Programme Director,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Representatives of the respective Portfolio and Select Committees,
Senior officials,
Development agencies,
Representatives of civil society,
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning and thank you for being here. 

Today I will be signing into law legislation that will give effect to two undertakings made by this administration when it took office. 

The first undertaking was to capacitate and strengthen our law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority in the fight against corruption. 

The second undertaking was to work with civil society, communities and other sectors to end gender-based violence and femicide. 

You will know that last week, here at the Union Buildings, we signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law. We have previously held public signing ceremonies for important legislation like the National Minimum Wage Act and the Constitutional amendment to make South African Sign Language our twelfth official language.

The public signing of transformative legislation promotes transparency and accountability.

It helps to ensure that citizens are aware of the laws that affect them, that they understand what these laws entail, and that they are better empowered to exercise their rights under these laws.

Corruption and gender-based violence are two scourges that plague our country and corrode our social fabric. 

As we mark 30 years of democracy, we know that our aspiration to be a truly free and equal society cannot be achieved for as long as criminals steal the resources meant for the benefit of the people, and for as long as this country’s women and children do not feel safe and free to walk our streets. 

The two pieces of legislation that I will sign today form part of government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, develop partnerships and build state capacity. 

The first piece of legislation facilitates the establishment of a National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. 

This statutory body will coordinate and provide strategic leadership to the fight against GBV and femicide. 

It will be multi-sectoral, drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders, including civil society, labour and business. 

Establishing this Council was one of the resolutions of the first Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which I convened in 2018. 

Since then, working together, we have made important progress.

The National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence was developed, together with civil society, as a society-wide response to this national emergency.

We have founded the Women's Economic Assembly, collaborating with civil society and business. This initiative aims to integrate women-owned enterprises into industry value chains, promote sustainable economic development, and empower women economically.

Around R21 billion was dedicated over the medium term to the implementation of the six pillars of the plan, including the economic empowerment of women.

We enacted new laws to strengthen the response of the criminal justice system to gender-based violence. We have worked to improve the support provided to survivors of gender-based violence through the establishment of new Thuthuzela Care Centres, new Sexual Offences Courts and victim-friendly rooms at nearly all police stations across the country.

Through these efforts, we have seen improvements in conviction rates and in stricter sentencing.

While this progress is welcome, our greatest task is to prevent gender-based violence from being perpetrated in the first place. 

We want to end, once and for all, the violence that men perpetrate against women.

That is why everyone in society needs to be involved.

Even as we have made progress in implementing the National Strategic Plan, we have all recognised the need for the national response to be more coordinated between the different stakeholders. 

We need a national effort that is more inclusive, more focused and better resourced.

We are confident that this Council will provide much of what we need and will further strengthen the national effort to eradicate violence against women and children. 

I wish to congratulate Parliament, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, other government stakeholders, development partners and UN agencies for their efforts to bring us to this point. 

I also wish to thank civil society organisations, whose tireless advocacy for this Council to be established has come to fruition. 

I believe we will continue to count on your support, as well as the support of labour and business, in this all-of-society effort to combat the pandemic of gender-based violence. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

The signing into law of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill will establish an Investigating Directorate against Corruption as a permanent entity within the NPA. 

It has been five years since we established an Investigating Directorate within the NPA to investigate cases of corruption and other serious crimes arising from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. 

These are five years in which great progress has been made.

To date, the Investigating Directorate has taken 39 state capture and corruption cases to court, involving 212 accused persons and 68 accused entities.

In the last five years, the NPA has also secured the conviction of almost 700 government officials for corruption.

The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has restrained and preserved ‘state capture’ assets to the value of more than R14 billion. Over R6 billion has been recovered so far. 

The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be a permanent, prosecution-led agency with full criminal investigative powers.

This legislation will help to overcome challenges with capacity and expertise within the NPA to investigate and prosecute complex corruption cases. 

The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be able to recruit and retain specialist skills to deliver on its mandate. 

Permanent criminal investigators will be appointed, with full police powers. 

The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be able to reap the benefits of collaboration with the private sector and other social partners. 

By way of example, efforts are underway as part of the partnership between government and business to create a Digital Evidence Unit specialising in the identification, collection, analysis and presentation of digital evidence. 

Prosecution is a state’s most serious and credible instrument of accountability. 

When prosecutors obtain convictions before independent courts for serious crimes like corruption, they not only hold those responsible accountable. They also strengthen the rule of law. 

Today we are taking another important step in our quest to promote accountability.

The criminal actions of those involved in corruption and the perpetrators of gender-based violence may differ in nature, but the consequences of both are devastating. 

Corruption and gender-based violence are affronts to the human dignity that is the inalienable right of every South African. 

These forms of criminality are holding our country back and preventing us from realising our full potential. 

The signing of these two Acts signal our determination to continue to build an ethical, capable state with strong institutions that can deliver on their mandate of improving the lives of every South African. 

I call on all stakeholders, in government, in business, in labour and across civil society to support the effort to make these two new entities a success. 

I thank you.

Programme Director;
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise,
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla,
Our esteemed Military Veterans,
Government officials,
Members of the media,

Today is one of those important and historic moments which must go down in the annals of history as we witnessed the handover and unveiling of tombstones of the 21 fallen heroes who were former Umkhonto we Size operatives who perished between 1986 and1990.

This handover ceremony and engagement with the family members of those fallen heroes is important for two basic reasons – the first is that we are living up to the constitutional injunction which enjoins us to “Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; and to Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”.

The second one which is of equal importance is that by today’s unveiling ceremony, we hope to bring closure to the suffering and agony of the families of these heroic combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe who have also bravely and quietly endured the pain of the loss of their loved ones in the course of the struggle for liberation.

It is a matter of importance and historical significance that these combatants that we are honouring today lost their lives during a very turbulent period in our history and strive for our democratic freedom.

For us to understand the immense contribution made by these comrades to the victory of the democratic forces and the demise of the apartheid regime we need to reflect on the extra-ordinary sacrifices that have been made by those who have played a direct role in liberating this country from an unjust system which prioritised the interest of a minority.

As for the families here today and many other families, you can testify of the extreme hardships being experienced when your loved ones departed for unfamiliar territories with so many uncertainties. These liberation heroes have also made enormous sacrifices, including the disruption of their families' unity, in order to secure the freedom we enjoy today.

As we continue to honour the memory of our fallen uMkhonto we Sizwe military veterans, we pay tribute to those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We will never forget their selflessness, courage, and commitment to defending our nation.

We are gathered here today, reminded of the bravery and steadfast commitment of these individuals, who felt a deep obligation to serve and act in the interest of what was best for the country in the fight for liberation.

They demonstrated remarkable courage and strength in the face of adversity, showing unwavering determination and fortitude in the most difficult of situations.

Unfortunately, many of our liberation heroes never saw the dawn of democracy that was ushered in 1994. However, they have paid the ultimate price with the hope of a South Africa that we have today.

Compatriots,

Allow me to briefly remind you of the reasons why these MK military veterans chose to form part of our liberation movement and campaigns against the apartheid regime.

The journey of South Africans before 1994 was a challenging and arduous one. For decades, the country endured the oppressive system of apartheid, a system that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against the majority black population.

This system denied black South Africans the capacity to exercise fundamental human rights, such as the right to vote, access to equal access and quality education and healthcare, and the freedom to move around freely throughout the country without restriction.

Throughout the years of apartheid, black South Africans endured a multitude of challenges, including violence, discrimination, and economic hardship. They forcefully displaced many individuals from their residences and communities, transferring them to densely populated and disadvantaged townships, also leading to the fragmentation of families and communities at large.

Despite facing immense challenges and brutal crackdowns by the previous government, the people of South Africa never gave up their fight for freedom and equality.

For these reasons, prominent leaders such as Nelson Mandela founded this paramilitary wing of the African National Congress. They served as the nation's frontline defenders, fighting against an oppressive government; as a result, they remain our national heroes and on whose foundation we should bulid to further advance the country’s developmental priorities.

It is because of the contribution of these liberation martyrs that our nation has triumphed. However, we must bear in mind that our freedom was never free. It came at the ultimate cost, leaving an indelible mark on many families, some of whom are still here today.

As we remember and commemorate their sacrifice, it is important for us to not only honor their memory but also to ensure that their legacy lives on. We must continue to support and care for our veterans and their families.

We must strive to create a society that values and respects the sacrifices made by MK veterans and their families. The greatest honor would be to reflect on the true cost of war and its impact on the families and communities of these fallen heroes. It is for this reason that we have a collective duty to protect our democratic gains as we must be united, now more than ever to overcome and break free from the shackles of poverty and high levels of inequality. We face a common enemy of under-development which need a more focused response to ensure that we are able to improve the quality of people’s lives.

Equally, we are also here today as representatives of our people and leaders in your own right. We therefore need to call upon your leadership as families, veterans, elders and community leaders to forge a renewed commitment to take our struggle forward, to address all of our development objectives that will set us on a path of development for growth and prosperity. 

Compatriots,

It is regrettable that some veterans and their families are still struggling with poverty after thirty years of democracy.

Sadly, most of these brave men and women were never able to save for retirement or their children's futures by funding health care plans or pensions, or by looking into different options for skills development or financing for their schooling.

As a result, it is critical for our government and people to express their gratitude to our nation's veterans for their service. One way to do this is to ensure that they have access to the socio-economic support, benefits, and empowerment opportunities they need to live fulfilling lives.

Rest assured, the government is actively working to bring about the change you deserve. Through the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, we are committed to addressing the concerns and needs raised with the government regarding veterans' benefits, support, and improving access and services to our community of military veterans.

As the ANC-led government, we are committed to providing support to the families of MK veterans in various ways, including financial assistance, to ensure they can lead fulfilling lives. Having personally witnessed the hardships endured by our people in their fight for freedom, I feel a deep sense of obligation that we really need to acknowledge and do our utmost to support them and their families for the sacrifices they made to liberate our country.

We should commemorate the sacrifices of our heroes and heroines with the necessary respect and dignity, and our collective commitment should help ensure this happens.

This government is therefore striving to achieve greater policy alignment in the government's service delivery function, specifically concerning the services offered to military veterans and their dependents.

We are actively working with the military veteran community to achieve the objectives of the Military Veterans Act of 2011, which aim to improve the quality of life for them and their dependents, enabling socio-economic progress.

As South Africans, we can honor the fallen military veterans by visiting a local war memorial or military cemetery and perhaps laying flowers or wreaths, as we did today. We must also contribute to organizations that provide assistance and support to veterans and their families.

It is also important for elderly people to take time to educate others, especially younger generations, about the sacrifices made by uMkhonto we Sizwe and other military veterans across the spectrum to protect this country and make it as peaceful as it is.

As we approach the upcoming election, let us commit ourselves to working for a free, fair, and peaceful elections. Let us also commit to resolving our differences through peaceful means, where the sacrifices of our veterans are truly honored and respected.

In closing, let us remember the words of John F. Kennedy when he said: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them."

May we always remember and honor the sacrifices of our fallen MK military veterans, and may we strive to live up to the ideals for which they gave their lives. The first step is to exercise our right to vote by voting on the 29th of May. As responsible citizens, we have the right to vote under the Constitution's Bill of Rights and should utilise this right to further our democratic ideals.

I thank you.

Programme Directors, Minister Ronald Lamola and Justice Leona Theron,
The Mokgoro Family,
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo,
Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Chief of the South African National Defence Force, Gen Rudzani Maphwanya
Justices,
Members of the legal fraternity,
Representatives of civil society organisations,
Fellow mourners, 

Dumelang bagaetsho, 

We gather here today to lay to rest a great South African, a champion of human rights, an outstanding jurist and an icon of gender justice. 

Through her life and through her work, Imbokodo Justice Yvonne Mokgoro was a pioneer.  

In so many respects, her legacy is a tribute to resilience, to principled activism and to steadfastness, no matter how great the obstacle or how difficult the climb. 

In 1994, upon its inception, she became the first black woman to be appointed to the Constitutional Court. 

Reaching that pinnacle was not a simple progression. It did not come easy. 

It was the culmination of many years of hard work.  

She found her calling to become a human rights lawyer in the trenches of struggle, as a student activist and member of the African National Congress in the then Bophuthatswana, and later in the Northern Cape. 

Her appointment to the Constitutional Court was the product of many years of both formal and self-study to better herself and to advance in her chosen profession. 

It was the fulfilment of a dream in which she never lost faith, even while working in a host of different jobs, as a nursing assistant, a retail salesperson and as a clerk. 

It was a progression from a successful career as a legal academic when she produced ground-breaking research on customary law. This all at a time when our jurisprudence and case law around this subject were still evolving. 

It was an achievement that followed decades of building a rigorous and demanding career.  

The life of Justice Yvonne Mokgoro was the life of untold numbers of black women in this country under apartheid, who bore the triple burden of race, class and gender.  

She sought to carve a path for herself at a time when the odds were stacked heavily against women, and against black women in particular.  

And yet she went forth with courage, with determination, and with the humility that was her trademark. 

It is because she understood these struggles so keenly, because she had experienced them first-hand, that Justice Mokgoro was such a passionate and ardent advocate for gender justice.  

It is also the reason why she dedicated a substantial part of her time to training and mentoring young female lawyers.  

In its tribute to the late Justice Mokgoro, the International Commission of Jurists described her as an inspiration to the next generation of women lawyers. 

Justice Mokgoro brought this humanism and commitment to social justice to the bench. 

In her judgment on the court’s very first case, the seminal State v Makwanyane matter involving the death penalty, she expanded on the principle of ubuntu, describing it as “one shared value and ideal that runs like a golden thread across cultural lines”. 

During her time on the bench, in the public interest work she engaged in after she retired in 2009, she was steadfast in her view that regard for human dignity should be the bedrock of jurisprudence everywhere. 

This understanding was brought to bear in the positions she held within the United Nations system.  

Between 2016 and 2020, Justice Mokgoro chaired the UN’s Internal Justice Council, which is tasked with ensuring independence, professionalism and accountability in the administration of the justice system of the UN. 

In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in the United States in 2020, which gave birth to the global Black Lives Matter movement, the UN Human Rights Council set up an Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law-Enforcement. Justice Mokgoro was appointed as its first chair.  

As South Africa we are immensely proud that our jurists are held in such high regard internationally on matters of human rights, racial discrimination and gender justice. 

Alongside her fellow other justices, she affirmed that ubuntu was interwoven with the rights to life, to dignity and to equality.  

She wrote several judgments that advanced the socio-economic rights of society’s most vulnerable. 

Much of Justice Mokgoro’s academic research supported legal and policy transformation with respect to the rights of women and children. 

This work had a broad span, from the impact of social grants on the lives of indigent women, to issues around customary law, inheritance and succession. 

Justice Mokgoro was both a witness to, and a champion of, the transformation of the bench. 

When she was appointed to the bench 30 years ago, there were approximately 165 judges. Of these, 160 were white men, three were black men, and two were white women.  

Today, 45 per cent of our judges are women, 32 per cent are black women. 

The late judge received many accolades during her illustrious career.  

Her experience and expertise saw her being appointed to a number of advisory boards of entities working to advance human rights both at home and abroad, including the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. 

It is in recognition of her far-reaching and wide-ranging contribution to our country that she was awarded the Order of the Baobab in 2015. 

Justice Yvonne Mokgoro was a woman of indomitable courage and strength. 

Just as we mourn her, we also celebrate her. As much as Imbokodo grinds, it also soothes. 

She was an exceptional jurist who, alongside her peers on the Constitutional Court, set the highest of standards for the new democratic state. They are standards we will continuously strive to uphold, now and into the future.  

O dirile motho yo, ditiro tsa gagwe di a mo paka, are itseeleng motlhala jaaka sechaba. 

And so, drawing on the words of John Donne, we say: 

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful,
For thou art not so.
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not.”  

The legacy that Justice Yvonne Mokgoro leaves behind is a towering one.  

To her family, we share in your sorrow.  

May you be comforted by the knowledge that Justice Mokgoro’s life and works continue to inspire and to guide.  

May we all have her courage.  

May we all have her resilience.  

May we all, in reflecting on her legacy, be reminded of our duty to help build a South Africa of true equality, of freedom and of human rights. 

Go lelapa la Mokgoro, Tshika yotlhe ka bophara, ditsala - lo ne lo re adimile mogaka, rotlhe re latlhegetswe! 

Gomotsegang, le bo ikgomotse ka phitlhelelo e kgolo e ya ga Justice Mokgoro, mo go fetoleng matshelo a batho mo lefatsheng je. 

A mowa wa mogale yo o robale ka kagiso, Motlhaping wa ga Maidi, mmina nare, e e reng fa e gata bojang bo bo bo robala! 

Wena yo o tlhapang ka mashi, o bo o iphorola ka tlhoa!  

O re bopile motlhaping, e bile o diretse sechaba! 

A moya wa gagwe o robale ka kagiso!  

I thank you.

Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, will today, 23 May 2024, participate in the 3rd Annual Energy Summit hosted by the South African Youth Economic Council (SAYEC), in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation(IDC) and the Central Energy Fund (CEF). 

The Summit will discuss South Africa’s energy security.

Minister Ramokgopa will deliver a keynote address and engage in moderate session. 

Members of the media are invited as follows: 

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Time: 18h00 - 21h00
Venue: Capital on Park, Sandton

Media RSVPs: Communications at SAYEC on 081 413 5999

Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566 /tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency responsible for Electricity
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 23 May 2024 attend and deliver a keynote address at the official handing over of headstones to 21 affected families of fallen former MK operatives in Soweto, Johannesburg. 

The Deputy President’s address will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony at five cemeteries, including: Ga-Rankuwa (1 headstone); Avalon (7 headstones); Emfihlweni, Tembisa (4 headstones);  Westpark, Johannesburg (8 headstones); and Crystal Park, Benoni (2 headstones) from 07h00 until 09h30.

The wreath laying ceremonies will be conducted simultaneously by respective families, military veterans, and Government representatives at the above stated cemeteries in the Gauteng Province.

During the period 1986 until 1989, these 21 former MK operatives were brutally murdered and some abducted by apartheid security forces throughout the country, for advancing the struggle to bring about democracy, peace, and social justice.

The fallen freedom fighters were ambushed by the notorious regime, which worked tirelessly to preserve a system of apartheid that sought to sustain national oppression and suppress the struggle for freedom. The then apartheid state buried the freedom fighters in unmarked graves and others in bushes.

Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) processes, the National Prosecutions Agency (NPA)'s Missing Person Task Team retraced the remains in unmarked graves, conducted DNA analysis, exhumed, and reburied the remains of the ex-combatants in different gravesites, as guided by their respective families.

In accordance with the Preamble of our Constitution, the Republic is obliged to honour those that suffered for justice and freedom. In addition, the Military Veterans Act mandates the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) to "honour, commemorate and memorialise the armed struggle against apartheid injustices”. 

As a result, the DMV has undertaken to continue to honour and memorialise the lives and sacrifices of our fallen heroes and heroines under the theme; “Lest we forget. Freedom was never free. Remembering the lives and sacrifices of our fallen heroes and heroines”.

The Deputy President will be supported by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise and Mr. Thabang Makwetla, respectively, as well as Gauteng Provincial Government senior representatives.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Time: 11h00 (media to arrive at 10h00)
Venue: Orlando Community Hall, Soweto

Media wishing to cover this event are requested to confirm attendance with Ms Lebogang Mothapa on 076 865 7188.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

We are today releasing a detailed progress report on the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela, which reflects on the progress which has been achieved across government during this administration.

Operation Vulindlela is a Government-wide initiative, coordinated by The Presidency and National Treasury, which focuses on accelerating the implementation of structural reforms with a high impact on economic growth and job creation.

As the report demonstrates, significant progress has been made in reforming our economy since the President announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela in October 2023.

In the energy sector, regulatory changes have resulted in a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation, with a pipeline of more than 22 500 MW of confirmed projects in development. The reform of the energy system is now far advanced, with the passage of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill and the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa, among other key milestones.

We are already seeing the impact of these reforms in reduced load shedding, and in the proliferation of new energy projects across the country.

In the logistics sector, greater private sector participation in port terminal operations has been enabled and the freight rail network is being opened to competition. These reforms will allow more volumes to be transported via rail and support export growth, while making our logistics system more efficient and competitive.

The Freight Logistics Roadmap, which was adopted by Cabinet in December last year, continues to guide the implementation of these reforms.

In the telecommunications sector, one of the earliest milestones in the economic reform programme was the completion of the spectrum auction, ending a more than ten-year delay and contributing to reduced data costs and improved network quality and reach.

In the water sector, the backlog of water use licenses, which once stood at well over 1000, was cleared and the license application system improved to reduce processing times. Concrete steps have been taken to strengthen institutions in the water system, improve regulation, and invest in infrastructure.

Finally, reforms have been implemented in the visa system to encourage the growth of tourism and enable the economy to attract the skills that it needs to grow. The eVisa system is now available in 34 countries, while visas are waived for visitors from 135 countries. The recommendations of the work visa review, which was completed last year, are now being implemented, including the establishment of a Trusted Employer Scheme and a points-based system for work visas.

Our economic challenges are complex and deep-rooted. However, the progress that we have made in implementing economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela gives us confidence that they will be overcome.

While the impact of these reforms may not be immediate, it will be significant. 

Perhaps the most important lesson of Operation Vulindlela is that we can achieve significant progress by enabling collaboration across Government, by putting in place clear, time-bound plans, and by establishing systems to support delivery and ensure accountability. 

More than 15 Government departments and entities have contributed to the implementation of these reforms, through new ways of working and a singular focus on implementation and results.

Above all, this report demonstrates that Government is fully committed to staying the course on the reform agenda, and removing the constraints on growth.

Thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 24 May 2024, sign into law the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill in a ceremony at the Union Buildings.
 
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill lays the foundation for a multi-sectoral approach to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.
 
This landmark legislation is a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and security of women from all walks of life.
 
The establishment of a council dedicated to drive a whole-of-society approach to combat this scourge is fundamental.
 
The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
 
The National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill amends the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998 to, among other measures, provide for the establishment of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption.
 
The Directorate, which will over time incorporate the existing Investigating Directorate, will have investigative capacity with priority given to particularly serious criminal or unlawful conduct committed in serious, high-profile or complex corruption, commercial or financial crime.
 
The legislation directs that the Directorate be given the infrastructure and resources needed to perform its functions.
 
The signing ceremony at the Union Buildings will take place at 10h30 on Friday, 24 May 2024.
 
Media wishing to cover the occasion are invited to rsvp to Khutjo Sebata on Khutjo@presidency.gov.za / 079 898 4621 by 12h00 tomorrow, Thursday, 23 May 2024. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 23 May 2024, deliver a eulogy at the Special Official Funeral of the late retired Constitutional Justice Yvonne Mokgoro. 

Justice Mokgoro, one of the first Justices to be appointed to the Constitutional Court when it was established in 1994, and also the first black woman judge of the apex court, passed away on 09 May 2024 at the age of 73.

She was also an Esteemed Member of the Order of the Baobab. 

The President has honoured Justice Mokgoro with Special Official Funeral Category 1.

A Special Official Funeral Category 1 includes ceremonial elements by the South African National Defence Force.

Justice Mokgoro, during her legal career, taught a number of law courses at universities in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

She was a member of the International Women's Association (Washington DC), the International Association of Women Judges, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the South African Women Lawyers Association. In 2006, she was selected as an icon of the history of Women Lawyers in South Africa.

The Special Official Funeral will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Time: 10h00 
Venue: Bryanston Catholic Church, Johannesburg 

Media accreditation collection details:

Date: 22 May 2024 (11h00 to 18h00) / 23 May 2024 (07h30 to 10h00)
Venue: Sandton Fire Station, Cnr. Linden and Grayson Drive, Sandton

Media accreditation enquiries should be directed to Mr Ishmael Selemale (GCIS) on 073 163 1123 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency and the National Treasury will on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 host a joint media briefing to provide an update on progress in the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela. 

Operation Vulindlela is a Government-wide initiative to accelerate the implementation of structural reform and achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth. It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and telecommunications.

The progress report will cover new developments in the past quarter, as well as a review of what has been achieved in advancing economic reform since Operation Vulindlela was initiated in October 2020, and the next steps in the reform programme.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media briefing as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Time: 10h30
Venue: Room 159, Union Buildings

Media RSVPs should be directed to Patience Mtshali at patience@presidency.gov.za cc Hlobisile Nkosi at Hlobisile@presidency.gov.za 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency and the National Treasury will on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 host a joint media briefing to provide an update on progress in the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela. 

Operation Vulindlela is a government-wide initiative to accelerate the implementation of structural reform and achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth. It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and telecommunications.

The progress report will cover new developments in the past quarter, as well as a review of what has been achieved in advancing economic reform since Operation Vulindlela was initiated in October 2020 and the next steps in the reform programme.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media briefing as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Time: 10:30
Venue: Union Buildings, Room 159

Media RSVPs should be directed to Patience Mtshali via email: patience@presidency.gov.za cc Hlobisile Nkosi Hlobisile@presidency.gov.za   

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria