1. The Extra-Ordinary Organ Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hereafter called Summit, was held on the 31st January, 2023.

2. Summit was officially opened and chaired by His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

3. Summit was attended by the following SADC Heads of State and Government and/or their representatives:

Namibia: His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, and Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Zambia: His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and Incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

South Africa: His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and Outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Democratic Republic of Congo: His Excellency Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of SADC.

Lesotho: Right Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Eswatini: Right Hon. Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini, representing His Majesty King Mswati III.

Mozambique: Hon. Cristóvão Artur Chume, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Mozambique, representing His Excellency Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique.

4. Summit was also attended by the Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO), Ministers from Organ Troika Member States, namely Namibia, South Africa and Zambia, the SADC Executive Secretary and Head of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

5. Summit observed a Moment of Silence in honour of SAMIM personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty and expressed condolences to the Governments of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Republics of Botswana and Zambia, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the respective families at the loss of their citizens.

6. Summit reiterated the call for Member States to urgently respond to requests for critical capabilities to enhance the operational capability of the SADC Mission in Mozambique.

7. Summit noted the on-going investigations being undertaken by SAMIM leadership following a disturbing video clip circulating on social media depicting what appears to be SAMIM personnel burning deceased people and reiterated that the public will be informed once the investigations are completed, as communicated by the Chairperson of the Organ in his statement issued on 11 January 2023.

8. Summit commended the Government and the People of the Kingdom of Lesotho for conducting peaceful and successful elections and congratulated the Revolutionary for Prosperity Party and the Right Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho

9. Summit welcomed the commitment made by Right Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho to prioritise the implementation and completion of the comprehensive national reforms process, and approved the Action Plan for the Lesotho Reform Oversight Committee to monitor the finalisation of the reforms process in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

10. Summit urged the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to urgently initiate the process of the National Dialogue and urged all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini to remain calm and participate peacefully in the National Dialogue.

11. Summit condemned all killings and damage to property in the Kingdom of Eswatini, reiterated SADC’s condemnation of the killing of Mr. Thulani Rudolf Maseko, a leading human rights lawyer and political activist in the Kingdom of Eswatini, who, at the time of his death, was Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, and urged the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to conduct a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the killing of Mr. Maseko.

12. Summit noted with deep concern the unstable security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and strongly condemned the upsurge of conflicts and activities of armed groups, including M23 rebels and the support provided to the armed groups by foreign forces.

13. Summit resolved to initiate dialogue amongst the Member States of different Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that have deployed forces in the DRC with a view to establish and implement mechanisms for the effective coordination of their interventions in the DRC.

14. Summit adopted the draft African Union Declaration on the USA proposed ‘Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act’ and urged Member States to communicate SADC’s position, and reaffirmed the stance of Non-Alignment on conflicts outside the continent and the region at multilateral fora.

15. Summit commended His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, for his leadership to galvanise concerted efforts towards the attainment of lasting peace and stability in the region.

Done on: 31st January 2023
Windhoek, Namibia

Your Excellency, President Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland,
Honourable Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is always an honour to welcome friends, and an even greater honour to pay tribute to longstanding, cherished friendships.

Mr. President, thank you for accepting our invitation to pay a State Visit to South Africa.

The Finnish people, alongside other Nordic countries, were at the forefront of the global anti-apartheid movement. 

After we won our democracy in 1994, Finland continued to play an important role in supporting national reconciliation, in development cooperation, as well as trading with and investing in South Africa.

It is auspicious that you visit us this week as we celebrate 29 years of democracy. Without the support of Finland and our many other friends, we would not be where we are today. So welcome to you and your delegation once more.

South Africa and Finland have excellent and well-established bilateral relations. We have found in Finland a like-minded partner in various fields of cooperation be it the environment, energy, maritime affairs, science and technology, trade, and peace and security issues.

We meet at a time when the world is faced with multiple challenges.

We are in the midst of a global cost of living crisis. Food and energy prices continue to soar, as has inflation. Household debt is at all-time highs, making it difficult for families to survive.

Both small and large businesses are still struggling to return to pre COVID-19 levels of profitability and production, and many national economies are still counting the true cost of the pandemic.

The poor are particularly vulnerable, and the need for comprehensive social safety support has become even greater than before.

Climate change is advancing faster than previously thought, affecting lives and livelihoods around the globe. And while we all agree on what needs to be done to reduce carbon emissions, developing countries are finding it difficult to secure the resources and technology that would help them transition, without incurring further indebtedness.

Conflicts and instability around the world are exacerbating existing humanitarian crises, with events in Sudan adding to this volatility.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has had economic reverberations across the world, including in South Africa.

