Programme Director, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr David Mahlobo;
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina; 
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Isaac Sello Seitlholo;
President of the South African Local Government Association, Cllr. Bheki Stofile;
Representatives of the various Water Boards, Management Agencies and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority;
Representatives of the Water Research Commission;
Representatives from Academia and the Research sector;
Local Government Representatives;
Representatives of civil society organisations;
Government Officials;
Distinguished Guests and Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon!

As we are at the end of this two-day National Water and Sanitation Indaba, I want to express the government’s appreciation for the level of discussions and critical reflections and contributions made by all role-players during this Indaba. 

Indeed, you have shown our collective resolve and commitment to tackling and addressing the most critical issues affecting our country, which is water access and quality. 

On the first day of this year’s Water and Sanitation Indaba, we heard from President Cyril Ramaphosa, experts, various stakeholders, and activists who have emphasised the necessity of water security, access, and sustainability.

Overall, the discussions emphasised that water is not just a commodity but a vital resource, one that is essential for survival of our communities and households, for businesses to operate, for the economy to grow, as well as being a central element for sustaining life itself. 

It is therefore incumbent on all of us, now and into the future, to protect this scarce resource, because failing to do so will result in our inability to advance our developmental and transformation objectives.

From the outset, we all agree that Water is Life! 

As the Chairperson of the Water Task Team, which was established to mitigate water crises in municipalities, I have gained direct insight into an array of challenges and constraints impeding access to drinkable water in our communities, including access to critical sanitation service provision. 

Moreover, as the Water Task Team, we have set ourselves an urgent task of intervening and resolving these challenges, whilst at the same time, taking communities into confidence by not shying away from directly engaging the public on these issues.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is recognised as a basic human right by the United Nations and is essential for health, dignity, and the well-being of all. In South Africa, this fundamental human right is enshrined in our Constitution.

Given that we are in Human Rights Month, it is also an appropriate moment to consider the advancements achieved and draw attention to obstacles we have faced in the delivery of this basic human right.

ACCESS TO WATER 1994
Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has made significant progress in the provision of water services to its citizens. Government has been working to increase access to clean and safe drinking water for all households. 

Some of the key achievements in the provision of water services in South Africa since 1994 include:
● The implementation of the National Water Act in 1998, which aimed to ensure the sustainable use and management of water resources.
● The rollout of infrastructure projects to provide water and sanitation services to under-served communities, especially in rural areas.
● The enactment of legislation such as the Water Services Act and the National Water Services Amendment Act to regulate water services and protect the rights of water users.
● The increase in the number of households with access to improved water sources, from around 60% in 1994 to around 82.4% of South Africans having access to clean drinking water in 2022.

Despite these achievements, as this Indaba has considered, there is consensus that there are still challenges that persist in achieving universal water services, especially in the remote parts of our country. 

It should therefore not be business as usual, when we currently have 19 percent of the rural population lacking access to a reliable water supply, and 33 percent that do not have basic sanitation services. 
It should not be business as usual while rural communities suffer the most with over 26 percent of all schools and 45 percent of clinics lack access to water. 

The Blue Drop Report paints a grim picture of the country's drinking water quality and infrastructure. The audit report revealed that the quality of the country's drinking water is deteriorating.

Through various engagements with municipalities during our DDM oversight visits to provinces, the Water Task Team found that one of the biggest difficulties in accessing quality drinkable water is the inadequate infrastructure for water reticulation and sanitation, resulting in the unreliable availability of clean water. 

These are not new findings! 

However, at this critical juncture and as one of the more immediate priorities of this administration, our resolve is to focus our efforts on improving implementation of our infrastructure delivery and improvement plans.  

In this Indaba, a number of speakers have highlighted the challenges in issues affecting the provision of water such as aging infrastructure, water scarcity, pollution, and inequality in access to services. 

INTERVENTIONS TO CHALLENGES
As the Water Task Team and supported by the various implementing departments, our philosophy is to focus on improving the speed of execution and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges. Our aim is to strengthen municipal service delivery outcomes, notably their ability to provide essential services.

This was also one of the key areas of agreement which emerged from our engagement earlier this year with the South African Local Government Association during their National Executive Committee’s Lekgotla.

Compatriots,

Together, we must ensure that we avoid a potential water crisis and that we can provide reliable and quality water throughout the country. This also means that spheres of government must have an integrated approach to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient, clean and safe, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use. 

Our collective oversight and accountability across all spheres of government can yield the desired impact!

When the oversight and proactive engagement processes are cross-sectional, we are better equipped to view the performance of all spheres and collectively respond.

It is for this reason that the institutionalisation of the DDM as an operating model for energising the cooperative governance system can never be underestimated.  

It is through partnership that we can speedily address the bottlenecks of service delivery and be accountable to each other and the people in our communities. Government continues to work towards addressing these challenges through various programmes and initiatives aimed at improving water service delivery and ensuring water security for all citizens.

As you might have heard yesterday when I was responding to a question on water issues in Parliament, I noted that the Water Task Team, in collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Cooperative Governance, MISA, the National Treasury, and the Infrastructure Fund, has developed intervention strategies to support various municipalities to improve their water and sanitation services. 

As part of addressing funding gaps and challenges, the Department of Water and Sanitation has set-up a Water Partnerships Office that assists municipalities to contract for public-private partnerships. A significant vehicle for achieving this is the Infrastructure Fund, which serves as a blended financing instrument aimed at making infrastructure projects attractive for private sector investment.

In addition, President Ramaphosa has already directed that we finalise the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, one of the most significant reforms coming to the sector to date.

The establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency has been a critical initiative that we must all support to enable our country to expand bulk water infrastructure and improve the management of existing water assets, as part of ensuring water security.  

We also hope that this Indaba was able to move towards an urgent and high-level national turnaround plan on water security that is firstly aligned to the Government of National Unity’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2025 to 2029, and secondly, as the President said, a plan that will harnesses the momentum of the reforms already taking place in the sector.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We must continue to be deliberate in our efforts to tackle the ageing infrastructure, which immensely compromises the reticulation of drinkable water supply.

We must also increase investment in the maintenance and construction of water infrastructure. To date, the Infrastructure Fund has secured R23 billion for seven large water infrastructure projects. 

As the President has stated during his recent State of the Nation Address, we have ended delays in major water infrastructure projects which include Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and the uMkhomazi Dam. Work is also underway to prepare for construction of the Ntabelanga Dam on the uMzimvubu River to supply additional water for domestic use and for irrigation in the Eastern Cape Province. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation heeded the call of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, and one such initiative is the institutionalisation of Labour-Intensive Construction methods employed by municipalities in the implementation of municipal infrastructure projects to create job opportunities.

Through the Water Services Amendment Bill, we will introduce a licensing system for water service providers and remove licenses where providers do not meet the standards for quality drinking water.

Moreover, the 2025 Budget, echoes Government’s commitment to prioritise local government reforms, recognising that municipalities are at the frontline of water and sanitation service delivery. Such reforms by the Government include ring-fencing revenue from water services to fund infrastructure improvements, and creating financial incentives for municipalities that meet service delivery targets.

We also need to continue paying attention to the unequal distribution of water resources. While the Department of Water and Sanitation and CoGTA have made significant progress to tackle this issue.

Together, we have to come up with rapid but long-lasting solutions that will standardise and improve the sustainable supply of water across the country.  

Our collaborations as the Water Task Team are important to support and strengthen the municipality as it is after all at the coalface of service delivery. According to Section 154 of the Constitution, national and provincial governments must bolster the capabilities of municipalities in managing their affairs and carrying out their functions. 

It is therefore imperative that municipalities do not fail to implement their constitutional obligations, particularly as they pertain to the provision of water and sanitation. As we close this Indaba, our intentions must be clear and targeted at providing water and sanitation to communities most affected. 

Both the President and Minister of Water and Sanitation have stressed the need to deal effectively with the criminal networks who manipulate water shortages for profit, tampering with infrastructure to sell water to desperate communities.

Through improving infrastructure and enforcing proper monitoring mechanisms, we can  eliminate opportunities for these mafias to thrive. 

Furthermore, the culture of non-payment for water services has become a major obstacle to municipal sustainability. Ratepayers and businesses defaulting on payments create a chain reaction that destabilises the entire water supply system. 

As part of a sustainable, long-term solution, we must intensify our work  with municipalities to improve revenue collection, curb illegal connections and water wastage, and promote financial self-sufficiency and accountability in local governance. 

By reinforcing these measures alongside strategic infrastructure investment, South Africa can secure its water future, ensuring access for all and safeguarding economic growth.

It is our belief that if we combine our efforts, we will be able to overcome a range of challenges that were highlighted during this Indaba.  

We also need to explore new technologies, policies, and partnerships that have the potential to drive positive change in our communities and beyond. 
Our work does not end here!

It is imperative that we take the momentum and energy from this Summit and turn it into concrete action. We must continue to collaborate, advocate for change, and implement solutions that will secure a water-secure future for generations to come.

I urge each and every one of you to carry forward the spirit of this Indaba  in your work, in your communities, and in your daily lives.

Therefore, the resolutions of this Summit should be implemented in full and with speed. If we don’t implement them, we will not be able to achieve what we have set out to change.

Without action, all our intended objectives will be in vain.

Let us continue to work together towards a sustainable water future. 

With every action that we take, we must always keep in mind that water is indeed life.

On behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the whole Government of the Republic of South Africa, I now officially declare the 2025 National Water and Sanitation Indaba closed!

I Thank You!

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill which is the basis for significant reforms of South Africa’s intelligence services that will be accompanied by improved oversight and accountability.

The amendment Act amends the National Strategic Intelligence Act of 1994, the Intelligence Services Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994.

Among other reforms, the amendment Act disestablishes the current State Security Agency as a national government department and replaces it with two separate departments.

The new departments are the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) which shall be responsible for foreign intelligence gathering so as to identify opportunities and threats to National Security, and the Domestic Intelligence Agency (DIA) which shall be responsible for counter-intelligence as well as the gathering of domestic intelligence in order to identify threats to National Security.

The amendment Act also re-establishes the South African National Academy of Intelligence (SANAI) and Intelligence Training Institute for both Domestic and Foreign Intelligence capacities.

The wide-ranging amendments constitute implementation of the recommendations of the 2018 Presidential High-Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency (SSA) and of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector (the Zondo Commission).

The law also addresses concerns about bulk interception by intelligence services of internet traffic entering or leaving South Africa, by introducing new measures including authorisation within the intelligence services as well as court reviews of such interception.

The law provides for the administration, financial management and expenditure of the intelligence service entities to be within the ambit of the oversight of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence – a multiparty committee of Parliament that processes public complaints about the intelligence services and monitors the finances and operations of these services.

The newly enacted amendments also provide for greater autonomy for the Inspector-General of Intelligence and the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC) in making administrative and functional decisions.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Friday, 28 March 2025, officially close the National Water and Sanitation Indaba, taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng Province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened the two-day Indaba today, underscoring Government's commitment to tackling South Africa’s water security challenges as well as ensuring reliable, sustainable water and sanitation services for all citizens.

Deputy President Mashatile chairs the Water Task Team that was established by the President to mitigate water crises in municipalities and effectively intervene to resolve all water challenges in the country.

The Water and Sanitation Indaba is taking place during the National Water Month and Human Rights Month, a significant period that underpins the importance of water as a fundamental human right and a critical resource for socio-economic development. Government recognises the urgency of addressing water and sanitation challenges to uphold the dignity and 
well-being of all South Africans.

Details of the closing address are as follows:

Date: Friday, 28 March 2025
Time: 15h00
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng Province.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director,
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Pemmy Majodina,
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr. Panyaza Lesufi,
President of the South African Local Government Association, Cllr. Bheke Stofile,
Representatives of the various Water Boards, Management Agencies and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority,
Representatives of the Water Research Commission,
Representatives from academia and the research sector,
Local government representatives,
Representatives of civil society organisations,
Government Officials,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good Morning.

It is my pleasure to address this Indaba, whose purpose is to develop a clear path to progressively realise the right of our citizens to adequate water and sanitation.

March is Human Rights Month, and a time when we celebrate the progress we have made in giving effect to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

These rights, including the right of access to sufficient food and water, are interrelated and interdependent. At their center is the most fundamental right of all, the right to human dignity.
 
Beyond being a strategic national asset and a key enabler of economic growth, the provision of water is about restoring and affirming the dignity of all. Water and sanitation are key to development.

As such, water stewardship, namely its management and equitable distribution, is a national priority.

As a country we can be proud of the progress we have made in fulfilling this basic right of our people since the advent of democracy. 
 
The National Water Act of 1998 was the key legislative enabler to facilitate access to adequate water and sanitation for our people.

The results of Census 2022 point to our ongoing progress since the National Water Act was signed into law.

In 2022 access to clean water stood at 88,5 per cent, and access to improved sanitation stood at 80,7 per cent. 

One contrasts this to the apartheid legacy where by 1994, approximately 30 per cent of the population lacked access to adequate water supply, and more than 50 per cent were without adequate sanitation.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is to be commended for its ongoing efforts to improve water and sanitation access in our country. 

This includes progress towards meeting the minimum standards for the provision of water and sanitation services, and in addressing connection backlogs. 

Water Infrastructure build is on the up. 
 
The National Infrastructure Fund has to date secured R23 billion for seven large water infrastructure projects, Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has resumed, as has work on the uMkhomazi Dam; and preparations are underway for the construction of the Ntabelanga Dam on the uMzimvubu River.

We have a number of other water infrastructure projects earmarked for blended financing through the Infrastructure Fund, such as the Polihali Dam that will feed 490 million cubic meters of water a year from the Lesotho Highlands into the Vaal River System. 

Whilst these long-term water infrastructure build projects will undoubtedly mitigate current supply challenges being experienced, we are keenly aware that security of supply is by no means our only challenge.

We are still very much a long way off from achieving clean water and sanitation for all, as encapsulated in Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Last year’s Water Summit identified ageing and poorly-maintained infrastructure, vandalism of water infrastructure, illegal connections, and organised crime in the water sector as some of the challenges facing service delivery in this sector. 

At a local government level, financial mismanagement, insufficient revenue collection systems and high levels of physical water losses are compounding existing service delivery problems. 

These challenges have been consistently reflected in reports of the Municipal Strategic Self-Assessment, Stats SA, the Auditor-General and others.

With this dire state of affairs we have seen declining private sector investment in water infrastructure, a situation that is only now improving. 

By equal measure, municipalities have not reinvested the revenue they earn from the provision of services to the upkeep of key water infrastructure.

Governance challenges and inefficiencies at the various reporting entities including the Water Boards have long been in the public domain. 

A number of water boards have been or are the subject of probes by the Special Investigating Unit or SIU for corruption and fraud. 

These are problems impacting a country with a growing population, that is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. 
 
This Water Indaba must be located within broader global context.

The World Resources Institute estimates that the biggest change in water demand between now and 2050 will occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

it ranks South Africa amongst 25 countries that are extremely water stressed: and that are currently using over 80 per cent of their water supply to meet domestic need.

At a global level, the climate crisis will further exacerbate not just South Africa’s but the world’s water security. 

These factors make for what is called a perfect storm – where dry taps, broken infrastructure, and poor management of water resources at local government level is fuelling growing public discontent. 

Grievances with water and sanitation delivery are behind a number of social protests across the country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
In my State of the Nation address earlier this year I defined a secure and reliable water supply across the country as an urgent strategic priority, and it is our expectation that this Water Indaba will be focused, precise and outcomes-based, and not merely deliberative. 
 
What is needed as an urgent and high-level national turnaround plan on water security that is firstly aligned to the Government of National Unity’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2025 to 2029, and secondly, that harnesses the momentum of the reforms in the sector.

Operation Vulindela has prioritised reforms in the water sector to improve water quality, to catalyse investment in the construction and maintenance of water infrastructure, and strengthen regulation in the sector. 
 
Under the sixth administration we reinstated the Drop water quality monitoring system as an important incentive.
 
These reports are particularly important in area where water resources are key to the tourism, agriculture and other sectors.
 
As part of the structural reform process in the water sector, we have been able to significantly reduce the turnaround time for the issuing of water use licenses. 

Currently, 75 per cent of applications are processed within 90 days. An additional 110 technical and scientific staff have been hired to support further process improvements.

Last year we published the Raw Water Pricing Strategy as part of promoting efficient water management, and following a process initiated in 2022 under Operation Vulindlela. 

This will be key to promoting transparency around how raw water is priced in the country, and will contribute towards instilling business and investor confidence.
 
Creating an enabling legal and regulatory framework for water stewardship is a priority. 

Through the Water Services Amendment Bill we will introduce a licensing system for water service providers, and remove licenses where providers do not meet the standards for quality drinking water.
 
By next year we hope to finalise the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, one of the most significant reforms coming to the sector to date. 

This new agency will bring strategic alignment, consistency and accountability to the various institutional arrangements for water stewardship that have to date proven to be less than ideal. 
 
As we do all of these, we have implemented a number of strategic interventions to enhance the delivery of water services in municipalities and support them to address their water and sanitation challenges. 

One such intervention where we are seeing sustained progress is with the Presidential eThekwini Working Group in KwaZulu-Natal.

The ongoing oversight work of the Presidential Water Task Team will augment these efforts, and I am pleased that some of its members are here today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Resolving our country’s water and sanitation challenges necessities deepened collaboration between all stakeholders in the water resources management ecosystem. 

There needs to be greater cooperation between national and provincial government, the water resource management entities, and the private sector to support the turnaround in water stewardship.

Much of this focus must be on supporting service delivery at local government level, where it matters most. 

Structural reforms in the water sector, as vital as they are, cannot be effectively implemented without local government being strengthened. 

My call therefore to national government and the department is to use this Indaba as an opportunity to chart a practical course for supporting municipalities in the delivery of water and sanitation. 

For example, municipalities are not effectively leveraging the likes of the Urban Settlements Development Grant, Municipal Infrastructure Grant and other ring-fenced financial resources to improve the provision of these services in their localities.

For its part, local government leadership needs to prioritise turnaround strategies for their respective Water Services Authorities. 

It will be crucial that the recommendations of the 2024 Water Summit, as well as of various reports including Drop reports, are actually implemented as part of their corrective plans.
 
This Indaba must not become an exercise of problem-diagnosing: the challenges are well-known. 

What is needed is course correction - and comprehensive plan that will expand access to water and sanitation services, improve the quality of water and sanitation infrastructure, and bring stability and good governance to all the entities involved in South Africa’s water stewardship. 

It has been said many a time that as humans we can survive for a time without food, but without water we will perish.

Others have argued that unless we radically change our approach to managing this precious resource, the wars of the next century will be fought over water. 
 
The people of South Africa look to this Water and Sanitation Indaba with hope, and for a clear strategy and plan on how to uphold their dignity through the provision of water and sanitation services that are their basic right. We also look to this Indaba for a clear vision for ensuring South Africa’s water security well into the future.
 
I wish you well in your deliberations and I look forward to the outcomes. I thank you.
 

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will tomorrow, Thursday, 27 March 2025, field questions for oral reply in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Parliament, Cape Town.

As the Chairperson of the Water Task Team, the Deputy President will update members on government’s plans to deliver quality water services to communities across all provinces in particular the North-West, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Deputy President Mashatile as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform, will also apprise the NCOP on progress achieved in facilitating the settlement of outstanding land claims, particularly those that have been kept on hold following the Land Access Movement of South Africa judgements. 

On government efforts to contribute towards finding lasting peace and stability in the African continent, the Deputy President will brief members on South Africa’s strategy in supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity.

The Deputy President will then present a range of government initiatives aimed at providing sustainable quality water to communities through infrastructure investments, among other measures. 

Furthermore, the Deputy President will reiterate the government’s commitment to finalising all outstanding land claims through a Backlog Strategy that has been developed by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights to accelerate the settlement of old-order claims. 

Details of the NCOP Sitting:

Date: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Time: 14:00
Venue: NCOP Chambers, Parliament, Cape Town
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Thursday, 27 March 2025, address the National Water and Sanitation Indaba at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. 

This crucial gathering highlights government’s commitment to tackling South Africa’s water security challenges and ensuring reliable, sustainable water and sanitation services for all citizens.

The Indaba takes place during National Water Month and Human Rights Month, a significant period that underpins the importance of water as a fundamental human right and a critical resource for socio-economic development.

The timing also underscores the urgency of addressing water and sanitation challenges to uphold the dignity and well-being of all South Africans.

The Indaba will build on the outcomes of the Water Summit of January 2024, which engaged all Water Services Authorities (WSAs) following the release of the Blue and No Drop Reports as well as the Green Drop Progress Report in December 2023. These reports assess drinking water quality and water losses.

The 2024 Summit identified critical challenges facing the sector, including aging, poor operation and maintenance infrastructure, organised criminality, water tankering and extortion syndicates, vandalism of essential public infrastructure, corruption.
 
The Water and Sanitation Indaba will also assess progress made on implementing the 2024 Water Summit’s resolutions and mobilise various sectors and expertise to agree on a comprehensive national water and sanitation plan. This plan will focus on expanding access to water and sanitation services, enhancing water infrastructure, and implementing effective measures to improve water security and service reliability.
 
This year’s Indaba represents a pivotal moment in government’s efforts to secure South Africa’s long-term water future.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s assurance during his February 2025 State of the Nation Address that water has been elevated as a top priority of government, the outcomes of the Indaba will reaffirm the government’s unwavering commitment to overcoming sectoral challenges and fostering collaboration across all levels of society to build a sustainable water and sanitation sector. 

The Indaba will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Time: 10h00
Venue: Gallagher Convention Center, Midrand, Johannesburg 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa on Media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has affirmed his support for more stakeholder consultation and public participation on the formulation of new regulations that will limit health risk and the negative impact of foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp, particularly on minors. 

In briefing the President, the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, expressed concern about unregulated imported foodstuffs flooding the South African market containing hemp and cannabis. 

In light of further stakeholder consultations, the Minister of Health will withdraw the Regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Foodstuffs Act) to prohibit the sale, importation and manufacture of foodstuffs containing hemp and cannabis. 

The Department of Health will continue to consult broadly before publishing the revised regulations. 
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director, Ms Thandeka Msibi,
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
President of DENOSA, Mr Simon Hlungwani,
General Secretary of DENOSA, Mr Kwena Manamela,
National Office Bearers of DENOSA,
Representatives of the Alliance,
Representatives of the South African Nursing Council,
Representatives of the International Council of Nurses and other international fraternal organisations,
Representatives of academia and the research fraternity,
Government officials,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
Good Morning, 
 
Allow me to begin by thanking the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa for the invitation to speak at this 9th National Congress. 
 
This is the first time I have had occasion to address DENOSA since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
It was just five years ago that we faced the worst global health emergency in modern times. 
 
The pandemic changed our world almost overnight. 
 
We became used to lockdowns, mask-wearing and social distancing. Many lives were lost to the virus, shattering families and communities. 
 
We lost a number of nurses and healthcare workers, brave men and women who were at the frontline of the pandemic. 
 
Despite the risks to their own health, healthcare workers continued to provide treatment, care and support to our people. 
 
I ask you to join me in observing a moment of silence in their honour. 

We salute all those who lost their lives. They embodied the finest values of the nursing profession, including compassion, professionalism and courage. 
 
It is in great measure thanks to their efforts that our country was able to recover from COVID-19 and begin the task of rebuilding. 
 
For you who are in the profession, nursing is a calling. 
 
It requires a strength of character and commitment to service that is rare. 
 
Even under difficult conditions, it is your responsibility to administer quality care, reassure sick patients and deal with anxious families. 
 
We should recognise the efforts to elevate the stature of the nursing profession in democratic South Africa. 
 
During apartheid, nursing was one of the few occupations open to black professionals alongside teaching, the police and a handful of other professions. 
 
The training and opportunities available to black nurses mirrored the inequalities of the skewed education system. The training and development of white nurses took priority. 
 
Black nurses were expected to only care for black patients in black-only hospitals. 
 
The hospitals and clinics assigned to serve the country’s majority were under-resourced and chronically under-funded. 
 
Black nurses had unfavourable working conditions, were paid less than their white counterparts and had fewer opportunities for advancement. 
 
It was under these conditions that black nurses organised and fought for their rights, engaging in civil action and strikes dating back to the late 1940s. 
 
Since 1994 we have taken active steps to ensure that the nursing profession takes pride of place in our health system. 
 
In 2005 we passed the Nursing Act to enable the professionalisation of nursing and to facilitate the establishment of the South African Nursing Council. 
 
Successive regulations have been passed that deal with scope of practice for nurses and midwives. 
 
DENOSA is to be congratulated for nearly three decades of dedication and service to the people of South Africa. 
 
We all appreciate the difficult balance that must be struck between advocacy and activism, on the one hand, and fulfilling the rights of patients to treatment and care, on the other hand. 
 
This balance can be achieved in an environment where the rights of both nurse and patient are respected. 
 
At this crucial moment in the history of democratic South Africa, we call on DENOSA to continue to assert its vanguard role. 
 
We have a Government of National Unity with key strategic priorities for the next five years. 
 
These priorities are:
 
firstly, driving inclusive growth and job creation;
 
secondly, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and,
 
thirdly, building a capable, ethical developmental state. 
 
The nursing profession is integral to the advancement of all these strategic priorities.
 
In particular, nurses have an important role to play in building a capable state. 
 
Nurses are part of the hardworking, dedicated corps of public servants that keep this country going from day to day. 
 
It is encouraging to see more new nursing registrations with the South African Nursing Council. 
 
At the same time, however, we are seeing a decline in training numbers. 
 
This decline cannot be simply explained by less people seeing nursing as an attractive career, but that factors such as accreditation delays also play a part.
 
We welcome the fact that this is one of the issues under discussion at this Congress. 
 
In an environment where South Africa has a shortage of nurses, we are encouraged that the issue of South African nurses being recruited in large numbers by other countries is also on the agenda. 
 
Achieving improved, equitable health outcomes across the population is a critical enabler of economic growth and poverty eradication. 
 
DENOSA is called upon to ensure that the training and capacity-building efforts underway in support of its members align with community need, as well as with the evolution of diseases. 
 
DENOSA needs to be more engaged in policy development efforts and ensure that as new policies emerge, the nursing profession has made inputs and considered the impact of these new policies on their members.
 
The support of DENOSA will be pivotal as we prepare for National Health Insurance. 
 
The passage of the NHI Act was a milestone in our ongoing quest for a more just society; where one’s ability to access quality health care and services is not determined by where one comes from or one’s ability to pay. 
 
The NHI will bring us closer to our aspiration of being a society where the human dignity of all is upheld at all times. 
 
The right to dignity matters most when people are sick, when they need help and when they are most vulnerable. 
 
Our nurses will be the backbone of NHI. 
 
We urge DENOSA to be at the forefront of discussions around skilling and training, health systems strengthening and other crucial matters. 
 
Beyond preparation for NHI, the nursing profession faces emerging challenges. 
 
Many of these on the Congress agenda, such as litigation against nurses and the growing trend of undocumented patients from neighbouring countries seeking treatment in South African public health facilities. 
 
These are all important issues DENOSA will need to deliberate upon as it charts a new course for the South African nursing profession. 
 
This vital profession is key to South Africa’s progress and development. 
 
As government, we remain firmly committed to working with DENOSA, with labour in general and with all stakeholders to overcome challenges and to enable nurses to work in the best conditions possible. 
 
As the nursing profession ably demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing excellence can confront and overcome the greatest of difficulties. 
 
Working together, we will overcome the challenges in our health system. 
 
Working together, we will define, chart and implement a new course for South African nursing into the future. 
 
I thank you once again for the invitation to speak and look forward to the outcomes of this Congress. 
 
I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 27 March 2025, receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-Designate at a Credentials Ceremony to be held at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
 
Letters of Credence are official diplomatic documents presented to the President by Heads of Mission-designate who have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as ambassadors to South Africa.

President Ramaphosa will receive Heads of Mission-Designate from the following 14 countries:

 1.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Gabon; 
 2.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Congo;
 3.⁠ ⁠The Russian Federation;
 4.⁠ ⁠The People’s Republic of Bangladesh; 
 5.⁠ ⁠Canada;
 6.⁠ ⁠The Arab Republic of Egypt;
 7.⁠ ⁠The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
 8.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Türkiye;
 9.⁠ ⁠Japan;
10.⁠ ⁠Mongolia;
11.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Portugal;
12.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Panama;
13.⁠ ⁠The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal;
14. The Republic of Senegal.

Media are invited to cover the credentials ceremony as follows:
Date: Thursday, 27 March 2025
Time: 14h00 (Media to arrive at 13h00)
Venue: Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, Pretoria

Media RSVPs can be directed to Makungu Mbetse on makungu@presidency.gov.za and cc Shadi Baloyi on Shadi@presidency.gov.za not later than Tuesday, 25 March 2025 at 16h00.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director, MEC for Health, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi; 
Our gracious host, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli;
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi;
Ministers and Deputy Ministers present;
MECs for Health from Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo Provinces;
Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures present;
Chairperson of the SANAC Civil Society Forum and Co-Chairperson of SANAC, Mr Solly Nduku;
Deputy Chairperson of the SANAC Private Sector Forum, Dr Tshegofatso Gopane;
Patron of Global Alliance in South Africa, Mrs Humile Mashatile;
SANAC CEO, Dr Thembisile Xulu;
Executive Mayor of Ugu District, Cllr Skhumbuzo Mqadi;
Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, Cllr Zodwa Mzindle;
SALGA President, Cllr Bheke Stofile;
Chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Inkosi Shinga;
Our esteemed Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders present;
Faith based leaders; Members of the media;
Distinguished Guests, 
Sanibonani Nonke eGamalakhe! 

Ngiyabonga ukuthi ningamukele lapha eGamalakhe. Ngithandi ukunitshela ukuthi ngiyanithanda kakhulu! 

Compatriots, 

Today, we join the global community to commemorate World TB Day. We unite as a nation with a shared purpose: to end tuberculosis (TB). 

This day is both a reminder of the challenges we face and a call to action. South Africa bears one of the highest TB burdens in the world, but we also stand on the threshold of real change. Yes, we can end TB. And together, we will!

March is Human Rights Month, and last week, we commemorated this day in the Eastern Cape.  As South Africans, we were reminded of where we come from, and the prize paid for our freedom. This day was also a moment for us to collectively chart a way forward on where we should go as a nation towards building a united and prosperous South Africa.

It is in this context that we should also reflect on the progress made in the fight against TB and HIV-related stigma and discrimination. 

Two years ago, SANAC embarked on a process to develop Human Rights Charters for key populations in all provinces. These include Human Rights issues identified in communities.

That process has now been completed, although some provinces are yet to launch their Charters. The Charters emphasise the need to protect TB and HIV-related human rights, particularly the need to address stigma against people with TB. The Human Rights hubs in the provinces, supported by AIDS Councils, will ensure that these issues are followed up and addressed.

An assessment of the Human Rights Programme under Global Fund support, called Breaking Down Barriers, identified that:
• There is a need to develop national-level plans for scaling up and institutionalising HIV, TB, and human rights training for health workers and law enforcers. The next financial year will be key in developing those plans.
• TB programmes remain under-served compared to HIV and human rights programmes. There is an urgent need to implement national-level TB stigma and discrimination reduction programmes and to engage community-level networks and organisations in district-level efforts. This will also be prioritised in the next financial year.

The Stigma Index Report by People Living with HIV is being finalised, and the recommendations from the survey will guide the country’s response to TB and HIV stigma. 

I am also aware that SANAC is also in the process of developing the next human rights strategy for HIV and TB, which will strengthen and guide the country’s human rights interventions in alignment with Goal One of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs, which speaks to breaking down barriers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

TB continues to claim too many lives around the world. In South Africa in 2023, around 270 000 people were diagnosed with TB, and tragically, 56 000 lives were lost, which translates to 153 people every day. TB knows no boundaries—it affects people across all communities, but the burden falls most heavily on the poor and vulnerable.

Furthermore, in 2023, an estimated 58 000 people with TB were not diagnosed. These are our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters—people who deserve care and dignity. We must reach them! TB is not just a medical issue; it is a human rights issue. Every person, regardless of their background, deserves access to life-saving treatment.

South Africa is among 30 countries that account for 87% of the global TB burden. It is also among the 10 countries battling the triple burden of TB, HIV and TB co-infection, as well as drug-resistant TB. Yet , TB is a disease that is preventable and perfectly curable, even if one is living with HIV. 

We must, therefore, work much harder to change this situation. Hence, before we started the programme we visited families that require support. I urge you Premier Ntuli and MEC Simelane that this should be our daily programme. We must visit families as prevention is the foundation of primary health care. This is the other reason we have this commemoration, which is to remind ourselves that TB is out there, and it kills; however, we hold the power to end it!

Compatriots, 

The government is maximising efforts towards defeating tuberculosis by using this day to intensify the following four critical objectives:
1. To Raise Awareness - by promoting preventive measures, early diagnosis, and effective treatment.
2. To Promote Access to Care – by providing universal access to quality healthcare services, including psycho-social support for everyone infected and affected by TB. 
3. To Advocate for Research and Innovation - for the development of new vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatments to end TB.
4. To Strengthen Partnerships - for collaborative approaches through multi-sectoral role players including governments, health organisations, civil society and the private sector to share resources and expertise.

Through these four objectives, we hope to strengthen TB prevention, improve treatment success, including for people living with HIV, strengthen the linkage of people diagnosed with TB to treatment and care, as well as reduce TB-related stigma, discrimination and other forms of human rights violations in our communities.

Compatriots,

In line with the global community, this year’s official commemoration theme “Yes, You and I can End TB” has been retained from last year, however, it now features the tagline: “Commit, Invest, Deliver”. 
The emphasis is on leaders championing TB efforts in their respective constituencies. The theme also promotes individual action as a means of contributing to the national effort against tuberculosis by using the phrase "You and I".

"You and I” boNdabezitha, our esteemed Traditional Leaders, underscores the importance of personal accountability and collective efforts in eradicating tuberculosis. 

We rely on your support and collaboration to eradicate tuberculosis as a public health threat in rural communities.

“You and I” is a statement of intent, designed to encourage individuals to take charge of their health. It is in line with the “Cheka Impilo” National Wellness Campaign objectives, as well as the country’s efforts towards finding the missing TB patients.

Today, we are launching the “END TB” campaign aimed at testing five million people by the end of March next year, and annually thereafter. This will, in turn, result in a 29% reduction in TB incidence and a 41% reduction in TB mortality by 2035. 

Under SANAC coordination, we will embark on a mass mobilisation drive to rally all South Africans behind the End TB Campaign. We will work with community leaders, traditional healers, and media platforms to spread the message that TB is preventable, treatable, and curable.

Individuals who are close contacts of confirmed TB patients will be tested regardless of symptoms. People living with HIV will be tested for TB annually, and individuals who have completed TB treatment are to be tested for TB twice during the year after treatment completion. By this time next year, we would have found and tested those 5 million people. We have the will, the infrastructure and the resources to do so!

Even with all the TB challenges you have heard about today, South Africa is still a global leader in the introduction of novel TB drugs and treatment regimens, as well as innovative diagnostic tools and approaches.

We are now standing at the threshold of a TB vaccine breakthrough. The "M 72 TB" vaccine trials conducted in South Africa have so far yielded promising results. We are indeed readying ourselves for local manufacturing and a rapid national roll-out once all procedural protocols have been met.

Our country was among the first to roll out bedaquiline as part of our national Drug-Resistant TB treatment Programme, replacing the older injectable drugs. We have also pioneered the implementation of shorter, all-oral medicines, significantly improving treatment outcomes and reducing side effects for patients. This is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment as government in the fight against TB. 

Of course, we cannot look at TB in isolation from HIV. In the face of high co-infection rates, we must respond to the two epidemics concurrently. That approach is one of the main reasons behind the push for the integration of services at health facilities.

South Africa has an estimated 7.8 million people living with HIV, and while 7.5 million of them know their status, only 5.9 million are on antiretroviral treatment. From these figures, it is clear that the country is making significant progress towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets; however, significant challenges persist with the second 95, which speaks to initiation and retention on treatment. The country is currently sitting at 96-79-94.

In response to the gap in the second 95 target, the Minister of Health through SANAC launched an HIV Treatment Campaign called “Close the Gap”, last month. This Campaign aims to find the 1.1 million people who know their HIV status, but are not on treatment, by December of this year.

The campaign will leverage existing interventions, such as the "Better Man 4 Tomorrow" men's health campaign, to increase demand for HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. The 1.1 million figure is broken down by provinces, giving each province a specific target. We call on all Premiers, working with their Provincial AIDS Councils, to make this campaign a success.

When we educate people about TB, one thing that we don't typically address is the importance of cleanliness. Although TB is transmitted through airborne particles when an individual with active TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks, hygiene remains crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing other infections that can exacerbate Tuberculosis. Consequently, we have discussed and agreed on a plan for clean cities and communities campaign with SALGA. We want to promote the cleanliness of cities and communities. Keeping our surroundings clean and educating the public about TB prevention and the importance of respiratory hygiene is essential.

Compatriots,

Since last year’s World TB Day, South Africa has also made significant strides in data-driven health responses. The National Department of Health is testing and piloting a new Electronic Medical Record and has developed the Health Information Centre. 
The quality of our HIV, TB and STI data has improved significantly since the launch of the SANAC Situation Room, on World TB Day last year.

The SANAC Situation Room is a state-of-the-art data consolidation and visualisation hub built at the SANAC offices in Pretoria but is accessible virtually from anywhere in the world.

During the launch, we stated that South Africa generates large data across various parts and entities. The data exists in silos, and that fragmentation is due to the lack of a central data repository and management point. The SANAC Situation Room has been set up precisely to address that challenge.

Accurate and good-quality data enables us to review trends and assess progress in our efforts to address the epidemics of HIV and TB. This, in turn, assists decision-making and the effective allocation of resources towards interventions.

Since its launch, the platform has seen an increase in users interacting with it and using the available data more frequently. Currently, the platform is moving towards developing public-facing real-time dashboards to close the information gap, especially at the community level, where data should be available to inform tailored interventions.

Programme Directors, 

The recent “PEPFAR Pause” has disrupted critical TB programmes, threatening progress in case detection, treatment access, and research efforts. This underscores the urgent need for contingency planning and building a resilient health system that can withstand external shocks, ensuring uninterrupted TB services and long-term sustainability. 

With a shift towards country-led service delivery, South Africa must strengthen sustainability planning at national and provincial levels.  We need to re-think HIV and TB service delivery models and transition to country leadership. Contingency planning is essential to absorb the short-term shocks resulting from the PEPFAR situation, a process currently driven by the National Department of Health. 

However, as HIV and TB become more integrated into primary health care and frontline services, responsibility for service delivery transitions from external funders.

Adaptation and preparedness are crucial to ensure the sustainability of HIV and TB programmes.

Throughout the transitions, we want to emphasise to all South Africans – that TB and HIV services and treatment are still available for free at all public health facilities! 

We have a moral obligation to those who have died as a result of this disease, as well as those who are still suffering from TB. Working together, we will deliver on our promise of ending TB as a public health threat!

Ending TB is within our reach! The fight against TB is a fight for justice, equity, and a healthier future for all South Africans. May we rise to this challenge together! 

We can, and we will End TB!

Yes! You and I Can End TB!

Ngiyabonga, I thank you.