available, whether in agriculture, energy, or any other sector.

All of these initiatives, along with others, demonstrate our commitment to empowerment and the creation of an inclusive economy. However, we cannot accomplish this on our own.

We require institutions such as the BBC to collaborate with us and place an emphasis on promoting inclusive economic development through public-private partnerships and targeted investment in sectors including agriculture, industrial, and infrastructure.

Regarding the Black Industrialist Programme and the framework of our Industrial Policy, our collective efforts must concentrate on two primary objectives:
• One, facilitating Black Industrialists' entry into strategic and targeted industrial value chains so that they can contribute to growth, investment, exports, and employment, and 
• Two, providing Black Industrialists with a variety of pathways and instruments to increase their participation in the national economy.

The Departments of Trade, Industry, and Competition and Small Business Development will continue to lead the way in opening up business opportunities to enable black firms to thrive and participate fully in the economy through the Black Industrialist Programme.

We should celebrate the program's success, which has resulted in the development of around a thousand Black Industrialists. Many of them now run successful businesses that employ a growing number of our citizens. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We are well aware that the current state of the global economy has made it more difficult for us to fulfil our commitment to the development of an inclusive and equitable economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has disrupted production, trade, and investment globally, including the African continent. The War in Ukraine has increased oil and food prices, heightening global tensions, and embroiled us in geopolitical contestations between major powers, with obvious dangers for our economy.

We are also facing challenges, from persistent power outages, to weak growth, the scourge of corruption, and unemployment.

To combat these, our government has rolled out a number of interventions. Among these are the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, Operation Vulindlela – which is specifically designed to remove obstacles in your path and streamline our own processes – and the Just Energy Transition Plan, our energy security and green economy transition strategy. 

We are responding to the immediate crisis of load shedding through the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and a range of other measures and reforms aimed at stabilizing the electricity supply and building for the future.

Moreover, the electricity minister has been appointed and is working towards resolving the issue of load shedding by the end of the year.

The minister has been engaging with various stakeholders, including businesses, to find a long-lasting solution to the energy crisis.

The Energy Action Plan is underway and aims to reduce stages of load shedding by increasing the number of power plants, including renewable energy projects.

We are fully committed to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. But that transition will occur at the appropriate pace for our needs, it will balance economic development and preservation of jobs, social equity, and environmental sustainability. It will also take into account our current energy shortages. 

Because we cannot transition while sitting in the dark!

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

To address the unemployment challenge, we are implementing the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) to kick-start our economy after the devastation of Covid-19.  

The Jobs Fund has invested R9 billion in job creation initiatives and R13 billion in matched funding to support 294 000 jobs, internships, and training for nearly 293 000 job seekers. However, there is a recognition that more needs to be done.

To expedite the reform agenda and address bureaucratic red tape, the government has established Operation Vulindlela.

This initiative has made significant progress in a short time by promoting collaboration and coordination across government.

Some of its achievements include paving the way for private investment in electricity generation, clearing the backlog of water use licenses, ending delays in the auction of high-demand spectrum, facilitating private sector participation in container terminals, reviewing the work visa system, and adopting a new National Rail Policy. These efforts aim to attract investment, improve efficiency, and modernise various sectors of the economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We must also ensure that we take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade, which holds the potential to inject $450 billion worth of investments into the African economy and help lift between 50 and 100 million people out of poverty by 2035.

We will work with you to ensure that you participate meaningfully in the economy of our continent.

To achieve this goal, we are making it easier for third parties to utilise the freight rail network. We hope that this will encourage more investment, lower transportation costs, and make the sector more competitive.

Some of these measures include allowing private companies to operate container terminals and invest in port infrastructure as part of a policy shift toward greater efficiency.

In the end, we want to make sure that state-owned firms like Transnet can operate profitably and fulfil their commitments without ongoing and burdensome government assistance.

These are some of the initiatives that we believe will transform our economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We view the Black Business Council as a vital partner that can guide us as we resolve our deficiencies and help us streamline existing policies and programs so that they align with our empowerment goals.

We must collaborate to resolve any challenges that confront us. In the near future, the country's economic trajectory will be largely determined by its capacity to navigate obstacles, implement reforms, and draw strength from all the social partners.

Together, we must establish a meaningful social compact to reconstruct our nation and our economy, and to ensure that no individual and no community is left behind.

I thank you.