We know that this conflict has also been polarising, and has seen multilateral systems of governance being called into question and put under scrutiny.

As the international community we have agreed on a common developmental path in the form of the UN Agenda 2023 for Sustainable Development, and on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

To achieve this in the midst of the current turbulence facing the international community, we have to work together.

Just as we did during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an opportunity to set global cooperation along a new trajectory that is rooted in mutual respect, that is inclusive and that leaves no-one behind.

Mr. President, 

In 1997, President Martti Ahtisaari was received by President Nelson Mandela on a state visit to South Africa. 

At a banquet in President Ahtisaari’s honour President Mandela said to him:

“As we meet again after three years, you will see for yourself how South Africans have been using the freedom Finland helped them win.”

Indeed we have, with the support of our great friends the Finnish people. We have laid the foundations for a better life for all.

Even as we face enormous challenges, they are not nearly as daunting today as they were back in the early days of our democracy. Just as we overcame the problems back then, we will do so now.

As South Africa we are grateful to count Finland as a longstanding partner in progress and development.

Finland has always been open to cooperation in pursuit of a better, more egalitarian world, all the while with the highest degree of respect when it comes to relations with its partners in developing countries. For this, in turn, Finland continues to enjoy our highest respect.

We look forward to today’s deliberations.

I thank you and invite you now, Mr. President, to deliver your remarks.
 

Your Excellency, President Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland

Ministers and Ambassadors,

Members of the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning, thank you for being here.

It has been an honour to receive President Niinistö in South Africa during Freedom Month, and even more so in the week that we commemorate 29 years of our democracy.

South Africa’s liberation from apartheid would not have been possible without the principled solidarity and support of the Finnish people, the Nordic countries, and our many, many friends and allies around the world.

Even when we attained our democracy this support did not waver, and Finland continues to play a key role in supporting South Africa’s ongoing transition to a more egalitarian, prosperous society that leaves no-one behind.

I shared with President Niinistö my personal endearment for the great and honourable Finnish people. In 2000 Finland’s former President Martti Ahtisaari and I were tasked with inspecting Irish Republican Army arms dumps as part of the Northern Ireland peace process.

I learned from President Ahtisaari, as I have on many other occasions, just how inviolable principled solidarity is in building the fellowship of nations.

Indeed, Finland is a valued friend of the South African people and our longstanding partner in development.

It is our collective wish to see the bilateral relationship thrive and improve, especially with regards to reciprocal trade and investment.

Later today, President Niinistö and I will engage with business from both Finland and South Africa on how to improve trade and investment flows between our two countries.

A great deal of work is already happening in this regard.

By way of example, Gauteng province recently entered into a cooperation agreement with the government of Finland in the fields of renewable energy and ICT infrastructure, and towards the creation of a business corridor.

We have agreed to expand Finnish South African cooperation in the following fields:

· Water resource management

· Early Childhood Development, as well as out-of-school youth and adult education

· The training of youth as peace mediators

· Digital and emerging technologies. We have agreed to the proposal of EU member states that the EU-AU Data Flagship Programme’s regional hub should be in South Africa

As South Africa and Finland we expressed our shared commitment to preserving and strengthening the rules-based multilateral system.

We discussed several issues of regional and international significance, and explored ways in which we can collaborate to drive effective responses to the major issues facing humankind today. These include wars, the threat of climate change, and the economic inequalities worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We agreed that a world free of conflict, instability, poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment is our highest aspiration, and that deepening our solidarity and cooperation is paramount.

With these few words I thank you once more for being here and invite you now, Mr. President to deliver your remarks.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 31 January 2023, participate in a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit taking place in Windhoek, Namibia.

The 42nd SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in August 2022 mandated the Chairperson of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency President Hage Geingob of Namibia, to convene the Summit to consider the peace and security situation in the SADC region.

It is expected that the Extraordinary Summit will consider the state of peace and security in the region, with a particular focus on the political and security situations in the Kingdoms of eSwatini and Lesotho as well as developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of  Mozambique.

The Summit will be preceded by meetings of senior officials and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika.

SADC is a Regional Economic Community of the following Member States: Republic of Angola, Republic of Botswana, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of eSwatini, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Seychelles, Republic of South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

South Africa is the outgoing Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise; and Minister in The Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences on the passing of Dr Lydia Meshoe, founding member of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and wife of ACDP President, the Rev Kenneth Meshoe.

Dr Meshoe, who was also President of the ACDP’s Women of Destiny and a former Member of the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng, passed away on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

The President’s thoughts and prayers go out to the Rev Kenneth Meshoe and his family, friends and associates of Dr Lydia Meshoe, and the membership of the ACDP.

President Ramaphosa said: “We join the Meshoe family and the African Christian Democratic Party in mourning the loss of a leader who was in the prime of her service to the communities and structures in which she realised her own destiny.

“May her soul rest in peace as we reflect on her life which, guided by her deep spiritual faith, she dedicated to the empowerment of women and the improvement of socio-economic conditions in various communities.”

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, 
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to take this opportunity to express once again my appreciation to His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob for honouring our invitation to pay a State Visit to South Africa. 

The purpose of the visit was to discuss, review and strengthen our political, social and economic relations. 

During our official talks, we considered broad areas of cooperation and evaluated progress in the implementation of previous decisions and agreements. 

We have directed that an audit of our legal instruments be conducted prior to the convening of the South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission in Windhoek later this year. 

In view of the length of time between sessions of our Bi-National Commission, we have discussed the need for an Inter-Session Review Mechanism of BNC decisions and commitments. 

This work is important for our collective efforts to rebuild our economies and improve the livelihoods of our people following the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Notable progress has been made in various sectors of cooperation. 

This is evidenced by the signing of new agreements to further expand our formal scope of cooperation. 

We have agreed to deepen trade and investment between our two countries. 

Our ministers responsible for trade and industry will convene a Business Forum later this year to be attended by business people from both countries.

We also agreed that the ministers of trade of the two countries should put in place a mechanism to protect investments in our respective countries. 

We will work together to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Tripartite Free Trade Area between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community.

We welcomed the progress made in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area, including ongoing work to finalise the rules of origin for the remaining set of products. 

This progress has been made possible through resolve and commitment.

President Geingob and I also discussed political, economic and security issues in our region. This includes developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. 

As South Africa, we wish Namibia well in its role as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, which is playing a central role in advancing peace and stability in the region.

I have assured President Geingob that we will continue, as part of the SADC collective and within available resources, to assist with regional initiatives such as the SADC Mission in Mozambique. 

We wish the people of Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Madagascar well as they prepare to hold elections this year. 

President Dr Geingob and I deliberated on continental and international issues of mutual concern, including the implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

We expressed our concern at the current situation in Sudan, the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara, the continued denial of the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

This State Visit has done much to reinforce the solid political, social and economic relations between our two countries in pursuit of mutual development and prosperity. 

I thank you.

Your Excellency and Dear Brother, President Dr Hage Geingob, 
Honourable Ministers,
High Commissioners, 
Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning.

Allow me to begin by thanking you, Your Excellency, for honouring our invitation.

Too many years have passed since the last state visit to South Africa by the Republic of Namibia in November 2012. 

A great many things have changed our world since then, including the global COVID-19 pandemic that wreaked havoc across the globe. 

The pandemic had a devastating impact on human health, livelihoods and economic activity, and it will take us some time to fully recover.

Therefore, as we further cement our strong bilateral relations, we need to work together for a swift economic and social recovery for our respective countries, for the region and for our continent.

It is gratifying that officials from our two countries continue to engage at various levels. 

The most recent structured engagement was the Senior Officials Meeting of the 3rd South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission that took place in Windhoek in March this year. 

I am pleased with the work that has been done in preparation for the upcoming BNC, which is scheduled to take place in Namibia later this year. 

Yesterday, Namibia’s Minister in the Presidency and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation had the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. This engagement will be valuable for our discussions today. 

As we sign new Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding during this visit, it is important that we conduct an audit of all existing legal instruments between our two countries in preparation for the upcoming BNC. 

We need to be certain that they are fit-for-purpose and that they continue to serve our respective developmental goals.

As neighbours with deep historical ties, we share the same aspirations for our people – development, employment, equality and prosperity.

We are therefore committed to deepen our cooperation, particularly in the area of trade and investment.

It is unfortunate that, due to other events taking place this week, we were not able to convene a Business Forum on the sidelines of this State Visit. 

However, we are determined that a South Africa-Namibia Business Forum should take place this year. 

It is an opportunity to bring our respective private sectors together to promote investment, trade and potential new areas for cooperation. 

Namibia is one of South Africa’s top trading partners in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

We must use our geographic proximity and the close ties between our respective economies for greater mutual benefit. 

One of the areas to expand cooperation is in energy investment. 

For example, how do we leverage the growing demand for new, clean technologies like green hydrogen to promote cross-border development? 

Both our countries are planning massive hydrogen projects.

Such projects are key to the energy security of South Africa and Namibia, and will catalyse economic growth and job creation in both our countries.

We need to look at how we collaborate, as our respective governments, state-owned enterprises and private companies, to seize this great opportunity. 

Our shared history enjoins us to pursue a common future. 

It is imperative that we implement the African Continental Free Trade Area to deepen African economic integration, to develop our economies and to lessen our reliance on imports from outside Africa.

South Africa pledges to continue to work closely with Namibia as current chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to promote regional peace and stability. 

Please be assured of our full support during your tenure, including with respect to regional anti-terrorism initiatives in northern Mozambique.

As we strive for peace and stability in our region, we must continue to support the struggle for self-determination and freedom of the Saharawi people. 

The declaration and commitments of the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara, co-hosted by South Africa and Namibia in March 2019, should be fully implemented. 

Similarly, all United Nations and African Union resolutions and decisions should be enforced.

We must continue to mobilise regional, continental and international support for a sustainable resolution to the Western Sahara issue, and push for the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front to resume dialogue without preconditions. 

At the same time, we should reaffirm our support for the Palestinian cause and for the two-state solution. 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exposed the frailties of international systems of governance. 

South Africa, like Namibia, maintains that the United Nations and the office of the Secretary-General should play an active role in resolving this conflict. 

We also agree that the UN in its current configuration needs to be more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the majority of the world’s people. 

We must step up our efforts to change the design of multilateral systems of governance. 

One of the most pressing issues facing our respective countries and our region is climate change. 

Like Namibia, South Africa is a water-scare country and is thus particularly vulnerable to climate change and its effects on food security, energy generation, and many other sectors. 

We need to work together in pursuit of low-carbon, inclusive, climate resilient development, which is critical to the sustainability of our continent. 

Your Excellency,

I look forward to our deliberations on these and other important matters of mutual interest.

I thank you again for honouring our invitation and warmly welcome you and your delegation to South Africa.

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Mr Wamkele Mene,
Premiers,
Mayor of the City of Johannesburg,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Business leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to the 5th South Africa Investment Conference. 

Your presence and participation at this investment conference is a clear demonstration that South Africa continues to be an attractive investment destination despite a strained domestic and global economic climate. 

The South Africa Investment Conference has continued to evolve and grow over the past five years.

In 2018, we set a bold and ambitious target to raise R1.2 trillion in investment over a five-year period. 

This year’s conference is an opportunity to reflect on progress we have made to achieve that goal. 

Given the state of the economy in 2018, and given that we were emerging from a decade of state capture, many thought it was an unattainable target.

We moved with speed, appointing the first of our Special Envoys to engage with domestic and foreign investors on investment opportunities in South Africa. 

In the same year, the first-ever South Africa Investment Conference took place. 

Despite economic headwinds, low business confidence and dampened investor sentiment, the first conference generated investment pledges to the value of approximately R300 billion. 

The value of investment pledges has continued to grow.

Since April 2018, we have had to contend with a devastating global pandemic, damaging social unrest, several natural disasters and a cost-of-living crisis worsened by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

In addition, we are now confronted with the consequences of years of under-investment, mismanagement and corruption in our electricity, rail and logistics sectors. 

Given all that has taken place in the intervening years, it is understandable that investor confidence has been sorely tested.

Doubters have had reason to be sceptical. 

We are on a long journey to rebuild our country and recover the ground we have lost. Our recovery is a mission that will take time to accomplish.

We are on the recovery path, we refuse to be daunted by the challenges we face, we are confident that we will recover.

We remain convinced that South Africa is an investment destination with significant untapped potential. We do believe that by leveraging our unique value proposition, we have the ability to attract higher levels of investment. 

In the midst of all the challenges we face, our ambition has not been misplaced. We do believe that the target we set in 2018 was not misplaced either.

The four South African Investment Conferences that have taken place to date have attracted R1.14 trillion in investment pledges. 

We expect that the investment announcements made here today will take this total beyond the target that we set five years ago.

While investment decisions often take several years to reach fruition, the investment commitments made to date have already resulted in substantial investment in the productive economy.

Almost 70 per cent of the total number of projects announced since 2018 are either completed or on their way to completion. 

To date, approximately R460 billion of capital has been invested in building new factories, purchasing equipment, constructing roads, sinking mine shafts and rolling out broadband infrastructure. 

What really stands out is the impact of these investments on the lives of South Africans who are now able to earn a decent living and care for their families. 

As we create sustainable jobs we are working to tackle poverty and inequality. 

Beyond the pledges made inside this conference hall, I have been encouraged by the investments that are happening in our economy and those that are being facilitated via InvestSA, our investment envoys, our diplomatic missions in various countries and our government departments, especially the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. 

Whether it is in business process outsourcing, tech start-ups, the automotive sector, green ammonia, green hydrogen or in the construction of mega data centres, local and international companies are expanding their footprint in South Africa. 

It has been a core conviction of this administration that to create jobs we must drive growth, and to achieve growth we must implement fundamental economic reforms.

This 5th South Africa Investment Conference affirms local and international investor confidence in the structural reforms we have been driving to improve the business environment. 

The energy sector remains our foremost priority. 

The lack of reliability in electricity supply weakens business and consumer confidence, taints international perceptions about our country and affects investment sentiment and decisions.

With a view to addressing the energy challenges we announced an Energy Action Plan in July last year. The Energy Action Plan presents a clear path to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding in the short term and achieve energy security in the long term. 

The Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, with the support of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Department of Public Enterprises and the National Energy Crisis Committee, is overseeing the implementation of this plan. 

Our immediate focus is on improving the performance of our existing coal fired power stations as they continue to provide the baseload of our energy.

Demand-side management initiatives will receive elevated attention, including through consumer behaviour, rooftop solar and facilitating embedded generation.

We have been implementing wide-ranging reforms in the electricity sector to enable private investment in electricity generation and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity from solar, wind, gas and battery storage. 

One of these reforms regarding the removal of the licensing threshold for embedded generation, has facilitated considerable private investment in the electricity sector. 

This reform, together with measures to streamline regulatory processes, has enabled a surge of new projects, with the pipeline of committed projects now representing over 10,000 MW of new capacity. 

Several municipalities are making use of regulatory changes to procure power independently. 

We have introduced tax incentives for households and businesses to invest in rooftop solar. We have called for financial institutions to support this effort through affordable funding for households and small and medium enterprises. The government will assist poor households through a number of programmes.

The debt transfer package for Eskom, together with the progress made in unbundling the utility, will enable the necessary investment in the transmission network and in maintenance of Eskom’s generation fleet. 

We expect the National Transmission Company to be fully operational shortly.

Through our renewable energy programme, we have signed agreements for approximately 2,800 MW from bid windows 5 and 6, with several large projects already in construction and others on track to reach financial close. 

We recently released a request for proposals for over 500 MW of battery storage, and will soon open further bid windows for wind and solar, battery storage and gas power. 
 
As we work to close the electricity supply shortfall and end load shedding in the short term, we are laying the foundation for a fundamental reform of the energy sector in the longer term. 

Cabinet has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, which will soon be tabled in Parliament, to establish a competitive market for electricity generation.

Though load shedding will remain a challenge in the immediate future, its severity will begin to ease as some of the more targeted initiatives recently announced begin to take effect. 

What we are witnessing in the energy sector is an undeniable surge of investment that will not only address the electricity supply shortfall in years to come, but will propel growth and create jobs. 

Even as we work to improve the performance of our existing coal-fired power stations to address load shedding, we remain committed to a just energy transition and our target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 

We will implement our Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, which outlines our investment needs to support a just and inclusive transition towards cleaner forms of energy.

We will soon be completing the review of the Integrated Resource Plan to lay the foundation for a fundamentally transformed energy landscape that transitions us along a low-carbon, climate resilient developmental path.

We will undertake this just transition at a pace our country can afford and in a manner that advances our developmental objectives and ensures energy security.  

In the long run, investment in green energy will be a huge boost to economic growth.

There are indeed opportunities in this crisis, including for the local manufacture of solar panels, batteries and inverters and the use of our unique natural endowment in resources like platinum and vanadium.

This will open up new opportunities for employment and the skilling and upskilling of workers, especially young people.

We are equally focused on addressing the crisis in the logistics sector. 

Transnet’s railway and port constraints are significantly affecting the mining, agriculture, forestry, automotive and manufacturing sectors. 

We are prioritising port and rail efficiencies as part of the structural reform process. 

Our new National Rail Policy provides for third party access to the freight rail network, which will allow private rail operators onto the network to increase investment and improve efficiency. 

To facilitate third party access, Transnet is establishing a separate Infrastructure Manager for the rail network. 

In the interim, Transnet is implementing a range of measures to arrest the decline in performance of the freight rail system, including to increase the availability of locomotives for key corridors. 

Transnet is also in the process of establishing private sector partnerships at the Durban and Ngqura Container Terminals, which we expect to be concluded in the coming weeks.

Significantly, we have agreed with key stakeholders to establish a National Logistics Crisis Committee to drive the implementation of a comprehensive roadmap for the freight logistics sector. 

Just as the private sector Resource Mobilisation Fund is providing support for the Energy Action Plan, we are greatly encouraged by indications from business that they are prepared to support government in our effort to fix the logistics system. 

We are confident that working together with the private sector and organised labour, Transnet and government will be able to overcome these constraints to improve efficiencies. 

Immigration reform has long been cited by many businesses as an area of concern. 

Today, we are able to announce a significant overhaul of the work visa system that will provide a further boost to investment.

This includes decentralising the adjudication of visa applications to foreign missions and streamlining application requirements to reduce the timeframes for obtaining a work visa.

We will introduce a Trusted Employer Scheme for qualifying companies and establish a points-based system to provide more flexible pathways for skilled applicants, in line with global best practice.

We will introduce new visa categories for remote workers and start-ups to attract dynamic entrepreneurs and promote spending in our economy. 

In addition, we will be expanding the e-Visa system to include an additional 20 countries over and above the 14 that are currently eligible, and will extend the e-Visa system to cover new visa categories such as study, business and intra-company transfer visas. 

These reforms will enable us to attract skills and investment and create jobs while protecting and promoting the employment of South Africans. 

As we reform our visa regime, we are investing in the skills development system to ensure that we produce the skills that our economy needs.

The National Skills Fund will soon launch a new model for demand-led skills development, which will provide R800 million to fund training for unemployed young people in digital skills. 

The key innovation of this model is that payment will be linked to placement of young people in employment, as opposed to training alone, to incentivise improved outcomes.

The pay-for-performance fund is designed to crowd in funding from multiple sources, and I would like to call on the support of the private sector in taking this model to scale.

Crime and corruption continues to hamper South Africa’s development. 

To address this grave challenge, specialised multidisciplinary task teams have been set up by the police to tackle crimes of economic sabotage such as violence and extortion at construction sites, illegal mining, infrastructure vandalism and cable theft. 

A number of arrests have already been made, followed by prosecutions and convictions. This steady progress is important as we strive to break up organised crime syndicates. 

Our hard work to rebuild state institutions is bearing fruit. 

The South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit and the NPA’s Investigating Directorate are making notable progress in dealing with cases of serious corruption. This work has resulted in arrests, asset forfeitures, successful convictions and the recovery of misappropriated funds. 

Supported by data provided by the South African Revenue Service and the Financial Intelligence Centre, a multidisciplinary Fusion Centre is helping the National Prosecuting Authority to successfully prosecute corruption-related offences and unravel complex financial crimes. 

Since its inception the work of the Fusion Centre has led to the preservation and recovery of approximately R1.75 billion in criminal assets. 

These developments highlight the importance of South Africa’s efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s ‘grey list’ as soon as possible. 

South Africa’s inclusion on the list of ‘jurisdictions under increased monitoring’ is intended to raise standards of compliance. 

Both our banking sector and our anti money-laundering legislation already meet FATF requirements. 

We are working with the FATF to effectively address all outstanding deficiencies and strengthen the effectiveness of our anti money-laundering regime. 

Yesterday, I met with business leaders from some of South Africa’s leading companies to discuss the challenges that are holding up growth in our economy.

We agreed to undertake practical joint action in three immediate priority areas: energy, logistics, and crime and corruption.

In doing so, we will be building on the collaborative model that we used so successfully in managing our response to Covid-19 and in our vaccine rollout.

We are confident that if we can address these three issues, we will be able to turn our economy around and unleash its full potential.

This 5th South Africa Investment conference marks the end of the first phase of our investment mobilisation drive. 

As South Africans, we have always believed in our country and its great promise. 

We know from our engagements with you as investors, that you see this potential too, a potential that is evident in the investment that we continue to attract. 

South Africa’s first Country Investment Strategy is being finalised. It will outline priority areas and sectors to advance our country’s economic interest and will be driven at the highest level with oversight provided by the Presidency. 

Investment in our economy is not just about the amounts you have seen on this stage over the years. When we expand the lens and take in the aggregate picture, we see some encouraging trends too. 

Following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, total fixed investment in nominal terms increased from R756 billion in 2020 to R811 billion in 2021 and to R933 billion in 2022. 

From historical data, we know that total investment in our economy over a five year period comes in at roughly R4 trillion. 

Building on this baseline, we will work towards a new target.

As I announced in the State of the Nation Address in February, we are now setting a new target to mobilise approximately R2 trillion in new investments over another five-year period, between now and 2028.

The investments emanating from the four South Africa Investment Conferences held to date have stimulated industrial, technological and institutional modernisation.

These investments have supported the expansion of human capital and knowledge transfer, and created more jobs and learning opportunities. 

With the achievement of our R1.2 trillion target today, we now cast our collective eyes to the horizon. 

With your support, with your investment, we can realise more growth, offer more opportunities and create even more jobs. 

As we work with dedication and focus to overcome our immediate challenges, let us not lose sight of the incredible promise of our country, South Africa.

I look forward our deliberations today and to the new investment pledges that will be announced. 

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We have come to the end of the 5th South Africa Investment Conference.

Having now officially concluded the first phase of our national investment mobilisations drive, we can say this has been a watershed conference.

We have now reached R1,51 trillion in pledges, overshooting our initial R1,2 trillion target by 26 per cent.

We have honoured the undertaking we gave the South African people in 2018 that we would attract new investment to our shores, support the growth of local businesses and create more jobs.

When we set out on this ambitious path five years ago, none of us could have foreseen that the world would be struck by a deadly pandemic. 

Nor could any of us have imagined the lingering impact on investment, businesses, jobs, and livelihoods, even years after the existential health threat has passed.

For us to have been able to meet our five-year target despite major challenges and disruptions, including the pandemic, is no mean feat. 

It is a stellar achievement. We should all be proud. I want us to give ourselves a hand.

Today’s pledges cover 21 district municipalities across the country. 

A number of these investments aren’t only bringing much-needed economic activity to these localities, they are also supporting our overall national development goals.

Infrastructure development is one of the key areas of focus to drive economic growth and is the flywheel that drives economic growth.

When we talk about investment in the cause of development, infrastructure is at the center.

Infrastructure development meets pressing community needs, and leaves behind a legacy that future generations will use. 

By way of example, a few years back SANRAL announced at the Investment Conference their plans to build Msikaba Bridge, the longest and highest cable-stayed suspension bridge in Africa. 

On a superficial level, this bridge connects the peoples and economies of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal, But it is a deeper story about integrated development.

Iron ore for its construction is being mined in the Northern Cape; transported to KwaZulu/Natal and Gauteng to be converted into steel blooms and plates; fabricated in Mpumalanga; and finally, assembled in the Eastern Cape.

For each step in an infrastructure development value chain, jobs are created, small businesses and suppliers supported, and skills are imparted. 

Over the four-year period of our investment drive, we have realised approximately R263 billion in investment for infrastructure development. 

Not counted in this figure is the hundreds of billions of rands being spent on local and other public infrastructure by the three spheres of government.

Through InfrastructureSA we are hard at work driving the implementation of other key strategic infrastructure projects in water and sanitation. 

This includes bulk water projects such as Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Mzimvubu water project, the uMkhomazi Water Project, the Mokolo Crocodile River Water Augmentation Project, and others. 

A number of other strategic infrastructure projects are either in preparation or under construction in energy, transport, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. 

Today there have been pledges from several companies and entities to invest in property development and logistics. 

This includes in luxury resorts and mixed-use developments, but also in social infrastructure projects like student accommodation. 

The South African National Roads Agency is also investing R 19,7 billion in the construction of various roads, bridges, and other critical transport infrastructure.

In my opening remarks this morning I said that by leveraging our strengths and unique value proposition, we will attract higher levels of investment.

South Africa’s unique value proposition is the diversity and sophistication of our economy. 

Unlike many other countries whose national economies were founded in and remain reliant on the extractive sectors, we have a diverse economy, and the breadth of investments are indicative of these opportunities that exist. 

Today we have seen investment pledges across a range of sectors. They include:

• The R1 billion investment by Turkey’s Menar Group in thermal coal mining in Mpumalanga
• Seriti Group’s R4,5 billion investment in a wind energy project in Mpumalanga
• US-based Moove’s R284 million investment in e-logistics
• Hive Hydrogen’s massive R 105 billion investment in a green hydrogen production facility in Coega in the Eastern Cape. 

Hive’s investment in the Eastern Cape will see not only the construction of a green ammonia production plant, but the company also has plans to construct a seawater desalination plant capable of meeting approximately 50 per cent of the water needs of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. 

Bringing development, and creating jobs is the true measurement of the success of these five conferences.

Investors are keenly aware of the impediments to faster growth and development, but they also see the progress that is being made in fixing these problems. 

This was well expressed by the panellists who contributed their thoughts and ideas during the course of this conference, particularly on how collaboration between government, business and civil society would be the best solution to many of our challenges.

 I do believe that as investors, you can see the capabilities of our people, the resilience of our institutions, and our determination to forge ahead with a structural reform path that will make us the continent’s premier investment destination.

It is only with your investment that we can bring about the equitable, sustainable development that can forever transform the fortunes of our great country.

We need to see the achievement of our initial five-year target as an opportunity to deepen our collaboration to achieve even more ambitious targets in future. 

The success of this first phase must be a springboard towards a recovered, reconstructed, inclusive new economy.

As government and the private sector, we have proven ourselves capable of moving forward together, of working in unison in pursuit of the common good.

We did so exceptionally during the pandemic, we have done so with this investment drive, and now aim to replicate this collaboration as we address challenges with energy and logistics. 

I call on every one of us in this room to recommit ourselves to the common good that is South Africa’s development.

I want to thank the sponsors for their generosity.

These are the Industrial Development Corporation, Vodacom, Anglo American, ARM, Exxaro, Google, Thungela Resources, Huawei, Samsung, SAB, Discovery, Transnet, and Coca Cola. 

I also want to thank our partners the IDC and BrandSA. 

I want to thank our Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel and the Ministerial Steering Committee who have been working to ensure this conference is a success. 

I want to thank our investment envoys – Ms Phumzile Langeni, Mr Jacko Maree, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, Mr Trevor Manuel, Mr Derek Hanekom and Mr Jeff Radebe – for their dedication to the task of promoting South Africa as an attractive and dependable investment destination.

I also wish to thank my economic advisor, Ms. Trudi Makhaya, who has been central to the effort to promote investment and grow the economy over the last five years.

I also want to thank the Organising Committee, and all the government departments, agencies and entities that have contributed to this conference, including the InvestSA team. 

Thanks also go to our partners in business, labour, and civil society for supporting this Investment Conference.

The past five years have shown what we are capable of as a nation. They have shown our resilience and determination, our ability to make progress under difficult circumstances.

As we close this 5th South Africa Investment Conference, we look to the next five years with greater confidence and ambition.

I now officially announce the countdown to mobilise R2 trillion over the next five years or 1825 days. Let the hard work begin!

I thank you.

Your Majesty, King Philippe of the Belgians, 
Your Majesty, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians,
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Dr. Naledi Pandor,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium, Ms. Hadja Lahbib,
Ministers of the Republic of South Africa,
Ministers-President of the regions of Belgium,
Your Excellencies, the Ambassador of Belgium to South Africa and the Ambassador of South Africa to Belgium,
Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Majesty, it is my pleasure to welcome you to South Africa.

In 2018 you received me in Brussels during our working visit to the European Union. 

I was and remain most encouraged by your interest in developments in South Africa, and by our common desire to deepen relations between Belgium and South Africa.

As South Africans we were deeply moved how in 2013, in your first Christmas address to the people of Belgium as their new monarch, you paid tribute to the father of our democracy, President Nelson Mandela. 

You said, and I quote:

"He personified the will to build bridges. He showed us that dialogue and reconciliation can change the world. Let us find this strength in ourselves."

Indeed your visit to our country is about building bridges. We are pleased that you have honoured our invitation.  Our world has changed a great deal since January 2020 when we extended an official invitation for this State Visit.

We have had to contend with a global pandemic that wreaked great devastation on human life, livelihoods and the global economy; a series of natural disasters around the world; and since last year, a war between Russia and Ukraine that has sparked a global crisis of high cost of living.

We are indeed living through difficult times. Never has the imperative for global cooperation been greater, and never has the need for greater global solidarity been more urgent.

I wish to express our appreciation to the Kingdom of Belgium for its role in the global fight against COVID-19. Belgium is an important donor to the vaccine alliance GAVI, for the operation of COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative. Belgium has also donated more than 10 million vaccine doses, of which a significant proportion were sent to countries in Africa.

Belgium was also one of the earliest backers of the World Health Organisation’s mRNA tech transfer hub initiative in South Africa, operating from the understanding that long-term solutions are needed to address inequitable access to vaccines and therapeutics.

Today Belgium is a partner in in the mRNA Transfer Hub in Cape Town. 
One of our companies, Afrigen Biologics, is collaborating with Belgium’s Univercells Group to develop a novel mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This cooperation will ensure that we are better prepared in the event of future health emergencies, and towards achieving our goal of producing the first African-owned coronavirus vaccine.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is of grave concern to us all.

As South Africa we continue to emphasise the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. 

As you rightly said back in 2013, Your Majesty, dialogue and reconciliation can change the world. We look forward to sharing our perspectives on the conflict during our meeting, and to learn more about Belgium’s stance. 

It is also important to consider the impact of the conflict on the international economy, especially with regards to global food and energy security.

As South Africa we are encouraged at the growth of grade and investment between our two countries, and that our respective tourism links are also developing.

There has also been good cooperation between our two countries when we were both members of international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, and currently, on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

I believe that much more can be done for our bilateral relations to grow and expand. 

When it comes to our respective histories, we share some similarities. 

They include contending with a painful past, striving for national reconciliation, and building a common, united future. This should form the basis for greater dialogue between our two countries, because we have much to learn from each other.

Your visit, Your Majesty, will add momentum to this process. It is our wish that this is an opportunity to foster greater cooperation, but also understanding, between the peoples of Belgium and South Africa.

I thank you and invite you now to make your opening remarks.