President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the occasion of its flagship "Taking Parliament to the People" programme in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 18 November 2022.

NCOP Chairperson Amos Masondo will lead the NCOP interaction with communities under the theme, “Working together to ensure faster improvement in the delivery of services to communities”.

The President will deliver his address at 10h00 at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre in the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

This occasion will be the culmination of a week-long series of Parliamentary activities in the area.

The District comprises the Ray Nkonyeni, Umuziwabantu, Umzumbe and Umdoni local municipalities.

During this week, Members of Parliament and of the Provincial Legislature, as well as office-bearers of local municipalities have visited various sites and conducted public meetings where residents were able to draw attention to challenges they experience with regards to service delivery.

This engagement follows izimbizo the President has conducted this year in the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Northern Cape under the theme, "eave No-One Behind".


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 16 November 2022, concluded South Africa’s participation at the G20 Leaders Summit held in the Republic of Indonesia on 15 and 16 November 2022.
 
The G20 Leaders Summit in Bali was hosted by His Excellency President Joko Widodo, under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.
 
The Summit gathered world leaders whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population where discussions centred on food and energy security, health, digital transformation and global infrastructure and investment.
 
President Ramaphosa addressed the working session on food and energy security where he expressed South Africa’s position that developed countries in the G20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies.
 
The President further said South Africa will continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just transition that supports sustainable development.
 
On the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict had exacerbated the rise of food , fuel and  basic necessities and the restricting of  trade further compounds the risk for global food price stability which is most felt by the developing economies.
 
In this regard, the President maintained South Africa’s stance that dialogue between the parties was the only path to resolving the conflict.
 
South Africa remains the sole African voice in the G20, and advocated for the African Union to join the G20.
 
President Ramaphosa called for continued G20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms.
 
South Africa welcomed the launch of the Pandemic Fund, of which it made a commitment to contribute to, at the working session on Global Health Architecture to respond quickly and effectively to the next pandemic.
 
The Pandemic Fund will enable collaboration, priority setting, pooling of resources, technology transfer and the research and development of medical countermeasures.
 
To improve the work of this important entity and expand the representation of lower-income countries, South Africa called for regional organisations to be invited to join the Task Force.
 
South Africa further supports the extension of the mandate of the G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the two day G20 Leaders Summit in Bali held bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit to cement diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.
 
On Tuesday, 15 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Peoples Republic of China, His Excellency President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders affirmed the special strategic relationship between the two countries. The nations committed to grow the blossoming relationship with increased Chinese investment in infrastructure and bilateral trade.
 
The Leaders affirmed a collective position on resolving global challenges through multilateral institutions. President Ramaphosa welcomed President Xi on His Excellency’s support for China to hand over the chair of BRICS to South Africa in 2023, which coincides with 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The two Leaders expressed support and agreement on the proposition of a permanent G20 African Union membership.  South Africa and China consent on seeking commitments from developed economies to fulfil their Paris COP21 climate agreements. The two nations further committed on more ambitious climate action goals.
 
On Wednesday, 16 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands, the Most Honourable Mark Rutte. President Ramaphosa welcomed the support from Netherlands on the South Africa Just Energy Transition- Investment Plan (SA JET-IP). The President further emphasised that for the plan to be realised South Africa will call for increased grant funding of SA JET-IP. South Africa and Netherlands have a diverse and substantial historic partnership, which remains strategic to date. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to continue the discussions on a working visit that the Netherlands will undertake to South Africa.
 
Following the engagement, still at the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, the Most Honourable Lee Hsien Loong. The Leaders committed to growing trade relations between the two nations. South Africa is Singapore’s largest trading partner in Africa.
 
The bilateral meeting is preceded by the Official Visit to Singapore undertaken by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation , Dr Naledi Pandor, in July 2022, during which she also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
 
South Africa's exceptional relations with Singapore are focused on trade and investment promotion as well as collaboration in science and innovation, skills development, vocational training, port innovation and infrastructure development.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa was accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, and Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana. 
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

In an effort to improve implementation, developmental outcomes, and institutionalisation of evaluations, the Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (DPME) will host the National Evaluations Seminar (NES) in Pretoria, on 15 to 16 November 2022. 

The seminar will be officially opened by the Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, and attend by various evaluation practitioners across the three spheres of Government as well as State owned entities (SOEs), international stakeholders, civil society, professional bodies, and academia.

Several international speakers such as Bagele Chilisa of the University of Botswana, Andy Rowe of the Canadian Evaluation Association, Rashon Lane of the Harvard University will deliver papers on Decolonising Evaluations: Context Specific Evaluations, Rapid Impact Evaluation, and Evaluative Thinking respectively. 

The seminar will also reflect on the implementation of the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), which was developed by the DPME in 2019. 

It is expected that the seminar will enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of the evaluation professional in identified areas; provide a platform for networking on best practices and professional experience, keep participants abreast of emerging local and international trends and their implication towards the strengthening of the National Evaluation System of South Africa and stimulate thinking and engagement on evaluation-related subjects.

Members of the media are invited to attend the National Evaluation Seminar as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Time: 11h00
Venue: Diep in Die Berg Conference & Function Centre, Wapadrand, Pretoria, 0050

NB: Members of the media may also follow the seminar virtually through the following link: National Evaluation Seminar 2022 Plenary

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

Please follow the conversation with us on:

Twitter: @DPMEOfficial -  #NES2022
Facebook: Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation 


Media enquiries: Mr Lawrence Ngoveni on 082 824 3060 or email Lawrence.ngoveni@dpme.gov.za

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

Your Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia and President of the G20,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Africa, as in many other parts of the developing world, millions of people are going hungry.

Global food insecurity is getting worse.

There are several reasons for this.

The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been uneven and inadequate.

Climate change has increased the frequency and the severity of droughts, floods and wildfires, disrupting agricultural production and supply.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has hiked global prices of fuel, fertilisers, edible oil, sugar and wheat.

We as South Africa still insist on dialogue between all the parties to resolve the conflict.

Low and middle income economies are most affected by the resultant food shortages and therefore need substantial financial support to ensure food security and tackle the effects of climate change.

With this support, low and middle income countries can invest in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food production systems and climate change early warning systems.

Trade restrictions are a major source of risk for global food price stability.

We therefore support the call for multilateral trading systems that are transparent, inclusive, predictable and rules-based.

South Africa welcomes the Indonesian Presidency’s focus on just and sustainable energy transitions.

We are, however, concerned at the lack of progress on key issues in the multilateral negotiations at COP27, especially with respect to loss and damage, finance, technology, capacity building, adaptation and the just transition.

The outcomes of both COP27 and this Leaders’ Summit must reaffirm the principles of equity and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’.

Industrialised countries in the G20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies.

South Africa will continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just transition that supports sustainable development.

We call for continued G20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms.

In this regard this can be best achieved with the African Union joining the G20 as a permanent member.

It is only through a collective and united response that we can resolve the challenges of food and energy insecurity across our world.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Bali in the Republic of Indonesia for the annual G20 Leaders' Summit. 

The President will participate in deliberations among world leaders whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population.

The Summit takes place on 15 and 16 November 2022 under the G20 Presidency of Indonesia, themed “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”. 

The G20 was formed in 1999 as a result of the Asian financial crises of the late 1990s, initially as a gathering of finance ministers and subsequently as a platform for Heads of State and Government in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. 

The group consists of  leading developed and developing economies aiming at a collective response to global economic and financial challenges rooted in the interconnected economic and financial architecture. 

The G20 also seeks to increase multilateral cooperation for the recovery of the global economy, to bring stability to the global financial system, to promote long-term sustainable growth and to strengthen global economic governance. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana.

Ahead of the start of the G20 Leaders' Summit, the President will chair an engagement of the African Union and NEPAD on Africa’s value proposition and priorities.

Issues under discussion in this forum will include the continent’s aspirations to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the realisation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals, and securing permanent membership of the G20 for the African Union.

G20 Leaders will seek consensus on Global Health Architecture, Sustainable Energy Transition, and Digital Transformation.

The discussions of the G20 often reflect the foremost global political and economic challenges at any given time and therefore as a collective body tends to carry a significant profile and influence.

It is also an effective instrument for advancing much-needed global governance reforms and orienting the international development agenda.

The G20 agenda has expanded beyond economic and financial issues and now encompasses issues of peace and security, global governance, international terrorism, the environment, refugees and other geo-political and foreign policy-related matters.

President Ramaphosa will also have bilateral meetings  with Heads of State and Government to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

G20 Summit, Bali Indonesia
President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Bali, Indonesia to participate at the G20 Leaders’ Summit from 15-16 November 2022. The Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Finance will accompany the President.
 
The G20 Leaders’ Summit will discuss strategic issues and the role of the G20 as part of the solution to a wide range of global challenges including amongst others addressing food and energy insecurity, strengthening the global health architecture and advancing digital transformation.
 
The President will address two working sessions. The first session will focus on the food and energy security. In his input, President Ramaphosa will call for susbstantial financial support for countries with developing economies that are most affected by food shortages and the effects of climate change. In this regard, South Africa will support that addressing food insecurity challenges must be a top G20 priority.
 
On Energy South Africa’s strategic objectives at the G20 will be to:
• To advance practical cooperation in terms of the G20 Voluntary Collaboration on Energy Access with a continuous focus on Sub-Saharan Africa;
• Ensure that the discussion on Clean Energy takes into account all forms of clean energy such as clean coal technology and nuclear to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable energy; this is important in the context of the existing South African energy mix policy;
• To guard against onerous commitments placed on developing countries regarding the phasing out of fossil fuels, which may negatively affect the poor.
 
During the second working session, which will focus on Health, President Ramaphosa will emphasize the urgent need to strengthen the Global Health Architecture that will respond quickly and effectively to the next pandemic. The President will call for a permanent global coordination and governance mechanism that will enable collaboration, priority setting, pooling of resources, technology transfer and the research and development of medical countermeasures.
 
Both the above-mentioned working sessions will take place on Tuesday 15 November 2022.

For planning purposes, the media will need to look out for the Presidency advisories on the exact times President Ramaphosa will address the two plenary sessions.
 
As customary, President Ramaphosa will also hold several bilateral meetings, amongst which will include China and other key trade partners. We will also confirm the bilaterals program through advisories that we will issue during the course of the summit.
 
Taking Parliament to the People: Port Shepstone (Ugu District) KZN 
On 18 November 2022, President Ramaphosa will deliver an address to the NCOP Taking Parliament to the People session to take place in Port Shepstone in the Ugu District of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The President’s speech will focus on “Building agile state capabilities to improve service delivery outcomes”. The President will speak to broader systemic reforms currently underway. A key element of this endeavor is the National Framework towards the Implementation of Professionalisation of the Public Sector, which was adopted by Cabinet on 19 October 2022. The Framework makes specific proposals to stabilise the political-administrative interface, ensure merit-based recruitment and selection and more effective consequence management. In this regard, all public sector legislation governing professionalisation will be reviewed and where necessary amended to align with this framework.
 
The Just Energy Transition and the funding the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan
South Africa needs to contribute to the reduction of global carbon emissions if we are to limit global warming and prevent the worsening effects of climate change. South Africa’s exports need to remain competitive in a global economy where goods from countries with high carbon emissions will soon attract high tariffs. Unless we reduce our emissions, many of the goods we seek to export will find key markets closed to them. Thus, South Africa’s economy will struggle to grow and create jobs.
 
We need to access finance for infrastructure development and industrialisation when more and more banks are not investing in high emission industries. Our companies will struggle to get financing for infrastructure, factories and other projects.
 
Therefore, a just transition is needed to ensure that the shift to a low-carbon economy does not negatively affect workers, communities and broader society.  For example, new jobs and opportunities need to be created for workers in the old power stations that are being decommissioned and those in the coal mines that supply them. They need to be skilled and reskilled to take up positions in new industries.
 
Affected communities need to benefit from the building of new renewable energy plants and new industries that produce materials for renewable energy, electric vehicles, green hydrogen and mining for minerals needed in the new economy. Community members should be able to participate directly in these industries and indirectly through the businesses that will support new economic activity.
 
Government has produced a Just Energy Transition Investment Plan that calculates that South Africa will need around R1.5 trillion over the next five years to meet these goals.
 
This money will need to come from various sources, including the funding that industrialised countries have promised to developing countries and from commercial financial institutions.
At the UN Climate Change Summit last year, France, Germany, UK, US and the European Union pledged around R140 billion to support the just transition. An initial amount of R10.7 billion has been received in low-interest loans from Germany and France.
 
While South Africa welcomes low-interest (or concessional) loans, a substantial portion of this funding needs to be in the form of grants.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mr Vincent Magwenya, will today 13 November 2023 host his weekly briefing to the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
 
The briefings are an interactive platform with the media where the Spokesperson provides an update on the President’s public engagements programme for the week ahead and address relevant topical issues of public and media interest.
 
Media is invited to the media briefing as follows:
Date: Sunday, 13 November 2022
Time: 13:00 for 13:30
Venue: Room 159, Union Buildings, Pretoria
 
Media who wish to attend need to submit their details to Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566  by no later than  11:00 today,  13 November 2022.
 
Media who will not be in attendance can during the question and answer session extend their questions via WhatsApp to +27 82 084 5566.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President David Mabuza will on Thursday, 17 November 2022, appear before a sitting of the National Assembly to respond to questions on wide-ranging issues related to a capable and developmental state, responding to HIV and AIDS epidemics, service delivery as well as others.

In response, the Deputy President will update the House on Government's plans to build a capable and developmental state through the implementation of the National Framework for the Professionalisation of the Public Sector.

As the world prepares to commemorate the World AIDS Day on 1 December, the Deputy President as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) will appraise members on how the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs has positively impacted on combating HIV and AIDS in the last 5 years in South Africa.

The Deputy President will also update Parliament on progress made by Government regarding the delivery of socio-economic benefits for Military Veterans as well as the on the support by national and provincial Government to municipalities, to assist them to fulfil their constitutional mandate.

Deputy President David Mabuza is also expected to outline the support provided by South Africa in the negotiations to resolve conflicts on the continent in efforts towards building a better Africa and a better world.

Details of the National Assembly Sitting:

Date: Thursday, 18 November 2022
Time: 14h00
Venue: Good Hope Chambers and Parliamentary Service Channel 408


Media enquiries: Matshepo Seedat on 082 679 9473 or Matshepo@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, will on Tuesday, 15 November 2022, visit Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal Province to engage with Military Veterans associations.

The Task Team chaired by the Deputy President was established by the President to provide political and structural support in addressing the concerns raised by Military Veterans.

The engagement is aimed at providing updates to Military Veterans on progress made in articulating its mandate through its seven work streams, which focus on these key areas:

- Review of specific provisions in the current Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011,

- Organisational re-design,

- Verification, Database Cleansing and Enhancement,

- Socio-Economic Support,

- Pensions and Benefits,

- Heritage, Memorialisation and the Burial for fallen Military Veterans, and

- Communications workstream, tasked to ensure that there is effective, timely and coordinated communication between Government and Military Veterans.

In this regard, the Task Team has already visited seven provinces, namely; Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape.

Through these engagements, the Task Team has made significant progress in ensuring that ensuring that Military Veterans and their families are provided with the care, support and opportunities necessary to lead their lives with dignity.

Deputy President Mabuza will be joined by the Minister of Defence and Military veterans, Ms. Thandi Modise, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr. Thabang Makwetla, and senior government officials.

Members of the media are invited to cover the engagement as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Archie Gumede Conference Centre (Department of Public Works), 455 A King Cetwayo Street, Mayville, Durban


Media enquiries:  Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise,
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla,
The Chief Executive Officer of the Castle Control Board,
Our Esteemed Military Veterans,
Government officials,
Members of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good morning,
 
To begin, we want to welcome everyone here today and thank you for taking time to attend this important gathering to agree on how we jointly work together in resolving the challenges faced by our nation's veterans.
 
We can never take for granted your presence and participation as it demonstrates your dedication in the initiative of finding long-term solutions to the difficulties that our nation's military veterans face every day.
 
Most importantly, we will never take for granted the critical role played by the military veterans from variety of armed forces, in the fight to overthrow the apartheid regime in South Africa.
 
The history of our liberation struggle can never be narrated without acknowledging the heroism and sacrifices of all our military veterans who committed their lives to the service of national freedom.
 
You trained and slept in bush camps, left your families and dedicated your lives to the wellbeing of our country.
 
You will forever remain heroes and heroes of our democracy.
 
Your efforts have liberated the country; today we are enjoying the benefits of democracy because of your selfless contribution. In the process, many of our military veterans lost opportunities to develop and advance themselves through education and available employment opportunities.
 
Most of these heroes and heroines did not have an opportunity to set aside their health and pension provisions to take care of their retired lives.
 
It is for this reason that both the government and the people must remain committed to ensuring that veterans of the armed forces are provided with the care, benefits and opportunities necessary to lead their lives with integrity and respect.
 
OBSTACLES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT
 
It is unfortunate that when we demobilised the combatants and integrated you into civilian life, you had to return to communities where opportunities for employment with your skills set are severely limited.
 
Many of you have been reduced to abject poverty and hopelessness; therefore, you have every right to demand a portion of the benefits that come with freedom.
 
It is for this reason that our government started a legislative process that eventually saw the enactment of the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011, from which the Department of Military Veterans was established.
 
Since then, military veterans became entitled to benefits prescribed in the Act, and were able to raise grievances in relation to their perceived incapacity of the Department of Military Veterans to adequately dispense these benefits to their community.
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK TEAM
 
It is for this reason that President Ramaphosa established the Presidential Task Team on the affairs of Military Veterans in the latter part of 2020, under the leadership of the Deputy President, to tackle the concerns raised on the livelihoods of military veterans.
 
Some of you will recall that in our initial meetings, all Provincial Premiers were called in order to assist in the amicable resolution of the challenges faced by military veterans. Our belief is that Provinces have a critical role to play in supporting military veterans, as they are closer to where our veterans live.
 
Since then, we have made an effort to interact directly with military veterans in their respective home provinces, as we are doing today, to agree on key issues that need to be resolved and addressed.
 
So far, we have already visited six provinces, namely; Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
We are meeting you today to update you on progress that the Task Team has made in articulating its mandate through its seven workstreams.
 
Most importantly, this provincial visit offers us an opportunity
to reflect on the obstacles that might be delaying the process to enable you to access benefits that are prescribed in the Military Veterans Act such as military pension, housing, free access to military health services and all other related services.

Some of the obstacles we have identified that have caused a delay in the delivery of benefits constituted are:
• The negative impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the DMVs’ operations and performance;
• The constrained fiscal environment having a negative impact;
• The fact that implementation of high impact projects were awaiting approval;
• The management of the DMVs’ database.
 
PROGRESS MADE BY THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK TEAM

Ladies and Gentleman,
 
Despite the difficulties we have encountered, we have made significant progress in addressing some of your challenges, including those faced by military veterans in the Western Cape Province.
 
With regard to the extension of the provision of housing support to the surviving dependents of Military Veterans, we are in a process of amending the Military Veteran Act to extend the provision to widows and dependants of the deceased Military Veterans. We are confident that the process will be completed soon.
 
Moreover, we are also improving the floor plan of the houses, and the remedial work on defective houses is underway in a number of housing projects including in Belhar.
 
These are some of examples of work been done in your province that you have highlighted, and during the course of the day, you will hear more when the progress reports are presented by the worsktreams.
 
Ladies and Gentleman
 
You may already know that we reached a milestone when the Presidential Task Team approved the Military Veterans Pension Policy.
 
In this regard, the Department has made budget provisions over the Medium-Term to ensure that military veterans receive their pensions.  Currently, it is working on the regulations to operationalise the implementation of the pension benefit provisions.
 
We are aware of the deficit that needs to be urgently filled by this policy, and we appeal to our veterans to be patient with the Ministry, which is currently preoccupied with the task.
 
This Presidential Task Team takes its mission and the continuing challenges faced by military veterans very seriously, and is committed to ensuring that the plight of military veterans is accorded the highest priority in every government programme across all levels of government.
 
Therefore, we are putting ourselves in the forefront and inviting military veterans to inform us of their difficulties, so that we can ensure that they receive the attention they deserve.

In addition, we take this opportunity to urge all officials who are employed in areas where they are required to provide services to Military Veterans to work diligently, with the empathy and demeanour required to serve this prestigious community.
 
The Task Team is ready to assist the Department of Military Veterans in accessing the additional resources to better serve this constituency.
 
As we move forward, it is crucial to properly facilitate a government-wide response that is both effective and coordinated, as well as a joint action plan that aims to address the unique challenges faced by our nation's veterans.

Part of the experience from the work of this task team has been the creation of coordinating structures in the Offices of Premiers, through which various grievances of military veterans are being timeously attended to.
 
As we interact with the Western Cape today, we call on the province to work collaboratively with the Department of Military Veterans in establishing a mechanism that will assist in closing the distance between the national Department of Military Veterans and military veterans located within the province.
 
In our discussions today, we need to reflect and agree on how we will strengthen institutional response mechanisms that allow us to promptly resolve issues raised by military veterans from time to time.

Specifically in this Province, there must be consensus on how we address peculiar issues facing our military veterans, and ensure the their socio-economic conditions improve.
 
In conclusion, as a society, that owes its very existence to the sacrifices of its own valiant sons and daughters, we must ensure that its military veterans and their families also have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the freedom they have helped to establish.
 
I thank you