The Right Honourable Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for International Trade,
Minister Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition,
Mr Andrew Selous, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for South Africa,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Thank you all for taking the time to engage with us on the opportunities for greater commercial and economic partnerships between the United Kingdom and South Africa.
 
Most of the firms represented here today will have a fairly detailed knowledge of South Africa, its challenges and its enormous opportunities.
 
Many of you are actively invested in our economy, some for many decades.
 
You will know the attractions of South Africa.
 
These include market access.
 
Aside from the size of the domestic market, South Africa has free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and European Union.
 
We have preferential access to the United States market, through the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act, or AGOA.
 
Over the past four years, we have been putting in place an African Continental Free Trade Area that will connect 55 national economies and more than 1.3 billion people.
 
The legal instruments have been completed and countries and customs unions are now finalising their tariff offers, with the intention that trade would commence next year.
 
A number of UK companies have attended the annual South Africa Investment Conferences that we have held since 2018 and made significant new investment commitments.
 
Bilateral trade is at its highest yet, with goods and services worth £10.7 billion being traded between the United Kingdom and South Africa in the 12 months ending in June this year.
 
Exports from South Africa to the UK are estimated to support 134,000 South African jobs.
 
The UK is the largest foreign investor in South Africa, and several South African companies have a presence here in the UK.
 
It is our intention and our ambition to substantially increase the value and diversify the composition of both trade and investment.
 
While there are many attractions and huge potential for investors in South Africa, there a number of constraints on economic growth and social development.
 
For more than a decade, South Africa has been confronted with a shortage of electricity.
 
We have taken urgent steps to remedy this dire situation by significantly and rapidly increasing the construction of new generating capacity.
 
We have accelerated the procurement of renewable energy and have removed many of the regulatory hurdles to greater private investment in embedded generation.
 
We are working closely with the power utility, Eskom, to improve the performance of their fleet of power stations.
 
We are undertaking far-reaching reforms to improve the capacity and competitiveness of railways and ports, to open up our telecommunications industry and to improve the supply and pricing of water.
 
We have established mechanisms like the Infrastructure Fund to leverage funding from various sources, including the private sector, for substantial infrastructure investment.
 
We have taken decisive measures to tackle crime and corruption.
 
Our law enforcement agencies are being rebuilt and are being provided with the resources needed to prosecute those responsible for the criminal capture of state institutions.
 
We are strengthening the ability of our police and other security services to respond to economic crimes, such as extortion and damage to infrastructure.
 
It is important for the South African government to understand the issues, concerns and expectations of British companies and business leaders.
 
We are therefore keen to hear from you on what we can do to encourage you to increase your investment in South Africa.
 
In which sectors do you see greatest potential for collaboration?
 
What partnerships are you exploring where you may need our help?
 
If you are involved in the South African market, what has been your experience of doing business there?
 
I look forward to a useful discussion that will take forward our efforts to strengthen the economic ties between our two countries.
 
I thank you.

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Nicholas Lyons,
Your Royal Highnesses,
High Commissioner and Ambassadors,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to address you this evening at the conclusion of our State Visit to the United Kingdom. 

This visit takes place at a key moment for our countries and for the international community.
 
The global economy is still recovering from the blows inflicted by the most severe pandemic in more than a century. 

Many lives have been lost, many livelihoods have been destroyed and many families have endured great hardship. 

The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in our economies and in the global trading and investment systems. 

The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on food and fuel prices has led to further economic turmoil and hardship, particularly for the poor and vulnerable. 

The effects of climate change are being felt across the world, signalling in terms that are clear and compelling that existing models of production and consumption are not sustainable.

At this moment in human history, with its manifold challenges, there is both a need and an opportunity to think and act differently.

This is the context in which the United Kingdom and South Africa should together be exploring new opportunities.

South Africa is a key destination for investment.

Our country is the gateway to a dynamic continent that is expanding its production, that is rapidly urbanising and that has a young population. 

South Africa is a leading mining economy, with proven capabilities in advanced manufacturing, science and technology. 

South Africa has sophisticated financial systems and Africa’s deepest capital market, where the rule of law is strong and there is firm protection of contracts and property rights. 

South Africa hosts many leading multinational corporations.

Our own companies are active in many global markets. 

We look to a new partnership between British capital and technology and South African opportunity and industrial capacity.

Firstly, we seek a new partnership on investment. 

The United Kingdom is the largest provider of capital to South African businesses. 

In 2020, the stock of foreign direct investment from the United Kingdom into South Africa was larger than any other country.

Four years ago, we embarked on an ambitious investment drive to attract some £60 billion in new investment in the South African economy over a five year period. 

We have already reached £55 billion in investment commitments, of which £6.5 billion has come from UK investors. 

We will be hosting the 5th South Africa Investment Conference in April next year. 

We look forward to welcoming many British companies to this important event to explore investment opportunities, joint ventures and industrial partnerships. 

Secondly, we seek a new partnership on climate change and green industry.

While climate change imposes costs on businesses, it also provides new opportunities. 

For South Africa, this opportunity lies in the effort to build a greener base to manufacturing and energy generation. 

There is potential for significant partnerships on electric vehicle production, on green hydrogen and on green steel production. 

Already we have built a large renewable energy generation sector and are rapidly growing it as a response to our energy challenges. 

We see a new partnership that will enable funding, know-how and technical support mobilised on a vast scale to help South Africa achieve a just transition from a carbon-intensive economy to industrialisation driven by renewable energy. 

Thirdly, we seek a new partnership on science, innovation and technology. 

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare Africa’s vulnerability with respect to the supply of medicines, medical equipment and vaccines. 

We used all the ingenuity of South African manufacturers to create production capacity for medical-grade face masks, hand sanitisers, COVID test kits and ventilators. 

Our excellent genome sequencing capacity was used to detect new variants of COVID-19. 

Given the strong research and innovation record of British companies, the new partnership can improve collaboration and unlock joint funding and investment in developing Africa’s medical supply hub. 

Fourthly, we seek a new partnership in trade in goods and services.

In 2021, bilateral trade between South Africa and Britain was valued at £17,000 a minute. 

That means that in the time it took the English football team to score their first three goals on Monday, our trade grew by about £200,000.

While a large part of South Africa’s exports is still in minerals, there has been a significant increase in manufacturing exports, using South African industrial capabilities to meet the needs of British businesses and consumers. 

In the new partnership, we are keen to increase the volume and diversify the composition of trade so that we sell more manufacturing products to UK markets.

Trade in services is also important. 

South Africa is a large supplier of global business services, with call centres in our big cities providing round-the-clock services to the customers of businesses in the UK. 

We are looking to significantly expand tourism between our countries.

South Africa receives more visitors from Britain than from any other country outside of Southern Africa.

Visitors are attracted by the beauty of our landscape and wildlife, our long and rugged coastline, our music and culture, and the energy of our urban areas. 

The relationship between the United Kingdom and South Africa has changed much over the course of our history.

This visit proves the strength and endurance of the ties between us.

As this State Visit draws to a close, we are certain of a new era of partnership between the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Now, I propose a toast to the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation.

I thank you.

The Minister in The Presidency will lead the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) on a media roundtable discussion on the bi-annual performance progress reports on Tuesday, 22 November 2022, at 10h00.

The DPME has a responsibility to monitor the performance of Government against the set priorities in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and produce bi-annual progress reports for consideration by Cabinet.

Cabinet approved the biannual performance progress reports for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. In addition to capturing the biannual performance progress, the reports also provide a mid-term review of the priorities of the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework.

The reports are compiled according to the five clusters, Justice, Crime Prevention and Security; Economic Sectors, Investment, Employment and Infrastructure Development; Social Protection, Community and Human Development; Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development, and International Cooperation, Trade and Security.

The reports provide an analysis of the key indicators of the seven adopted priorities of Government using data collected from the departmental reports, statistics from Statistics South Africa and reports from the academia. The information is analysed against the National Development Plan: Vision 2030.

Members of the media are invited to join the roundtable discussion as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2022
Time: 9h00
Venue: GCIS Auditorium, 1035 Frances Baard and Festival Street, Hatfield, Pretoria (Members of the media may also join discussion virtually through the following link: https://gcis.zoom.us/j/91672151090?pwd=cHZPSFE2MXJ1N1FqVW1HTVFGUi9DZz09)

For confirmations, please contact Ms Prudence Motswatswe on 066 273 7502 or PrudenceM@dpme.gov.za.


Media enquiries: Ms Nonceba Mhlauli on 072 623 3462 or Nonceba@dpme.gov.za

Issued by: The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Pretoria

Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will on Thursday,  1 December 2022 address the World AIDS Day Commemoration. This year’s national commemoration will take place at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.

The World AIDS Day is commemorated annually across the globe to show solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV and also raise awareness about the status of the pandemic to encourage HIV prevention, treatment and care.

The national theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘Equalise and Integrate to End AIDS', and is intended on addressing persistent inequalities that hinder progress against the country’s efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat. These inequalities include exclusion and inadequate access to health services as a result of poverty and against key and vulnerable populations including transgender persons and sex workers among others.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by the SANAC Civil Society Chairperson Ms. Steve Letsike, the Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela and representatives from development partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Prior to the official commemoration, Government in collaboration with civil society and development partners will participate in the build-up events under the ‘Policy-In-Action’ banner in and around Mangaung.

Media is invited to participate and cover the commemoration as follows:

Date: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Time: 09h00
Venue: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, Rocklands, Bloemfontein, Free State

RSVP by 29 November: Simangaliso Motsepe simangaliso@sanac.org.za / Tshiamo Selomo tshiamo@presidency.gov.za


Media enquiries and media interview requests to be directed to:

The Presidency – Matshepo Seedat: matshepo@presidency.gov.za / 082 679 9473
National Department of Health – Foster Mohale: foster.mohale@health.gov.za / 072 432 3792
SANAC – Nelson Dlamini: nelson@sanac.org.za / 078 731 0313
Free State Department of Health – Mondli Mvambi: mvambimj@fshealth.gov.za / 082 043 3744
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President David Mabuza will tomorrow, Saturday 26 November 2022, attend and deliver the eulogy at the funeral service of Warrant Officer Thomad Shongwe of the Presidential Protection Services who passed away last weekend in a car accident.

Warrant Officer Shongwe passed away on the scene of an accident while travelling in a motorcade on Sunday, 20 November 2022, to Gauteng as part of the Deputy President’s convoy. 

The deceased  member served in the South African Police Service (SAPS) VIP Unit attached to the erstwhile Premier of Mpumalanga Province until 2018. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the Presidential Protection Services and had 31 years of uninterrupted service at South African Police Service since 1991. 

The loss of W/O Shongwe has been a sad incident that has left a void to the Presidential Protection Services, especially that attached to the Deputy President. 

Details of the funeral are as follows: 

Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022
Time: 08h00
Venue: Church on the Hill, KaMagugu, Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province 


Media enquiries: Matshepo Seedat on 0826799473

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Members of the media are invited to apply for accreditation for the State Visit by President Nicolas Maduro Moros of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to be held on Tuesday, 06 December 2022 in Pretoria. 

The State Visit will solidify the already strong relations between South Africa and Venezuela. The visit will highlight the existing cooperation between the two countries and consolidate concrete actions for mutual benefit of the South African and Venezuelan people.

All media interested in covering the State Visit are requested to submit the below accreditation form to Shadi Baloyi on 072 571 6415 / shadi@presidency.gov.za and Naledi Malatji on 078 633 6302 / Naledi@presidency.gov.za by Thursday, 01 December 2022. Deadline must be adhered to and late submissions will not be accepted.

SSA Screening and Accreditation.xlsx (12.78 KB)

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

SSA Screening and Accreditation.xlsx

President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially open and deliver the keynote address at the special-edition Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) that will focus exclusively on Green Hydrogen.

The South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit as the event is branded, will be held in Cape Town at Century City, from Monday, 28 November to Wednesday, 30 November 2022. 

President Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, 29 November 2022.

South Africa is one of the founding members of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) which seeks to promote continental green hydrogen cooperation.

The conference will be addressed by senior expert delegates from around the continent and Europe.

The Summit builds on the opportunities identified during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) of 2021. 

One of the highlights of the symposium was South Africa’s emergence as a potential global exporter of green energy with major investment support from Sasol and Anglo-American boosting the country’s green hydrogen projects.

Green hydrogen was identified as a “Big Frontier”, in the Country Investment Strategy, indicating that it represents both current and future growth and investment potential for South Africa.

The inaugural infrastructure summit highlighted Summit Green Hydrogen as a viable sector for strategic investment and government support in the country.

This week’s Summit will focus on:

• Bringing together role players, such as project sponsors, decision makers in government, financing institutions, international authorities, and academic institutions, to enable knowledge sharing, and most importantly, enabling an environment conducive to forging long-term working relationships;
• Concentrating targeted green hydrogen engagement events aimed at popularising the Green Hydrogen Economy and its potential in South Africa;
• Drawing lessons from other countries on their individual journey’s as it relates to building an economy around green hydrogen and decarbonisation;
• Drawing interest in exports and domestic utilisation underpinned by green hydrogen’s potential to combine South Africa’s mineral endowment with its renewable energy endowment to drive beneficiation and reindustrialisation.

MEDIA ENQUIRES FOR ACCREDITATION AND CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES: 
Nombulelo Nyathela
Infrastructure South Africa 
Chief Director: External Relations and Communications
Mobile. +27 60 503 4933


Presidency media enquiries : Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President  on. +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded his State Visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, where he championed a new partnership between British capital and technology and South African opportunity and industrial capacity.
 
The President led a South African delegation on the first such visit to be hosted by His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort.
 
During the visit, the President interacted with King Charles III, and with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street.
 
The President also received a courtesy call by Leader of the opposition Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer.
 
The President has expressed his appreciation for the warmth of King Charles III’s hosting of the State Visit as well as the King’s open and visionary engagement on  development, education, the environment and mitigation of climate change.
 
The President’s engagement with Prime Minister Sunak centred on upgrading trade and investment levels between the two countries and creating more opportunities in British markets for South African goods and commodities, to protect jobs in South Africa and grow the country’s manufacturing and agricultural industry.
 
The leaders discussed cooperation in trade and investment, energy, health, science, environment and higher education and innovation, including the promotion of education and skills exchange programmes in academia and technical skills for youth.
 
President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Sunak also engaged on the Just Energy Transition Investment Partnership in which the United Kingdom has committed itself alongside the United States, the European Union, France and Germany to provide financial support for South Africa’s transition to an economy and energy mix that is less dependent on coal.
 
The President and Prime Sunak explored ways in which the partnership could increase the proportion of financing that could be presented as grants rather than concessional funding including loans.
 
Accompanied by UK Secretary of State for International Trade The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, MP, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition participated in a UK-SA Business Forum and roundtable where investors pledged continued engagement with South Africa.
 
President Ramaphosa assured business leaders of South Africa’s continued support for existing and prospective investors and outlined the numerous opportunities on offer to investors in a diversified economy where economic growth is required for South Africa to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
 
During the visit, the President positioned South Africa as a key destination for investment and as a gateway to a dynamic continent that is expanding its production, is rapidly urbanising and has a young population. 
 
South Africa is a leading mining economy, with proven capabilities in advanced manufacturing, science and technology. 
 
South Africa has sophisticated financial systems and Africa’s deepest capital market, where the rule of law is strong and there is firm protection of contracts and property rights. 
 
In this context, President Ramaphosa urged – in an address to a banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor Alderman Nicholas Lyons and the City of London Corporation – a new partnership between the United Kingdom and South Africa.
 
The President envisions a new partnership around investment; climate change and green industry; science, innovation and technology, and trade in goods and services.
 
Accompanied by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and brother to King Charles III, President Ramaphosa had the opportunity to visit Kew Gardens in West London where he received a briefing on cooperation between the United Kingdom and South Africa in the area of botanical sciences and the conservation of potentially or already endangered plant species. Here, the President also participated in a roundtable discussion on biodiversity and climate change.
 
The President paid a visit to the Francis Crick Institute for biomedical research in London where a number of South African scientists, including PhD candidates, are contributing to or leading research into epidemics such as COVID-19 and other global health threats such as the Hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis.
 
At this visit, the President and Prince Edward witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding that anticipate closer cooperation between South Africa and the United Kingdom in health, and science, technology, research and innovation.
 
The memoranda were signed by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande and Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and their respective counterparts, the UK Minister Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Minister Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
 
The President’s visit has cemented the strong bonds that exist between the United Kingdom and South Africa, characterised by a shared history and a common desire to tackle today's challenges and aspirations.
 
President Ramaphosa described his visit to Buckingham Palace as historic and memorable, providing the United Kingdom and South Africa the opportunity to deepen bilateral ties as well as cooperation through other forums, including the Commonwealth.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Acting President of the Republic of South Africa, Mrs Angie Motshekga will tomorrow, 24 November 2022, deliver a keynote address at the Memorial Service of the late Warrant Officer Thomas Shongwe, Presidential Protection Services member who passed away in the vehicle accident that took place at the weekend.

The 56 year-old Warrant Officer Thomas Shongwe died on the scene of the accident in Middelburg while traveling to Gauteng as part of the Deputy President’s convoy. 

Mrs Motshekga has also wished a speedy recovery to the two injured PPS members. 

Before joining the Presidential Protection Services, Warrant Officer Shongwe served in the SAPS VIP services attached to the erstwhile Premier of Mpumalanga Province until 2018. 

The Acting President will attend the Memorial Service as follows:
Date: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Time: 10am
Venue: SAPS Pretoria West College, Tshwane 
1 Rebecca Street, Pretoria


Media enquiries: Elijah Mhlanga on 083 580 8275

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Acting President of the Republic of South Africa, Mrs Angie Motshekga, will tomorrow, 24 November 2022, deliver a keynote address at the Memorial Service of the late Warrant Officer Thomas Shongwe, Presidential Protection Services member who passed away in the vehicle accident that took place at the weekend.

The 56 year-old Warrant Officer Thomas Shongwe died on the scene of the accident in Middelburg while traveling to Gauteng as part of the Deputy President’s convoy. 

Mrs Motshekga has also wished a speedy recovery to the two injured PPS members. 

Before joining the Presidential Protection Services, Warrant Officer Shongwe served in the SAPS VIP services attached to the erstwhile Premier of Mpumalanga Province until 2018. 

The Acting President will attend the Memorial Service as follows:

Date: Thursday, 24 November 2022
Time: 10h00
Venue: SAPS Pretoria West College, 1 Rebecca Street, Pretoria


Media enquiries: Elijah Mhlanga on 083 580 8275

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria