President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 27 September 2024, officiate the repatriation and restitution homecoming ceremony of South African freedom fighters who lost their lives in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the apartheid era.

The ceremony will take place at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane, Pretoria.

The ceremony forms part of Heritage Month which is being observed under the theme “Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Lives for Our Freedom."

 Today, Wednesday, 25 September 2024, the mortal remains of 42 former liberation heroes and heroines who passed away in exile will arrive to a reception ceremony at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in the City of Tshwane. 

The repatriation of the freedom fighters’ remains from Zambia and Zimbabwe forms part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project (RLHR). The RLHR is a national memory project aimed at commemorating, celebrating, educating, promoting, preserving, conserving and providing a durable testament of South African’s road to freedom

The repatriation initiative is part of a broader effort to bring the remains of freedom fighters who died in exile to their final resting places. 

This is not only a gesture of honour to the individuals and their families but also an effort to strengthen the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and development with the host countries through memorialisation.

Ahead of addressing the Homecoming Ceremony on Friday, 27 September, President Ramaphosa will lead a wreath-laying procession at the Wall of Names.

The Wall of Names is inscribed with the names of heroes and heroines who died fighting for humanity and freedom during the major conflicts in South African history, namely: the Pre-Colonial Wars, Slavery, Genocide, Wars of Resistance, the South African War, the First and Second World War and the Struggle for Liberation.  

President Ramaphosa will officiate the Repatriation and Restitution Homecoming Ceremony as follows:  
Date: Friday, 27 September 2024
Time: 10:00
Venue: Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, Tshwane

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Philémon Yang,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres,
President of the Republic of Brazil, Mr Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 
Your Excellencies, Foreign Ministers
Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to begin by expressing my appreciation to Brazil as the current President of the G20 for convening this meeting.

We further commend the excellent manner in which Brazil has been steering the work of the G20 during its Presidency. 

It has been an auspicious start to the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly.

We convened the Summit of the Future, at the end of which the Pact for the Future was adopted. The Pact is a blueprint for a sustainable, just and peaceful global order for all peoples and nations.

Mr. Secretary-General,

In your address to the General Assembly yesterday you highlighted the fragilities that fray at the seams of our global order. A world of impunity, of inequality and of deep uncertainty.

We concur with your sentiment that the challenges our world faces may be daunting, but they are surmountable.

Our meeting today reaffirms our conviction that as we strive to overcome these challenges, the United Nations must remain the centrepiece of multilateralism.

At the same time, it must be modernised to make it fit-for-purpose and more effective, agile and forward-looking. 

The UN needs to be inclusive. It needs to represent current geopolitical relations and the prevailing international realities. 

The G20’s Call to Action on Global Governance Reform that will be adopted at today’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting is therefore timely and necessary. 

South Africa is committed to the reinvigoration of multilateralism and the reform of global governance institutions to make them more representative.

It is not without significance that the countries of current troika are all from the Global South.

The reform of the global financial architecture in particular must be the rising tide that lifts the fortunes of the most needy and vulnerable. 

Deepening inequality and chronic under-development are the cost if we fail to act now.

The quest for mutual, shared and equitable prosperity necessitates that we undertake bold and decisive reforms to create a stable and inclusive international financial architecture.

These reforms are urgently needed to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing economies in international economic decision-making.

South Africa is concerned about the slow progress in reforming the Multilateral Trading system. 

While the WTO’s Ministerial Council 13 has registered some progress, much work remains to be done to ensure global trade is development focused and sensitive to climate change imperatives. 

South Africa assumes the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to November 2025.

This is approximately five years before the deadline of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The next five Presidencies of the G20 must focus their efforts on accelerating progress towards the attainment of the SDGs 

At the launch of the the Special Edition of the Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report on 25 April 2023, the Secretary-General drew attention to the gravity of the situation.

Just 12 per cent of the SDG targets are on track. Progress on 50 per cent is weak and insufficient. On more than 30 per cent of the SDGs we have stalled or gone into reverse.

If we are to meet the 2030 deadline a paradigm shift is necessary.

South Africa has adopted as the theme for its G20 Presidency: ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainable Development’. 

We aim to mobilise the countries of the world towards taking practical steps that will resolve global challenges, while strengthening international cooperation within a rules-based system. 

In an interconnected world, the challenges faced by one nation affect all nations. Through solidarity we seek to advance a unified effort and mutual support among member nations.

By advancing equality we seek to ensure fair treatment, opportunities and advancement for all individuals and nations.

This must be irrespective of their economic status, gender, race, geographic location or other characteristics.

Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

The pace of mobilising the necessary resources to ensure that countries with developing economies meet the SDGs doesn’t just have to be accelerated, it has to be indeed turbo-charged. 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency will place Africa’s developmental priorities at the top of its agenda.

A prosperous, developed and stable Africa is a central pillar of our foreign policy.

In this, we are guided by the priorities contained in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

We will work in close collaboration with the African Union, which has now been admitted as a G20 member. 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency provides us with an opportunity to advocate for and mobilise support for the developing economies of Africa and the Global South.

In doing so we will build on the efforts and successes of the Indonesian, Indian and Brazilian G20 Presidencies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With less than six years to go before the 2030 deadline for the achievement of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, we are at a crucial inflection point in humankind’s history.

The imperative of sustainable development has become all the more crucial. 

It cannot be business as usual. It cannot be more platitudes and empty promises. 

Even amidst all the uncertainty in our world today, we have a unique opportunity to change course for development, for the common good, and for common prosperity.

As the G20 we have an important role to play in fulfilling the aspirations of the UN Charter – of social progress and of better standards of life in larger freedom.

In this regard, the UN Charter highlights the employment of international machinery for the 
promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.

By strengthening and reforming multilateral mechanisms and institutions; by deepening
International economic cooperation, we can indeed realise a better world free from the twin scourges of inequality and underdevelopment.

The time is now.

I thank you.

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Chairperson of the board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Rt Hon Helen Clark,
Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus,
Representatives of UN agencies and development organisations,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are here today because we agree that the health needs of women, children and adolescents requires urgent and sustained political attention at the highest level. 

This 79th Session of the UN General Assembly is an opportunity to accelerate the actions needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.

As we approach the 2030 deadline, investment in development is declining, inequality is persisting and progress is stalling. 

This is manifest in the distressing population health and economic outcomes.

On average, across the world, a woman will spend 25 percent more time than men in poor health. This reduces productivity and earning potential.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the likelihood of dying from childbirth is 50 times higher than in Europe. 

Each year, there are 35 million unsafe terminations of pregnancy.

This is resulting in life-changing injuries for millions and the death of at least 23,000 women each year.

In 2022, 4.9 million under-five deaths were recorded, most of these from preventable causes.

Low- and middle-income countries are the most affected. 

They continue to face the challenges of fragile health systems and inequitable access to health and health-related products.

In 2022, an estimated 13 percent of adolescent girls and young women across the world gave birth before the age of 18.

And yet, we see a downward trend in donor aid for reproductive health and maternal, newborn and child health. 

Countries are struggling with domestic funding allocations to cover essential needs. 

The Global Leaders Network provides a platform for leaders to work together to address these persistent issues.

I thank Her Excellency Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, His Excellency President William Ruto of Kenya, His Excellency Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and His Excellency President Joseph Boakai of Liberia for joining this call to action.  I thank His Excellency Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Mr Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa of the United Republic of Tanzania and His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal for lending their support to this initiative.

We also appreciate the support of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNFPA as we move the Global Leaders Network.

Together, women, children and adolescents comprise more than 65 percent of the global population.

Addressing their challenges can fundamentally shift the global health landscape.

The Global Leaders Network will advocate for sustained and enhanced financial investment, contributing to the growth of nations and enabling individuals to reach their potential. 

According to a report by a leading health economics institution, by addressing the health gap between men and women, we could boost the global economy by at least USD 1 trillion annually by 2040.

By addressing the health gap, 137 million women could access full-time employment by 2040, lifting millions of women out of poverty.

We must engage the G7, the G20, BRICS and other blocs to carve out a focused agenda that ensures the necessary investments flow into women, children and adolescent health. 

The Lusaka Agenda, which enhances coordination and accountability in the health financing architecture, can be used to track investments.

In September last year, governments and philanthropies committed to increasing investments to end the shortfall of funding for life-saving family planning supplies. 

These commitments must be upheld.

We need to give greater attention to ending gender-based violence.

We have also seen that the high rates of unintended pregnancies contribute to maternal mortality. 

The United Nations and the African Union, through the Maputo protocol, recognises the right to bodily autonomy, especially for girls and women.

Yet, we continue to grapple with the question of termination of pregnancy at the political level.

This is the case even though the WHO has presented evidence that “where abortion is legal… and where safe services are accessible, both unsafe abortion and abortion-related mortality and morbidity are reduced.”

The Global Leaders Network advocates for life-saving interventions and sexual and reproductive health rights.

As South Africa, we know this from experience. 

The Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, which we adopted in 1996, contributed to a decline of termination of pregnancy-related mortality by 90 percent between 1994 and 2021.

The Act was passed through a democratic process amidst robust debates and significant pushback. 

But in the end, scores of women’s lives have been saved.

Prevention of unintended pregnancies, comprehensive sexual education and preventing violence against women and girls are still priority interventions. But complementing these with sexual and reproductive health rights saves more lives.

We understand that countries have the sovereign right to make determinations on issues of termination of pregnancy. 

The Global Leaders Network is called to protect the rights of vulnerable populations and present evidence that demonstrates a reduction in morbidity and mortality.

We therefore issue a call to action.

We call on Heads of State and Government to take women, children and adolescent health seriously and join the Global Leaders Network. 

We call on countries, donors and commercial and development investors to carve out a specific financing agenda for women, children and adolescent health. 

We call on countries across the world to collaborate to meet the financing targets for organisations that support women, children and adolescent health.

These include the Global Financing Facility, UNICEF and the UNFPA.

We call on stakeholders in the women, children and adolescent health sector to target those countries with the highest maternal, neonatal and adolescent mortality rates. 

We call on academics and civil society to continue to provide evidence and compelling arguments for urgent political attention and greater investment.

We call for equity in manufacturing, in access to sexual and reproductive health products and in quality health services for women, children and adolescents.

We call for health systems strengthening programmes that address health outcomes for women, children and adolescents.

As the chair of the Global Leaders Network, I thank everyone who is involved in this critical initiative.

By mobilising the world in support, we can save millions of lives.

We can reduce poverty and inequality, improve productivity, develop economies and transform communities across the globe.

I thank you.
 

President of the New York Stock Exchange, Ms Lynn Martin,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Parks Tau,
Ministers from the Republic of South Africa,
Representatives of business from the US and South Africa,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon. 

Allow me to begin by thanking the leadership of the New York Stock Exchange for hosting this South Africa/USA Business Forum.

This is a timely intervention. 

It is my first visit to the US since we held general elections in May this year that ushered in a Government of National Unity.

Under the GNU, ten political parties have come together and committed to a common programme of action and national agenda.

We are prioritizing inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

South Africa intends to stay the course on the structural economic reform process, on scaling up investment in key infrastructure, and on improving the business operating environment.

Our efforts to promote South Africa as a favourable investment destination continue to yield positive benefits.

In 2018 we set ourselves a target of attracting R1,2 trillion or approximately USD 63,6 billion
in investment over a five-year period. 

Last year we achieved our target ahead of schedule. 

These investments have been broad in scope and are in a number of key economic sectors such as mining, manufacturing, ICTs, agriculture, automotive, infrastructure development and the digital economy.

A significant proportion of these investments have been in energy, notably renewable energy. 

We have announced a new target of approximately R2 trillion or approximately USD 100 billion over the next five-year period up to 2028. 

The far-reaching structural reforms we have implemented over the past six years have opened up the country to increased levels of investment that continues to grow. 

This has been particularly evident in the clean energy sector that has attracted significant investment since our mobilization drive began.

This bodes well not only for our economy and our nation’s energy security, but also for our commitment to decarbonizing our economy in line with global climate change commitments.

At the same time, we are equally committed to a Just Energy Transition that is inclusive, that take our developmental needs into account, and that leaves no community behind. 

We have a supportive and enabling industrial policy that incorporates amongst others expanding the special economic zones, driving export-led growth, and harnessing the potential of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area or AfCFTA. In January 2024 we began preferential trading under the AfCFTA.

The Government of National Unity is furthermore committed to prudent monetary and fiscal policy and to strengthening regulatory and legislative frameworks to combat corruption.

The multidisciplinary team led by the National Treasury continues to make progress in the efforts to remove South Africa off the Financial Action Task Force grey list. 

In November 2023 the FATF noted that we had made progress in strengthening measures  to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing and upgraded us. We expect to detail more progress in this regard in our next report back schedule for October.

The structural reform process that began under the previous administration further bolsters our position as a destination of choice for foreign investors.

The US State Department’s 2024 Investor Climate Statement highlights just some of South Africa’s unique value propositions.

These include being the most advanced, diverse economy in sub-Saharan Africa; having deep and well-regulated capital markets, stable institutions, a mature financial and services sector, and being a hub for regional investment.

South Africa and Africa is ripe for investment in financial services, advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, infrastructure development, mining, science and technology and other sectors.

South Africa is also developing the value chains of the future.

With substantial reserves of critical energy transition minerals, we are positioning ourselves to be at the forefront of the green energy revolution. 

As the country with the world’s largest platinum group metal reserves, we have a competitive advantage when it comes to the production of sustainable energy technologies, including electric vehicles, new energy vehicles and renewable energy components.

South Africa has also developed a regulatory framework to harness the potential of the hydrogen economy.

We have developed a Just Energy Transition Investment Plan that outlines the scope and scale of financing needed to meet our decarbonization objectives, as well as the investment opportunities on offer.

I want to call on US business to partner with us in this regard.

We have also established an Infrastructure Fund, with a USD 6.5 billion allocation over 10 years, to leverage blended financing from private investors and multilateral development banks. The Fund has a pipeline of projects in water, sanitation, energy, transport, digital infrastructure, agriculture, agro-processing and housing.

As the South African government, we have consistently affirmed the importance of collaboration with the private sector to drive economic growth and job creation, and to resolve structural impediments to growth.

The government/business partnership we established last year at the height of our nation’s energy crisis has since been expanded to include collaboration to resolve challenges in transportation and logistics, as well as to tackle crime and corruption.

At our last meeting with the business community in August, one senior South African business leader described the Government of National Unity as new era of partnership, and this is accurate.

South Africa has indeed embarked on a new era of growth, progress and inclusive, shared prosperity.

We are grateful to the New York Stock Exchange for the commitment that it has shown to expanding bilateral relations. 

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the NYSE and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2022 was an important milestone with respect to developing new products, knowledge sharing around Environmental, Social and Governance, Exchange Traded Funds and digital assets. 

The NYSE’s significant market capitalization and robust trading activity underscores its pivotal role in global finance.

Likewise, the JSE, Africa's largest stock exchange, also offers significant market depth and liquidity. 

Through strategic partnerships and dual listings, the JSE enables South African firms to tap into the extensive capital and investor base of the NYSE.

Conversely, the JSE it offers US companies a gateway to African markets, providing them with valuable insights and opportunities for expansion. 

This collaboration helps both exchanges strengthen their market positions, promote cross-border investment and drive economic growth on a global scale.

The US is one of South Africa’s most valued trading, investment and development partners.

Our cooperation is aligned to South Africa’s national priorities and extends to people-to-people cooperation in the spheres of education, culture, tourism and institution building. 

A number of US companies operate in South Africa, including Procter and Gamble, Ford Motor Company, GE Healthcare, Amazon, John Deere, General Motors and Walmart.

Last year, the United States was the second largest destination for South Africa’s exports with bilateral trade totalling USD 17.6 billion. 

Between 2019 and 2023, total exports to the US accounted for 8 per cent of all South African exports; whilst under AGOA and the GSP, South African exports to the US accounted for 25 per cent of South Africa’s global exports. 

AGOA has enabled us to expand the breadth and depth of our trade ties with the US  and in the process, created more South African jobs.

South Africa is also an anchor for regional value chains in the continent, sourcing inputs from many countries in the region into its manufacturing sector.

These are then re-exported as final products to foreign markets including to the US under AGOA. 

Besides the automotive sector, AGOA has bolstered South African exports of wines, citrus, iron and steel, organic chemicals and precious stones. 

We appreciate the substantial contribution that AGOA has made towards job creation in these labour-intensive sectors. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The advent of the Government of National Unity has renewed investor optimism in the South African economy.

The message I bring to US investors today is that this optimism is well-placed. 

South Africa is firmly on the road to recovery, and we invite you to be part of this journey.

Investments in South Africa are secure. Our business environment is stable.

This is supported policy certainty and regulatory safeguards.

Africa too has a compelling growth story. 

By 2050, the population of Africa is expected to have grown to 2.5 billion people.

According to the African Development Bank, the continent is set to be the second-fastest growing region in the world.

Growth in Africa is expected to average 3.7 percent in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025.

This exceeds the projected global average of 3.2 percent. 

Seventeen African economies are projected to grow by more than 5 percent in 2024. 

This demonstrates the resilience of African economies despite numerous global shocks. 

The AFCFTA will remove barriers and unlock opportunities for trade and investment for local and global businesses.

It will drive a wave of industrialisation and create dynamic regional value chains. 

This too presents opportunities for US businesses and investors, and opens up new markets for their goods, products and services. 

Mutually beneficial trade and investment not only unlocks the dynamism and potential of an entire continent. It will also aid Africa’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

I want to invite US businesses to join us at next year’s South Africa Investment Conference where you will be able to see for yourselves the opportunities on offer to invest in our economy.

South Africa is open for business. Sustainable and inclusive growth spurs development and creates jobs.

I look forward to our discussions today.

Together, we can forge a path to shared success and progress, leveraging our combined strengths to achieve enduring prosperity for our people.

I thank you.
 

Coordinator of Prosper Africa, Ms British Robinson
President of the Business Council for International Understanding, Mr Peter Tichansky,
South African Ministers,
Representatives of industry,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning and thank you for this opportunity.

I wish to thank the BCIU and Prosper Africa for hosting this Critical Minerals Roundtable. 

Four months ago, South Africa held national general elections, which ushered in a Government of National Unity.

Ten political parties have come together to coalesce around a common agenda for economic growth and sustainable development.

Through a combination of driving key structural reforms and leveraging the strengths of key economic sectors such as mining, energy, and manufacturing we aim to improve the business operating environment and attract investment.

South Africa is committed to contributing is fair share to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

We are advancing a Just Energy Transition Plan that will guide our shift from coal to renewable energy sources while ensuring equitable economic opportunities and social inclusion for affected communities.

South Africa's and Africa’s critical minerals sector has a crucial role to play in this regard, and we recognize the importance of collaboration with other countries to develop the potential of our critical minerals sector.

The US in particular has established expertise in advanced mining technologies, automation and sustainability practices.

We want to strengthen our ties with US companies and institutions to foster technological advancements, enhance supply chain efficiencies and attract investment into our mining sector.

South Africa strongly endorses the United Nations Secretary-General’s position paper on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, where he highlights the importance of beneficiation, benefit sharing, local value addition and economic diversification.

It would not be an understatement to say that the minerals that lie beneath the soil of Africa are powering the green energy revolution.

Thirty percent of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

South Africa has substantial reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium as well as chromium. 

These resources are fundamental to the development of cutting-edge technologies that drive progress in various sectors. 

What will be critical is to ensure that this progress does not leave Africa behind.

The extraction of critical minerals must not perpetuate colonial-era patterns of exploitation of the continent’s rich resources.

As it stands, most African countries export critical minerals primarily in their raw form. 

By focusing on basic extraction and not on beneficiation and value-added processing of minerals, Africa is both missing out and losing out. 

By some estimates, extraction of select minerals could boost the region’s GDP by 12 per cent or more by 2050. 

However, this is a fraction of the benefits that could be reaped from processing and beneficiation. 

By some estimates African countries could generate USD 24 billion a year in GDP and create 2.3 million jobs from investing in mining beneficiation and domestic processing.  

We are making progress. By way of example, SASOL, our flagship petrochemicals company, is also a leader in green hydrogen technologies, including R&D.

As the global automotive industry moves towards Electric Vehicles and New Energy Vehicles, we are leveraging our rich experience with automotive production to get some of the world’s leading automotive manufactures with a footprint in South Africa to produce more their green vehicles in our country. 

Although South Africa’s ratio of beneficiated to primary products exported continues to improve, we clearly need to do more.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the global market for critical minerals is expected to total approximately USD 16 trillion over the next 25 years.

Africa is perfectly positioned to leverage this demand for its benefit.

As a country South Africa is committed to creating a supportive policy framework for the critical minerals sector.

Our policy approach has five key elements.

Firstly, to simplify and streamline regulations and regulatory approvals for critical minerals extraction and processing.

Secondly, to implement measures to support research and development in mining technologies. By fostering innovation, we aim to enhance extraction efficiency, reduce costs, and drive technological advancements in the sector.

Thirdly, investing in programmes to build the skills and capabilities of our workforce. This includes training and development initiatives to ensure that South Africa has a skilled labour force capable of meeting the demands of a modern mining sector.

Fourthly, prioritizing investments in transport and logistics to improve the efficiency of mineral supply chains. This includes upgrading ports, railways, and roads to support the seamless movement of minerals from mines to global markets.

Fifth, incentivizing domestic and international investment in the critical minerals sector. This includes tax incentives, grants, and other support mechanisms to encourage investment in exploration, production, and technological development.

South Africa also has a beneficiation strategy that seeks to translate the benefits of our country’s mineral endowments into a national competitive advantage. 

As the UN Secretary-General’s paper has noted, Critical Energy Transition Minerals can transform economies, create green jobs and foster sustainable local, regional and global development.

For this unique opportunity to meet its promise and fully realise its potential, it will be key that both mineral-producing countries and the countries that are the end destination of these minerals strive for inclusivity.

The extraction and processing of critical minerals must create decent work opportunities for communities.

Every effort must be made on the part of governments and mining companies to ensure that practices rife on the continent like child and forced labour, and human rights abuses of mine workers, are eradicated. 

Local beneficiation must be prioritized and supported, enabling economies to diversity and industrialise. 

Environmental safeguards, ecosystems protection and sustainable extraction and processing practices must be sacrosanct.

The extraction of these resources from the locations where they are mined is finite. As the UN Secretary-General’s paper notes, there must be a focus not on short-term prosperity but on building lasting inter-generational equity.

Critical minerals are more than just commodities. They are integral to resolving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, be they climate change, energy insecurity or food insecurity. 

They power the technologies that can help us bring about a world that is more equitable and that leaves no one behind.

By leveraging our respective strengths, pursuing strategic collaborations, and implementing supportive policies, we stand ready to meet the demands of the global market and drive sustainable development. 

I call on US companies and investors to join us on our journey, and I look forward to our engagement today. 

I thank you.
 

President, of the General Assembly,
Secretary-General,
Excellencies,

We meet at a time when the world faces many challenges and threats.

Wars, conflict, and the spectre of emerging conflicts are ever-persistent features of our time. 

Climate change is an existential threat. It is reversing economic growth and development gains in the Global North and Global South alike. 

The COVID-19 pandemic that wreaked havoc across our world was one of the worst zoonotic disease outbreaks, but it was not the first, nor will it be the last. 

It was a stark illustration of our extreme vulnerability to pandemics and other global public health emergencies.

The wound of inequality cuts deep, exacerbating poverty, unemployment, deprivation and destitution.

These challenges transcend borders. They affect everyone. 

Through this Summit of the Future, we must therefore forge global consensus on the causes of these challenges.

We must agree on actions to confront and overcome the threats we all face.

This Summit of the Future must bridge the development divide.

It must provide practical solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

The Pact for the Future is an opportunity to change and reinvigorate the multilateral system so that it is fit for purpose to address the challenges that the world faces.

It is an opportunity to make good on our promises to reform the global governance architecture, including international financial institutions and the United Nations Security Council. 

Seventy years since its founding, the structure of the UNSC remains largely unchanged. 

It is clearly no longer fit and adequate to address our modern-day challenges.

We live in a world where the threats and risks to international peace and security are multi-faceted, complex and ever evolving.

Placing the fate of the world’s security in the hands of a select few when it is the vast majority who bear the brunt of these threats is unjust, unfair and unsustainable. 

The UN Security Council as it is currently structured does not represent all and does not consider the voices and viewpoints of all the countries of the world.,

We need to make these institutions more representative of the current membership of the United Nations.

We need to make them more inclusive of the diversity of views on this planet.

We agree with the UN Secretary-General that the Summit of the Future is a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to forge global consensus and make progress on priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

We must reflect on the effectiveness of the United Nations.

We need to ensure that the UN is able to address contemporary and future challenges, both the known and anticipated, and to build resilience for the unknown. 

This will ensure that the organisation remains relevant for future generations.

For African countries, the Summit must focus on global action in support of the continent’s developmental agenda, Agenda 2063. It embodies the aspirations of the African people and clearly articulates the type of Africa that Africans want. 

To be meaningful, this Summit of the Future should reinforce the work towards ending poverty and realising the fundamental right to development. 

This summit must accelerate our collective efforts to advance development, peace and security, and human rights.

South Africa believes that the Pact Of the Future that is before us builds on existing commitments in line with the UN 2030 Agenda and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

These are complemented in the Pact by new commitments and actions. 

A key element of the Pact of the Future is working towards a New Agenda for Peace.

This must involve strengthening multilateral action for sustained peace. 

The United Nations was created to save future generations from the scourge of war. 

Yet, armed conflict persists. More and more civilians continue to die. Women and children in particular continue to be adversely affected by conflict. 

There must be a reinforced focus on mediation and the political settlements of disputes.

We must pursue the attainment of just and sustainable peace based on international law.

The Summit of the Future should encourage us to do things differently.

We must make a positive impact on the lives of the people of this planet.

We must transform international systems of power, governance, finance, debt, trade and technology so that they work for all countries.

No one must be left out. No one must be left behind. 

The Pact for the Future must be inclusive. It must be a global commitment that represents the views, concerns and interests of the Global South. It must build on existing obligations.

South Africa welcomes the extensive consultation that has taken place to prepare for the Summit. 

We are called upon to reflect on our common challenges, and in doing so, ensure that the views of all sectors of society, including women and youth, are considered.

Now is the time to recommit to adopting concrete actions to protect the needs and interests of present and future generations.

We leave this Summit with a more ambitious, clearer and concrete call to action to build a world for future generations that is in a far better state than in which we found it.

Our failure will be a betrayal for future generations. We dare not fail.

I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday, 24 September 2024, address the  79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York.

The theme identified by the President of UNGA79 is, "Unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere.”

The General Debate provides a platform for South Africa to highlight the importance of strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation in addressing global challenges.

President Ramaphosa is expected to speak  between 11h30-12h30 EST
(17h30-18h30 CAT).

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Directors, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie and MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Ntombizanele Beauty Sifuba;
Our Host, the Premier of Free State Province, Ms Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and all MEC’s here present;
Honourable Ministers present here present;
Executive Mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality, Cllr Connie Msibi;
Mayor of Setsoto Local Municipality, Cllr Seipati Mbiwe;
All Councillors and MMC’s here present;
Chairperson of the Free State Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders; Morena Mopedi
All Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders present;
Faith-Based and Civil Society Leaders;
The Clergy;
Senior Government Officials;
Sign Language Interpreters assisting us today;
Members of the media here present;
Our sign language interpreters;
People of our beautiful land, South Africa;

Goeie Môre! Molweni! Sanibonani! Thobela! Avuxeni! Ndi Matsheloni! Dumelang!

It is a great honour and privilege to address you at this significant occasion as we celebrate our country’s Heritage Day. Unfortunately, as we were looking forward to this day, some parts of our country which include Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State were impacted by severe weather conditions, exacerbated by climate change.

In celebrating our heritage, we must be alive to the impact of climate change on not only our wellbeing, but also on our culture. Extreme weather conditions such as those witnessed over the past few days affect some of our cultural and heritage sites, therefore undermining our national goals to protect and preserve our culture for generations to come.

We empathise with those who were affected by the widespread extreme weather. We would also like to commend Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Government Departments for their prompt and robust multi-sectoral response. Additionally, we commend the provinces that were impacted for their prompt activation of their disaster response structures.

The Response teams led by NATJOINTS remain on standby to respond to any eventualities, and continue to assist affected communities. Even while these teams are committed to helping and saving those in need, we nonetheless ask that our people exercise caution and pay close attention to any warnings issued by the South African Weather Service. 

These meteorological conditions emphasise even more how important it is to increase our investments in technology that may improve weather predictions. 

We can save lives by providing early warnings of storms, heat waves, and disasters. Our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones.

In addition, I would like to urge the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to explore policy considerations concerning the impact of climate change on our historical heritage, but also provide direction on how best we can preserve our national identity in this era of multiple global challenges.

Compatriots,

As we celebrate heritage month, which coincides with tourism month, we should use this opportunity to showcase to the nation the significance of our heritage sites across the country as tourist destinations of choice that have the potential to contribute to socio-economic development, promote people-to-people relations and enhance social cohesion.

On this day, we should also celebrate our cultural diversity, our inherited sense of family identity, our traditions, cultural wealth, and artefacts passed down through the generations, particularly since the dawn of democracy.

As we have gathered here today, we should reflect on 30 years of democracy, which in itself is a milestone that underlines our diversity and heritage. It is also critical that we recognise and remember the courageous individuals such as JB Marks and Moses Kotane and many others who gave their all for the great gift of our freedom. 

As a result, we celebrate this heritage month in accordance with the Constitution's Preamble, which instructs us to:
“Recognise the injustices of our past and honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights.”

Therefore, this year's theme of, "Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Lives for Our Freedom," is fitting because it allows us to honour the lives of those who confronted adversity with unflinching bravery, and stood up against injustice and oppression, and finally gave their lives so that you and I could enjoy the fruits of democracy, which include equality, dignity and freedom for all.

The commemoration of our heritage is a result of the sacrifices and efforts of those who came before us, fighting against apartheid and championing social justice and human rights. 

It is therefore important that we, as a nation, preserve the memory of those who fought for our freedom. They have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to the defence of our country, as well as the assertion of the values and principles that must be upheld. It is because of their bravery, resilience, and resolute commitment that we have a brighter future for generations to come.

Compatriots, 

As a nation, we should engrave the names of our struggle heroes in our hearts and teach new generations about their contribution to our nation as a way of reminding ourselves that our freedom was not free.

As part of this process, and in honour of the freedom fighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we will be honouring those who have fallen outside of our country’s borders. A homecoming ceremony will be taking place, this Friday on the 27th of September 2024, in which President Ramaphosa will officially receive the repatriated remains from Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Among the remains to be repatriated to South Africa are those of struggle stalwarts Adv. Duma Nokwe, Mama Florence Mophosho, and Basil February. Let me thank Ministers Mc Kenzie, Motshekga, Nonstsho and their teams for having made this task possible.
The repatriation of the remains from Zambia and Zimbabwe forms part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project. As a national memory project, this initiative aims to commemorate, celebrate, educate, promote, preserve, conserve, and provide a durable testament to South Africa's road to freedom.

The exhumations and the Spiritual Repatriation and Reburial Project is just one of many important activities taking place during this month. In addition, to the heroes and heroines of our national liberation struggle, we also acknowledge many other remarkable individuals across the spectrum, who contributed to our freedom.

Our activists and contributors to our struggle for democracy include artists and intellectuals who used their creative talent and vision to draw attention to the realities and demands of our national liberation struggle. It also includes ordinary men and women who provided shelter to those who were hunted down by the apartheid regime. We thank most sincerely the peoples of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana and many other countries that welcomed our freedom fighters and looked after our fallen heroes.

Siyabonga, re ya leboga! No words can be enough to thank you!

Fellow Compatriots,

Three decades into democracy, we continue to celebrate our Heritage while we acknowledge that there are many challenges confronting our communities which include triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and unemployment. To tackle these ongoing challenges, we must unite and celebrate our diversity while striving to create a more equal society where opportunities are not determined by colour, gender, class, or religion.

This would entail increasing people's skills through access to equal education opportunities, quality health care for all, and provision of basic amenities, as well as facilitating work opportunities and shifting economic ownership patterns.

Furthermore, we must work together as government, interfaith, civil society formations and traditional leaders, to eliminate persisting inequalities and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) which is prevalent in our communities. All acts of criminality, and GBVF undermine government efforts to foster the culture of social cohesion and moral regeneration.

We must not let anybody conceal evil acts of abuse under the guise of one’s belief system and culture. It has to be said that no nation can condone any form of abuse against women, children and those most vulnerable within society, including the LGBTQIA+ community.
To demonstrate our commitment to the fight against GBVF, the government has introduced new laws protecting women and children. 

On 24 May 2024, the President signed the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill into law.
This new legislation is a significant step towards protecting women and children from abuse and violence, by way of establishing a council to provide strategic leadership in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

We must further confront the issues related to heritage resources in public spaces, which continue to pose a challenge in defining our collective cultural identity and building a nation united in its diversity.

In our country, the impact of apartheid remains visible, and the wounds of past divisions and inequalities remain unresolved. Therefore, we need to continue to build on that which unites us and deal with issues that seek to divide us as a nation. 

It is through understanding and celebrating our shared heritage that we can begin to bridge the gaps that divide us and move forward as a united and inclusive society.

The reality of our political climate under the Government of National Unity, also gives us an opportunity to collectively re-imagine what the heritage of good governance in South Africa can look like. Our ability to look beyond our differences and converge on the shared agenda to bring about inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction is one of the examples that the government is showing its commitment to uniting through diversity. 

Fellow Compatriots,

As different sectors of society, we must collaborate with the South African Heritage Resource Agency to develop community abilities and capacities to help identify and protect heritage resources.

We have to guard and protect our heritage from forms of neglect and threats such as natural disasters, urbanisation, globalisation and developments that pose challenges to the preservation of our most treasured landmarks, artefacts, and traditions. 

All communities from the Free State Province, including Ficksburg, have the responsibility to protect and preserve historical sites like the Old Prison Cells and the General Fick Museum. We must educate young people about the significance of such sites because they are an important part of who we are and where we come from.

We must recognise the value of heritage conservation not just for conserving the past but also for moulding our future. Our heritage is more than simply a collection of artefacts from the past; it shapes who we are as a people and where we are heading towards as a country.

We have to protect both our tangible and intangible heritage. As people, we are connected yet distinct in our living heritage, which includes oral history, belief systems, cultural practices, rituals, popular memory, skills, methods and indigenous knowledge systems, which inform our view of nature, society, and relationships.

These attributes are the foundation of all communities and are an essential source of our nation's identity. If we preserve intangible cultural heritage, we will be able to keep our integrity, values, and respect for one another as a nation.

We call on all our stakeholders - families, NGOs, traditional and interfaith leaders, educational institutions, businesses, as well as the media to play a role in the promotion and protection of our intangible cultural heritage.

Languages are among the most important aspects of our intangible heritage that we should protect. We should take pride in speaking our native languages, as they are a key attribute of our culture.

We should also learn each other’s languages. Learning each other's dialects will make it easier to understand and celebrate each other's culture with mutual respect. We urge intellectuals, knowledge holders, language practitioners and organisations like the Pan South African Language Board to share their wisdom, and continue to implement programmes that will help to prevent linguistic knowledge extinction especially in our younger generation.

As South Africa continues to develop, it is crucial to preserve our heritage for generations to come. We must cherish, protect, and celebrate the monuments, sites, and traditions that define our unique identities, ensuring that they are passed on to future generations.

Most importantly, while we celebrate our rich past and unique culture, we must remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for our independence. May we never forget the price paid for our freedom, and may we always remember the lives of our heroes and heroines who sacrificed everything for our country.

As former President Nelson Mandela said when delivering his address during Heritage Day in 1996:
“When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”

Let us work together to preserve our legacy, protect our past, and shape our country for a better future.

Thank you, Ha khensa, Inkomu!
 

Programme Directors; Mr Groovin Nchabeleng and Ms Phaphama Tshisikhawe;
Ausi Audrey, the Children, Family and Friends of the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation
The Chancellor of the University of Technology, Mme Gloria Serobe;
Vice of the University of Technology, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke;
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Morero;
Former Youth Activists here present;
Moderator Professor Busani Ngcaweni and Panelist. Mr Phil Molefe; Ms Lwazi Khoza and Ms Mapi Mhlongo;
Senior Government officials from the Presidency and all government Departments;
Student leaders here present;
The leadership of the unions here present;
Fellow Compatriots, good morning;

I am privileged to deliver this inaugural memorial lecture, under the theme; “30 Years of Democracy Reflection and Citizen-centred Government Communication” in remembrance of my comrade, MorwaRre, Ronnie Mamoepa, with whom I have shared a significant portion of my youth, particularly within the Youth Movement and the United Democratic Front of the Southern Transvaal.

At the time when we were together in the youth and mass democratic movement it was a difficult period. It required that we be ambitious about the prospects of a better future, as all young people in each generation should be. In this regard we were focused on the task at hand. Hence, I am of the view that Ronnie, was an optimist, determined to realise the goal of a national democratic society that is non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united, and prosperous. With Ronnie, we were driven by the conviction that; FREEDOM OR DEATH VICTORY IS CERTAIN! 

His optimism made us believe that Freedom is indeed achievable!

Compatriots, I have consistently regarded MorwaRre, as I would call him, a revolutionary intellectual due to his critical thinking and contributions to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Mamoepa was an intellectual who, like other revolutionary thinkers, recognised the necessity of investing in research, reading, and critical theory and discipline.

I am particularly pleased that we reached an agreement with the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation and my sister, Audrey, to hold the lecture in September. A month of great significance in our nation's history as we celebrate our national heritage, also in a month set aside to focus on   Tourism, Transport, and the Public Service more broadly. 

This is because Ronnie, a gallant freedom fighter, dedicated his life to the public service, serving with integrity, compassion, and a resolute commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through his work as a public servant and as a seasoned government communicator par excellence.

It is unsurprising, that this lecture takes place in a month where we remember Steve Bantubonke Biko, a leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, who taught us that Africans need to rally together and work as a collective, that we ought to rid ourselves of the shackles that have perpetually bound us to servitude, particularly under racial oppression and capitalism. 

Ronnie lived his life according to the Steve Biko philosophy's ideals. This ideology advocated for the political solidarity and cultural pride of black people while vehemently condemning the inaction of white liberals.

Compatriots, I am bringing Steve Biko into the conversation because of his importance to our history and development. During the decline of the African National Congress, he inspired us and many others in our generation to fight against colonialism and apartheid.

Steve Biko convinced us that Apartheid would eventually end, but he warned that it would be dependent on Africans' conscience and commitment; therefore, he claimed that the ‘The most powerful weapon in the hand of the oppressor, is the mind of the oppressed.’ As a result, in today's setting, many young leaders and student leaders consistently allude to Steve Biko and Franz Fanon's work on the decolonisation of our education system.

According to the article on social identity by Pal Ahluwalia and Abebe Zegeye, Steve Biko and Frantz Fanon share a close connection. Both were activist student leaders, and both have become an integral part of the broader struggle for freedom. 

The ideals exhibited by Fanon and Biko mirror those exemplified by Ronnie Mamoepa, who, despite being incarcerated at the age of nineteen on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the state, remained steadfast in his conviction to advocate for liberation.

After his release from Robben Island, Ronnie returned to his residence in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and resumed his political activities. During this period, he served as an executive member of the Atteridgeville-Saulsville Detainees Support Committee and the Pretoria Youth Congress.

His responsibilities included rallying youth support for the ANC-UDF, coordinating political education for the township's young people, and managing media and PR efforts. He also made sure to profile the activities of the Civic Organisation (ASRO) and the Detainees Support Committee.

He fervently dedicated himself to youth engagement in politics and championed the notion that young individuals should be the catalyst for change in all sectors of society, having participated in a Saulsville student movement.

Compatriots, 

I am confident that he would be pleased to see the presence of young activists who are undeterred by the prevailing political climate, are striving to improve the learning circumstances for their peers. Who are equally ambitious to realise their gaols and contribute to the development of our country and the continent.

In this regard, let me congratulate the South African Student Congress (SASCO) for winning the elections at Tshwane University of Technology. Equally, I would like to wish SASCO well on its 33rd anniversary since its formation in 1991, when it merged with the South African National Student Congress (SANSCO) and the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS).

We view SASCO as a critical part of the mass democratic movement that produces intellectuals in line with its motto, preparing for battles ahead. Over the years, SASCO has produced critical minds who today are contributing to the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution; these include Robison Ramaite, David Makhura, Thembi Simelane, Mahlengi Bhengu, Buti Manamela, and Bandile Masuku.

Additionally, some of the former student leaders of SASCO are currently members of my team in the Presidency, including Dr. Tshilidzi Ratshitanga, Itumeleng Mafatshe, and Mduduzi Mbada. I must acknowledge that Ronnie Mamoepa, whose work ethic, and dedication to service remains unparalleled, also influenced them.

Together with Ronnie, we fought against the oppressor, and we equally stood against any form of discrimination. Our resolve to resist colonialism and apartheid stemmed from our belief in the vision of a South Africa in which the people govern, the country's wealth is restored to the people, and the land is shared among those who work it.

Our vision was to establish a society free from human exploitation. As a result, we fought to secure the people's right to work and, more importantly, to ensure that the people's government is responsible for ensuring that the doors of learning and culture are open to all, especially the working class. 

We also believed that we must live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples of the world in conditions of equality, mutual respect, and equal advantage. Our fight against colonialism and apartheid was based on the knowledge that there are those who monopolise our country's political power, land, and wealth.

We understood that while we were fighting colonialism and apartheid, there were those who wanted to stop the dissemination of progressive literature and art, and that those who started aggressive wars would unavoidably try to prevent us from realising our objective of transforming our liberation into a true people's liberation that would result in a drastic social revolution in our nation.

These are some of the lessons learnt from O.R Tambo, the former President of the African National Congress, and from Radio Freedom's reading of the January Statement, issued on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. MorwaRre would dissect and simplify the statement since he was one of the best communicators the ANC had produced. He would issue a media statement to communicate umhlahlandlela, or directive as provided by the ANC leaders at the time, this irrespective of the complexities of the situation at hand.

Fellow Compatriots, 

We have just emerged from highly contested elections on May 29. In contextualising the outcome of these elections, we have concluded that this is a strategic setback for the National Democratic Revolution.

Ronnie Mamoepa would have described it in the same way. He would have been critical of how we performed and, consequently, on both the strides and setbacks made towards a National Democratic Revolution, and an equal, just, and prosperous South Africa. 

In the same vein, he would have concurred with the notion that, under the current circumstances, we must set up either a Coalition Government or a Government of National Unity (GNU), given that we received forty percent of the votes.

If he were here, MorwaRre would invite us to ponder about whether, in the current political context, we could continue to consolidate and advance the National Democratic Revolution? Whom could we trust to advance the primary aim of establishing a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous society? Moreover, whether, relinquishing control of the state to opposition parties and not establishing a Government of National Unity, would we be surrendering the revolution to the unknown?

These are indeed some of the questions the intellectuals present in this room can critically engage with. I also know that as part of his thought-provoking conversation, Ronnie would have contributed to the discourse and even provided answers to the question himself.

Compatriots,

Allow me to take this occasion to explain the rationale behind our decision, which has elicited both critical and favourable responses. Using the analytical frameworks of Marx, Lenin, and Engels, particularly on the notion of dialectical materialism, we can agree that in the struggle toward the society many of us dream about, it is inevitable that there will be strategic tactical detours that can put us back on course. 

Therefore, individuals who identify as Marxist would recognise that Marxism is not a dogma but rather a scientific framework. Marxism emphasises the development of consciousness through experience; thus, in Marxist theory, individuals must produce to survive, and the fulfilment of needs generates new needs as people reproduce not only for themselves but also for their species.

The May elections and fulfilment of the electorate's wish required us to understand the three laws of dialectical materialism; the law of unity and conflict of opposites, which refers to internal contradictions between the desires of labour and capital, the law of negation of negation, which refers to a phenomenon transitioning into its opposite, and the law of quantity into quality.

As a result, it was critical for us political parties to set up the GNU as an anchor to our approach to addressing current challenges rather than hurling concepts and slogans at them. This, I argue, would have been Ronnie Mamoepa's pre-occupation.

Fellow Compatriots, informed by the objective conditions, we invited all parties represented in parliament to form a Government of National Unity guided by the statement of intent and minimum programme of action.

Through a Statement of Intent, the parties have made a firm commitment to respect the Constitution and the rule of law, as well as to promote accountability, transparency, integrity, and good governance. 

The GNU has resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities: to drive inclusive growth and job creation, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state. We will translate these priorities into a detailed plan and interventions, a Medium-Term Development Plan, that government will implement over the next five years. 

As the GNU, we are working together for a greater purpose: to build a better South Africa for everyone. This means that we must work together to address all the challenges we face. We are at a time where we need to theorise and understand the context of the world we live in.

We find ourselves in a modern, dynamic, and ever-changing world. The world we live in is characterised by megatrends, which are high levels of poverty and unemployment, climate change, epidemics, and technological changes characterised by ICT and digital technology. 

This world we live in today requires investment in knowledge and appreciating knowledge as a strategic resource. In this regard, we must invest in thought leadership to pursue truth in facts instead of succumbing to whims.

Institutions of higher education and training, including TUT, must pride themselves on the number of epistemologically driven individuals they produce, and such must be able to contribute towards the development and growth of society. 

Fellow Compatriots, 

Let me say as I end that Ronnie would have been pleased with the developments, we have made in one of the fields he was passionate about—Government Communication.

Our progress in technology and public engagement has been substantial. We have established platforms such as the District Development Model Outreach, which facilitates enhanced public participation and promote s innovation that increases information accessibility.

E-government platforms have also reduced bureaucratic obstacles in public service delivery. However, there is still a need to engage underprivileged communities and establish a robust feedback process. The government will continue to use resources like social media, community radio, and mobile technology to enhance outreach.

As the 7th administration, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the goal is to create a society where every voice is acknowledged, and every citizen is empowered.

In the spirit of Ronnie Mamoepa, let us recommit ourselves to the values of compassion, justice, and unity. Together, let us construct a future that affords everyone the chance to prosper, ensures no one falls behind, and upholds the principles of equality and dignity for all. 

As President Oliver Tambo instructed, our task even in the conditions we find ourselves in today, remains that of bringing about the kind of society we visualised in the Freedom Charter. We are confident that the movement of Ronnie Mamoepa will reemerge! 

Long Live the Spirit of Ronnie Mamoepa Long Live!

I thank you.
 

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Friday, 13 September 2024, deliver a keynote address at the Ronnie Mamoepa Inaugural Annual Lecture, scheduled to take place at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria Campus. 
 
Hosted by the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation, the Inaugural Annual Lecture is in honour of the legacy of Mr Ronnie Mamoepa, whose work in government communications helped shape the democratic narrative in South Africa.
 
Mr Mamoepa was one of the most esteemed struggle heroes, a defender of freedom and democracy, a respected figure in government communications, and a dedicated public servant.
 
In this regard, the Deputy President will deliver the keynote address under the theme: 30 Years of Democracy: Reflection and Citizen-Centered Government Communications. The theme underscores the importance of accountable communication between government and its citizens, in line with Mamoepa’s legacy. 
 
The lecture aims to reflect on the progress made since the advent of democracy in 1994, emphasizing the ongoing need for citizen-focused communication and engagement between government and the people.
 
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows: 
Date: Friday, 13 September 2024
Time: 10h00am
Venue: Tshwane University of Pretoria, Dinokeng Building, Prestige Auditorium, Pretoria 
 
Members of the media wishing to cover the event are request to send their full details to Ms Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505.
 
 
Media enquiries: Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 066 195 8840
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria