President Cyril Ramaphosa has assigned shareholder responsibility for each of the state-owned enterprises that previously fell under the Department of Public Enterprises to the respective line-function Ministries.

President Ramaphosa has signed proclamations which, in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, transfer the administration, powers and functions entrusted by the specified legislation as follows:
-    Alexkor: Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources
-    Denel: Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
-    Eskom: Minister of Electricity and Energy
-    Safcol: Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
-    South African Airways: Minister of Transport
-    South African Express: Minister of Transport
-    Transnet: Minister of Transport

In addition, certain sections of the Overvaal Resorts Limited Act of 1993 and Overvaal Resorts Limited Act Repeal Act of 2019 are vested with the Minister of Water and Sanitation.

The President has signed a proclamation appointing the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation as the executive authority of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), which will continue to exist and operate until the human and financial resources are transferred appropriately. This appointment empowers the Minister to exercise with respect to DPE all relevant powers and functions under the Public Service Act of 1994 and the Public Finance Management Act of 1999. 

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has also been assigned the responsibility to finalise the National State Enterprise Bill, which will set out the exercise of shareholder responsibility for respective SOEs which will be transferred in a phased manner into the envisaged national enterprise holding company.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 26 August 2024, deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Municipal Just Energy Transition (JET) Conference at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

The Conference will be held from 26 to 27 August 2024, attended by Mayors, Technical Managers and Municipal Managers from all provinces.

The aim of the conference is to convene key stakeholders within the municipal sphere to chart the way forward for the effective implementation of the JET Municipal Portfolio set out in the JET Implementation Plan (JET IP) which was approved by Cabinet in November 2023.

The Conference will outline the local government electricity distribution context and highlight the key features of the JET IP and its Municipal JET Portfolio.

Delegates will also deliberate the proposed institutional architecture for the Municipal JET Portfolio.

Municipalities have a critical role to play in a successful energy transition, in improving South Africa’s energy security, and in ensuring that the country has sufficient reliable and affordable electricity to support expanded socio-economic development.

Given the widely varying complexities that confront local government, the municipal energy transition needs a focussed and collaborative approach across national, provincial, and municipal spheres of government to manage the significant financial, technical, and managerial challenges and risks of the transition.

This established inter-governmental relations (IGR) approach is spearheaded by the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and National Treasury (NT), along with organised local government structures, and will be key to finding sustainable electricity system solutions for municipalities of all sizes and capabilities.

The President will address the Conference as follows:
Date: Monday, 26 August 2024
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Hall 2, Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.

NOTE TO MEDIA: The Conference is open to media ONLY on 26 August 2024 and those wishing to attend should send their details to Ollie Madlala on ollie@presidency.gov.za or 071 470 7145 by no later than 16h00 on Saturday, 24 August 2024. Media accreditation collection is on Sunday, 25 August 2024, from 12h00 to 16h00 at Gallagher Convention Centre.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will tomorrow, 23 August 2024, attend and deliver a Eulogy at the funeral of the late Professor Muxe Nkondo, who passed away on 18 August 2024

Prof Nkondo was a scholar, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Venda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of the North and Harvard Andrew Mellon Fellow in English. He also chaired various expert panels and served on numerous boards as he led the Liberation Heritage Route, among others.

Details of the funeral service are as follows:

Date: Friday, 23 August 2024
Time: 08h00-12h00
Venue: Freedom Park Memorial, Pretoria 

Members of the media wishing to attend the funeral must please contact Ms Linah Ledwaba on 066 240 7635 or linahl@presidency.gov.za.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has today, Thursday 22 August 2024, held a meeting with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton Mckenzie. The meeting was anchored on the responsibilities delegated to the Deputy President by President Cyril Ramaphosa of advancing Social Cohesion and as the Patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement. 

The meeting discussed the proposed Programme of Action for Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Movement, to ensure that a socially-cohesive, non-sexist, non-racial, equal and safe South Africa is realised.

Amongst others, the meeting agreed to prioritise partnerships within and beyond government, including with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders as well as Inter-Faith Leaders.

In particular, the programme of action that was agreed to, as anchored on the strategic priorities of the Seventh Administration of Government, will focus on removing obstacles that impede the advancement of social cohesion and moral regeneration in the country.  

Under the leadership of the Deputy President, the work will also prioritise tackling gender based violence and femicide, promoting nation building through sport and arts, as well as ensuring equal access to sporting opportunities by all communities!
 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will, in his capacity as Acting President, lead the signing by multiple stakeholders of the Second Presidential Health Compact at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, at 12h30 today, Thursday, 22 August 2024.

President Ramaphosa has appointed Deputy President Mashatile as Acting President, based on medical advice that President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in good spirits otherwise, allow an eye infection to clear.

Immediately after the Health Compact signing, Acting President Mashatile will receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission and Ambassadors-Designate of 11 countries.

The incoming members of the Diplomatic Corps have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as official representatives to South Africa.

The presentation of credentials to the Acting President will take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House on the Bryntirion Estate at 14h00.

Representatives of the following countries will be welcomed to South Africa by Acting President Mashatile:

The Republic of Nicaragua; the Republic of Guinea; the Republic of Peru; the People’s Republic of China; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; the Holy See; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the Republic of Gabon; the Republic of Finland; the Republic of Senegal, and the Republic of Ghana.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Members of the media wishing to cover the Credentials Ceremony must please RSVP with Ms Tshiamo Selomo on 0661181505 or tshiamo@presidency.gov.za

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

Or 

Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will brief members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 21 August 2024.  

The media briefing will take place as follows:  

Date: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Time: 10h00  
Venue: Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre, 1035 Frances Baard Street, Hatfield in Pretoria

Live Streaming details:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA   
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA    
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA   

Media enquiries: Nomonde Mnukwa, Acting Government Spokesperson, on 083 653 7485

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of maths and science education innovator and Esteemed Member of the National Order of the Baobab, Mr William Smith.

The President offers his condolences to the family and friends of the popular educator who has passed away at the age of 85.

President Ramaphosa conferred the Order of the Baobab on Mr Smith in 2019.

Born in Makhanda to parents who were notable scientists, Mr Smith made mathematics and science accessible to all pupils for free through television in a groundbreaking 1990s TV programme called the 'Learning Channel' on SABC 2.

During his 25 years as a teacher, he is estimated to have taught close on a million learners.

President Ramaphosa said: “William Smith was an education and cultural icon to our nation.

“The outpouring of affection the nation directed at him when he received his National Order demonstrated, years after his retirement, the place he held in people’s hearts.

“He was synonymous with The Heads of Knysna which was the backdrop to his television presentation decades before we could think of him as the first teacher to teach “remotely”.

“He demystified maths and science for his audience which extended beyond learners to their parents and anyone who wished to revisit these subjects or learn more, long after they had left school.

“William Smith’s passion for his curriculum and for the success of those he taught in classrooms, at matric camps and on TV benefited millions of young South Africans even before our transition to democracy and the dawn of a new dispensation of equal education.

“May his soul rest in peace.”
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 22 August 2024, as part of his delegated responsibility of promoting social cohesion and nation-building initiatives in the country, convene a meeting with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The Social Cohesion Programme, which is based on Chapter 15 of the National Development Plan Vision 2030 and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, is essential for defining South Africa's national identity, especially in the context of the 7th Administration and the Government of National Unity.

In this regard, the meeting will discuss the proposed Programme of Action for Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Movement, as guided by the Minimum Programme of Action of Government, to ensure that a socially-cohesive, non-sexist, non-racial, equal and safe South Africa is realised.

Members of the media are invited for a photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting as follows:

Date: Thursday, 22 August 2024
Time: 10h00am (Media to arrive at 09h30).
Venue: Union Buildings, Pretoria

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria