Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will answer questions in the National Assembly tomorrow, Wednesday, 23 August 2017, to brief Parliament on a range of key national issues such as government’s quest to align the post-school sector to the country's human resource development strategy, and on measures to improve investor confidence in State-Owned Enterprises.
 
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa chairs the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDCSA) and also leads government's efforts to turn around state-owned enterprises as part of securing economic growth.
 
Other updates by Deputy President Ramaphosa will include progress recorded by the Department of Labour in job creation. 
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will also respond to questions relating to his role as Leader of Government Business in the National Legislature.
 

Enquiries: Tyrone Seale: Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 083 575 7440
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

On behalf of the government of the Republic of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his best wishes to Muslim compatriots as they celebrate Eid ul Fitr. 
 
This day marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan – during which time Muslims perform acts of charity and goodwill. The day of Eid-ul-Fitr also marks the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th Month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for family, community, generosity and compassion. 
 
It is an opportunity to renew and continue the values which unite us all: of tolerance, of respect, and of selflessness. It is tradition in the Muslim community that after performing the Eid prayer, money is paid to the poor and needy.
 
As South Africans collectively strive to alleviate the plight of the indigent, the destitute and the unemployed – the Muslim community’s charitable efforts are to be commended. 
 
The Thuma Mina message; that calls for an active citizenry infused with empathy for one’s fellow citizens – is aligned with one of the central tenets of the Islamic faith, namely to help others regardless of race, colour or creed.
 
As our nation works to Grow South Africa together, the President lauds the efforts of the Muslim community in alleviating poverty in our country, saying “We share a common goal – to build a society rooted in the founding values of our Constitution.”
 
In the spirit of Thuma Mina, in the spirit of renewal of our society, and in the spirit of fellowship, the President wishes all Muslims well as they celebrate Eid ul Fitr with their friends, families and loved ones.
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the family and friends of veteran journalist and editor Mr Raymond Louw. Mr Louw, 91, passed away this morning in a Johannesburg hospital. 
 
“With the passing of Mr Louw the country has lost a brave and principled journalist and a champion of press freedom. Throughout his illustrious career he reminded us of the critical importance of media freedom to the health of our democracy.”
 
 “The loss of this respected media stalwart is all the sadder that it comes a day after the passing of his wife, Jean. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family,” the President added.
 
Louw, a former editor of the acclaimed Rand Daily Mail and Sunday Times, was the recipient of numerous accolades such as the Pringle Medal for services to journalism, the Media Institute of Southern Africa's Media Freedom Award, the Mondi-Shanduka Newspaper Lifetime Achiever Award and the International Press Institute award for Press Freedom Campaigning. He also served as Deputy Chairperson of the Media Freedom subcommittee of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF).
 
Louw was also a mentor to a number of young journalists who went on to take up senior positions in the local media industry. 
 
“The most fitting tribute to Mr. Louw would be that we strive to uphold the principles he held dear: a commitment to a free press, and to accurate, balanced and fair reporting,” President Ramaphosa said.


Media enquires: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Johannesburg – In his capacity as the Chair of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the 6th Annual Congress of the Treatment Action Campaign on the 24th August 2017.

The Congress will among other matters discuss; the situation in the public health care system, the state of HIV and TB response, as well as the implementation of the National Health Insurance.

Media is invited as follows:
Date: Thursday, 24th August 2017
Time: 11h00
Venue: Lesedi Cultural Village, Sterkfontein, in the Morinda Conference Room

Enquiries: Tyrone Seale on 0835757440


Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with chief executives of over 20 key state owned companies (SOC) at the Union Buildings this afternoon (Wednesday 5 June 2019) to discuss the contribution these SOEs can make to economic revitalisation and social development.
 
President Ramaphosa requested the meeting to hear the views of the executive leadership of strategic state entities on the challenges they confront in implementing their mandates and the opportunities they have identified to strengthen this sector.
 
The President emphasised the critical role of SOCs in meeting social needs and driving economic growth, and reaffirmed government’s determination to strengthen these entities and ensure their sustainability. He noted that several entities are facing severe financial and operational challenges that pose great risks to the South African economy.
 
In their contributions, several executives highlighted the need for a better definition of the respective mandates of state owned companies and for government policy to more effectively support their achievement.
 
The executives raised a number of concerns about the legal and regulatory environment within which SOCs operate, which are often ill-suited to the specific needs of entities and constrain innovation. They also raised challenges about the exercise, by government shareholder representatives, of their oversight responsibility and inconsistency in the appointment of boards.
 
The meeting recognised that SOCs have considerable resources and capabilities that, if better coordinated and managed, could have a far greater impact on economic growth and job creation.
 
President Ramaphosa said: “This engagement has raised several critical areas that limit the ability of SOCs to drive growth and development. These range from inadequate capitalisation and poor governance to outdated legislation and political interference. As government, we are committed to work with the leadership of SOCs and stakeholders to urgently address these difficulties.”
 
“I appreciate the frank and open manner in which the executives have raised their concerns. Their insights and suggestions are truly refreshing and will greatly assist our efforts to revitalise our state owned companies and ensure that they properly perform their mandates,” he said.
 
The inputs made by the executives at the meeting with the President will form part of the initial programme of the Presidential SOC Council, announced by the President earlier this year, to provide political oversight and strategic management to reposition and revitalise SOCs as catalysts for economic growth and development. 
 
The following SOEs were represented at the meeting: Acsa, Alexkor, Armscor, ATNS, Central Energy Fund, DBSA, Denel, Eskom, IDC, Land Bank, Necsa, PetroSA, Prasa, Rand Water, SA Express, SAA, SABC, Safcol, Sanral, SA Post Office, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Transnet and Umngeni Water.
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Cape Town – The Western Cape Youth Development and Career Expo scheduled for Saturday, 26 August 2017 has been postponed to a date in September, which will be communicated following confirmation among all stakeholders.
 
The expo was scheduled to be staged at the Khayelitsha Campus of the False Bay Technical and Vocational Education and Training College.
 
Unforeseen difficulties with logistics have regrettably necessitated postponement of the event to a later date.
 
The Office of the Deputy President regrets the postponement and wishes to assure learners in the Western Cape that on the new date, they will benefit from the expo as a showcase of opportunities that can change their lives for the better.
 
The Office of the Deputy President also expresses its appreciation to partners and sponsors who had availed their resources and services to assist young people in the Western Cape.
 
Enquiries: Tyrone Seale 083 5757 440
 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of government and the people of South Africa, expressed his best wishes to activist, musician, songwriter and producer Jonas Gwangwa, 81, who has taken ill.
 
Mr Gwangwa is receiving medical attention at 1 Military Hospital in Tshwane.
 
Mr Gwangwa, a globally renowned jazz trombonist, is an Esteemed Member of the National Order of Ikhamanga, who was honoured in 2010 for his exceptional contribution to music and the struggle for freedom in South Africa.
 
President Ramaphosa has said: “The thoughts and prayers of all South Africans are with our beloved national treasure, Ntate Jonas Gwangwa, and his family. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has visited Mr Gwangwa and assured us that he is recovering well and in good spirits. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.”
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Sandton – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the 11th annual Competition Law, Economics and Policy Conference of the Competition Commission on Friday, 01 September 2017 at 08h30.
 
The conference is hosted by the Competition Commission in partnership with the Competition Tribunal under the theme, “The Future of Competition Policy.”
 
Conference delegates are deliberating international and national competition law, and the role played by regulators and micro-economic sectors in developing the economy. South African and international policy experts, economic consultants, scholars, lawyers and academics are among the delegates. 
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address on Friday, 1 September 2017, which is the last day of the conference.
  
Media is invited as follows:
Date: Friday, 01 September 2017
Time: 08h00 for accreditation and registration
Venue: Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), 26 Melville Road, Illovo, Johannesburg 2196
 

Enquiries: Terrence Manase 082 338 6707 or Tyrone Seale on 083 5757 440

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Office of the Deputy President is aware of social media messages, which take the form of media enquiries from a Sunday newspaper, that make various claims about Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s personal life.
 
There is no doubt that these messages have been circulated as part of a deliberate campaign to smear the person of the Deputy President. They are a transparent attempt to distort personal email correspondence that could only have been obtained through criminal means.
 
The Deputy President will in due course release a detailed statement on the allegations contained in the messages.

 
Enquiries:
 
Tyrone Seale – 083 5757 440
Acting Spokesperson for the Deputy President
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

In response to questions put to him by the Sunday Independent – which have been circulating on social media since Friday 1 September 2017 – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has made the following statement:
 
“It has come to my attention, through questions that were sent to me by the editor of a Sunday newspaper, that a number of emails from my private email account have been illegally obtained and provided to at least one media outlet.
 
“From the nature and tone of the questions, it is clear that the intention of obtaining the emails and then providing them to the media was to discredit my person.
 
“I will not comment in public on private matters.
 
“I do feel compelled however to respond to deeply disturbing suggestions that I paid money to several young women with whom I was supposedly in relationships. There are 54 young students – both men and women – that my wife and I provide financial assistance to on a monthly basis and have done so for several years. It is unfortunate that evidence of these bank transfers have been used to make scandalous allegations against me and, worse, to make public the names of some of the people assisted.
 
“We find it disturbing that the privacy of these young women has been violated through the publication of their names and pictures on social media. It shows a callous disregard for the rights of the individual.
 
“This latest episode extends far beyond an attempt at political smear. It represents an escalation of a dirty war against those who are working to restore the values, principles and integrity of the African National Congress and society.
 
“Resembling in many ways the ‘stratkom’ techniques of the apartheid-era, we have seen in recent weeks a number of attempts at disinformation directed at me and people with whom I am associated. These activities need to be seen within a broader campaign that has targeted several political leaders, trade unionists, journalists and civil society activists.
 
“Nearly all the people that have been targeted in this way have taken a public stand against the capture of our state institutions by outside interests and the looting of public resources.
 
“It is evident that there is a well-resourced, coordinated covert operation underway to prevent those responsible for wrongdoing from being held to account and for the integrity of our law enforcement agencies and other state institutions to be restored. 
 
“This operation appears to have access to resources within intelligence circles with the capability to intercept communications and hack private emails.
 
“We now need to confront the likelihood that state agencies and resources are being abused to promote factional political agendas. We also need to confront the reality that those behind these agendas will go to any length to protect themselves and their interests.
 
“We need to ask who these people are. And on whose behalf they act.
 
“As the ANC’s 54th National Conference approaches, this campaign will intensify. It is imperative that members of the ANC and Alliance formations remain vigilant against deliberate efforts to sow confusion and disunity.
 
“South Africans from across the political spectrum need to resist all efforts to forestall the social and economic renewal of our country.
 
“We call on journalists in particular to exercise caution when receiving information and be circumspect in the manner in which they handle the information. It is a concern that questions sent to a person by a journalist were circulated publicly before the questions have even been responded to. This type of behaviour can no longer be referred to as journalism.
 
“If the intention of this campaign is to weaken the resolve of those fighting to revitalise the ANC and unite our country, it has failed.
 
“I am now even more convinced that our movement, the African National Congress, needs to be restored to its rightful owners, the people of South Africa.
 
“I am even more convinced that those who have facilitated the capture of our state institutions and have benefited from the looting of public resources should be held accountable for their actions.
 
“I am even more convinced that the time has come for the membership of the ANC to restore the organisation as a genuine movement of the people.
 
“As a leader, as an individual and as a member of a collective, my resolve to contribute to the achievement of that renewal is undiminished.
 
“We will not be diverted from doing what is right for our country and our people.”
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria