Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Paul Mashatile will, on Monday, 2 October 2023, deliver a keynote address at the Smarter Mobility Africa (SMA) Conference Gala Dinner at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.

The SMA Conference, now in its fifth year, is scheduled to take place during October Transport Month and Africa Mobility Month from 1-4 October 2023. With the primary focus on mobility being a key enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and wider Growing Gauteng Together vision 2030 and other goals across the continent.

Held under the theme: Sakhile- Growing Gauteng Together through Smart Mobility – the SMA conference drives forward the message that integrated smarter mobility is key for growing the economy and creating good jobs, increasing equality, protecting the environment, and improving public health.

The event will once again bring together industry experts and policy makers from across the world and cities from across Africa and provide a platform for innovators to showcase their solutions and ideas to organisations searching for mobility solutions.

It will also discuss and advance the latest trends and innovations in mobility as well as the role that transport plays in achieving 2030 goals, and Gauteng Provinces' dedication to advancing the ease of movement of people and goods.

A wide range of themes to integrate mobility including Micro mobility, Public Transport, New Energy Vehicles & Battery Technology, Mobility as a Service, and Smarter Fleets will also be discussed at the conference.

The Deputy President will be joined by the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela and senior government officials.
 
The gala dinner is scheduled as follows:
Date: Monday, 02 October 2023
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand Johannesburg
Time: 18h00

NB: Members of the media who would like to attend the events are kindly requested to register for a media pass using the following link: https://vuka.eventsair.com/sma2023/pressmedia/Site/Register

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Directors, Mr. Weza Matome and Ms. Coretta Mohale;
The ANC Treasury General Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa, the officials from the ruling party and NEC Members here present
The Premier of Gauteng, Mr. Panyaza Lesufi
Our Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Mrs. Thembi Nkadimeng, Minister of Corporate Government and Traditional Affairs, Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present;
His Excellency, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria;
Ms. Busi Mabuza, Chairperson of the South Africa Chapter of the BRICS Business Council, Dr. Stavros Nicolaou, and members of the BRICS Business Council;
Business leaders, CEOs, members of boards, and associations;
The Deputy Chairperson of the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Dr Ashebiri Gayo;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Distinguished guests,

Good evening, Dumelang, Sanibonani, Riperile, Ndi Madekwana!

I am honoured to welcome you to South Africa ahead of the eagerly awaited 15th BRICS Summit, the first in-person gathering in four years after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have gathered here to honour the foresight and courage of the BRICS nations. With their vast potential and diverse economies, these nations have joined forces to forge new frontiers and create new opportunities for growth and development. In doing so, these nations have demonstrated that the promotion of a shared vision provides tangible platforms for economic growth. 

In today's interconnected world, collaboration and partnership are crucial for sustainable growth, addressing global challenges, promoting economic stability, and advancing prosperity.

As we stand here tonight, we can reflect on our tremendous progress as a collective. For example, more and more countries worldwide are coming around to the idea of BRICS, as several have indicated an interest in joining or at least participating in BRICS-related forums.

Today, the world takes notice of the bloc because it is at the forefront of the global discourse on currency relations, global payment systems, new trade, and other important, consequential topics. The bloc has established a successful and growing Development Financial Institution (DFI), the New Development Bank (NDB).

We have become major players in the global economy, contributing significantly to international trade, investment, and innovation. Currently, the BRICS bloc represents 23% of the world's GDP and 42% of the world's population. 

Our countries have embraced economic reforms, improved infrastructure, and fostered entrepreneurship, creating an enabling environment for business and investment.

However, we must acknowledge that challenges remain.

Despite our progress, geopolitical tensions, protectionism, and other global uncertainties remain an ever-present menace. We must remain committed to open, equitable, and inclusive trade and resist the temptation to turn inward and isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.

The BRICS nations can shape the future; we can advance sustainable development, champion innovation, and create a more equitable global community. However, we must also address the urgent requirements of our population.

Our nations are home to millions of citizens who should have access to quality education, healthcare, and social mobility opportunities. We must ensure that economic expansion is accompanied by inclusive development that leaves no one behind.

As esteemed leaders and representatives of BRICS businesses, we are presented with a remarkable opportunity to enhance the bonds between our organisations, foster deeper partnerships, and venture into uncharted realms of collaboration.

Yesterday, President Ramaphosa explained in detail why South Africa is a member of BRICS, including its expansion. It is, therefore, imperative that, as a business, you also consider the effects of expansion on your operations.

The expanded BRICS has the potential to attract substantial international investment. It will allow the BRICS nations to increase their global influence and trade connections with various "powerful" emerging market economies.

It is crucial to capitalise on the opportunities presented by countries expressing interest in joining our alliance and extend invitations to foster a mutually advantageous economic alliance that promotes fairness and inclusivity within our market.

Ladies and gentlemen,

While some large corporations have expanded their presence and investments within the BRICS countries, there are concerns that smaller businesses and entrepreneurs have faced entry barriers and difficulties accessing new markets within the bloc.

This has led to uneven economic development among the member nations. We must continue pushing for equitable representation in international decision-making and supporting the post-Covid-19 global economic recovery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "BRICS must provide a united and clear voice in shaping a peaceful, balanced, and stable world". We need to capitalise on each other's strengths, which include knowledge, abilities, and resources.

In this regard, we must collaborate to develop the future skills required by BRICS nations, beginning with substantial investment by enterprises in skill development programmes.

The future skill will aid in resolving challenges about energy, water, and health. Our nation is committed to promoting the advancement of skills necessary for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and other future-oriented competencies that will contribute to economic growth.

Ladies and gentlemen, our country presents a wide range of opportunities. It remains an attractive destination for investors looking to establish a presence to access the broader African market.

As a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and a member of BRICS, it would be beneficial to strengthen this partnership further to explore and capitalise on the potential opportunities for enhanced trade, investment, and infrastructure development.

We must consider making strategic investments in infrastructure, as it can significantly contribute to the progress and prosperity of our continent and the global community. It plays a crucial role in promoting human development and addressing poverty-related challenges.

Through the current state of the AfCFTA agreement, we have successfully established the largest free trade area globally, as measured by the number of participating countries.

The agreement establishes a connection among 1.3 billion individuals spanning 55 countries, collectively representing a gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. This initiative could alleviate extreme poverty for 30 million individuals and reduce moderate poverty for 68 million Africans.

The establishment of the expansive AfCFTA regional market presents a significant opportunity for African nations and investors to enhance export diversification, expedite economic growth, and attract foreign direct investment.

Africa offers numerous opportunities for growth and development. Its abundant natural resources, including agriculture and extraction, offer significant roles in national, regional, and global value chains. By transforming challenges into opportunities, Africa can achieve greatness and transform its challenges into opportunities.

At least half of the world's diamond riches are also in Africa. Cobalt, nickel, lithium, manganese, uranium, and rare earth metals are essential for clean energy and the future and are primarily found in Africa.

You, as a business, have the ability to build a brighter future not only for Africa but also for the BRICS community as a whole.

However, as we gather here today, let us also remember the significance of fostering fair and balanced growth. The importance of our commitment to inclusive development cannot be stressed enough.

It is important to prioritise the equitable distribution of the benefits of our economic cooperation, with a focus on promoting job creation, empowering women, and uplifting communities.

In this endeavour, it is important to consider prioritising sustainable practices that aim to protect our environment and ensure the preservation of our natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The BRICS Business Forum offers a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas, the exploration of investment opportunities, and the establishment of mutually beneficial partnerships.

I encourage you to engage in an open, constructive dialogue to create deeper cooperation and shared prosperity among the BRICS nations.

Let us unite as visionaries, innovators, and change-makers, committed to building a shared future that benefits our citizens and the global community.

Together, we can inspire, empower, and transform. Let us embark on this journey with determination, unity, and a shared vision of a prosperous and sustainable future.

I look forward to a successful 15th BRICS summit in our country over the next three days. 

Thank you, and enjoy the evening.

Dr. Zamani Saul, Premier of the Northern Cape Province,
Professor Andrew Crouch, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Sol Plaatje University,
Mr. Percy Sago, Principal of the Northern Cape Rural TVET College,
Dr CF Barnes, Principal of the Northern Cape Urban TVET College,
Dr. Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Deputy Chairpersons,
Members of the Human Resource Development Council,
Directors General and other senior government officials,
Ladies and gentlemen.
 
We extend a warm welcome to all of you as we gather here today for this Human Resource Development Council meeting. It is an honour to be in the presence of such distinguished individuals who are dedicated to the development and advancement of our nation's human resources.
 
It is also a privilege to be here at this university, Sol Plaatje, one of only two built after 1994. This is the culmination of our long-term commitment to investing in skills revolution with the building to build a productive and globally competitive society. As well as the idea which are discussing that of building academic cities or precincts around the country.
 
We further congratulate the province on the successful relaunch of the provincial Human Resource Council earlier this week and extend a cordial welcome to the provincial Human Resource Council executive members present here today.
 
It is encouraging that Sol Plaatje University, the Northern Cape Rural TVET College, and the Northern Cape Urban TVET College offer programmes and innovations in construction and bricklaying, solar energy, data science, and water solutions to meet the needs of current and future communities.
 
We look forward to viewing some of these and interacting with students and lecturers during the walk-about in the exhibition area later today.
 
This meeting is a continuation of and represents progress from the May 19 meeting which took place in Umgugundlovu, KwaZulu Natal Province. On that occasion, we signed two social compacts, the first to strengthen efforts towards the transformation of our economy and society. The second aims to focus our energies on creating the skills necessary to get the country to this important goal.
 
These compacts are important because they represent our collective commitment to addressing the skills challenge in our country, to grow the economy and to construct an inclusive society. Having established consensus, we must move with the necessary speed to improve on the discipline of execution with the aim to strengthen existing programmes or, as the case may be, to develop appropriate action plans.
 
As all of us are aware, the Human Resource Development Strategy Towards 2030 has identified five priority areas that remain relevant and in need of accelerated implementation. These are:
 
• Foundation education with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, language and life orientation skills;
• TVET and the rest of the college system;
• Higher education and training, research, innovation and development;
• Skills for a transformed society and the economy using the workplace as a platform, and;
• Developmental/capable state.
 
I do not mean to belabour a rather obvious point, but all of these priorities are interrelated and must be relentlessly pursued. Consider the link between foundation education, higher education and training, research and innovation. We cannot have economic development without higher education and training, research, innovation and development.
 
Most crucially, you cannot achieve any of these outcomes without quality primary education with a strong emphasis on mathematics and science education. This obliges us to pose questions about how we are faring with respect to the implementation or otherwise of the many decisions we have taken as a government and country to improve the lives of the people. These include the implementation or otherwise of critical policies such as the National Development Plan and the Human Resource Development Strategy.
 
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reports that 3.4 million patents, trademarks and industrial designs were registered throughout the world in 2021. Of these, China accounted for 1,585,663 applications, followed by the United States at 591,473, Japan with 289,200, the Republic of Korea at 237,998, European Patent Organisation member states at 188,778, India at 61,573 and Germany at 58,569. A year before, in 2020, South Africa had registered 542 patent applications.
 
These statistics tell you an intricate and complex story, which cannot be done justice today. Suffice it to say that:
 
• there is a relationship between patents, trademarks and industrial designs and the quality of a country’s education system, particularly its mathematics and science teaching, and;
• there is a relationship between the number of patents trademarks and industrial designs and a country’s economic prospects.
Furthermore, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report on South Africa for the year 2022 further identifies five strategic areas in need of attention and focus. These are:
 
• public sector investment in education, skills development, and youth participation in the economy;
• the need to develop one-stop job services to consolidate existing tools and services;
• youth entrepreneurship in technology-based and green industries;
• building on shifting gender norms to empower women economically, and;
• strengthening and expanding the National Youth Service to bridge the school-to-work gap.
 
The five areas identified by the UNDP also require the urgent attention of the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDC).
 
Our skills development efforts are and must be national in outlook and in every other material respect. We must train for the country – not a municipality, province, or specific sector of the economy. In some and significant respects, we should endeavour to train our people for service to humanity as a whole.
 
That said, specific localities will have particular potential which should facilitate the training of particular skill sets. For example, this province is endowed with minerals such as diamonds, manganese, iron ore, lithium, zinc, copper, lead, and molybdenum ore, among others. It also boasts unique attributes that position it as a potential leader in solar energy and important work is happily being undertaken in this regard.
 
It should therefore be possible for the Northern Cape to become a leader in careers such as chemistry, heavy equipment operating, environmental consulting, mine surveying, geology as well as mining, geological, electrocortical and project engineers, to mention just a few.
 
Working together with the rest of the country, the Southern African Development Community region and the continent, such skills, especially at the leadership level, could be pooled together for the good of all in a concerted effort to lift more than one billion Africans out of poverty.
 
There is therefore a need to re-examine the SADC Education and Skills Development Programme to ensure that we pool the region’s human, financial and other resources to address common skills capacity challenges on a sustained and sustainable basis.
 
In as much as we seek to improve our skills' capacity in order to build an inclusive economy and society, so too do the region and continent need to do so. And so shall put behind us the South Africa which Solomon Tshekiso Plaatje described in Native Life in South Africa, his 1916 text about life after the passage of the 1913 Native Land Act: “South Africa has by law ceased to be the home of any of her native children whose skins are dyed with a hue that does not conform to the regulation hue.”
 
Mintiro ya bulabula — deeds speak for themselves! So, let’s do it!
 
Thank you.

Facilitators: Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ms Thembi Nkadimeng;
Other Cabinet colleagues, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, Executive Mayors, and Councillors;
Leaders of political parties;
Professor Tyrone Pretorius, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape;
Chairpersons and Commissioners of the Chapters 9, 10, and 11 Institutions;
Leaders of organised labour and business;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Observers;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to welcome all of you to this National Dialogue on Coalition Governments. Our gratitude also goes to our hosts, the University of the Western Cape and the Dullah Omar Institute of Constitutional Law, Governance, and Human Rights.

This is the first time ever that the leadership of as many sectors of our country have met to deliberate on a critical issue that has caught the imagination of the nation and will undoubtedly resonate beyond our borders.

In reality, our deliberations over the next two days are several years late, in that, like everything else, our democracy has been continuously evolving, though with little collective reflection among the broad sections of our country’s leadership. Had we paused earlier to reflect on how best to promote and maintain consensus within our evolving democracy, we might have avoided some of the recent distressing scenes that have played out dramatically in some of our metropolitan municipalities.

The government is keenly aware of the challenge of addressing such a contentious issue as coalition building. Universally, every political party desires to govern. However, when an election produces no outright winner, parties are forced to enter into such partnerships as coalitions to facilitate the effective oversight and conduct of public affairs.

Whatever the configuration of governance, the electorate and the people as a whole expect from those who govern nothing less than the material improvement of their lives, a better future for themselves and their children as well as guarantees for peace and security.

Those who govern also owe accountability to the people at all times for without accountability, the process of governance is compromised. Additionally, where parties battle it out, like the feuding houses of Verona, other things also get lost: among them, improving the lives of the people is often compromised with negative impacts on the wellbeing of citizens. This is all the more so in a country like South Africa, which has, for the longest time, been the subject of international attention. This is accentuated by the age of social media, in which ordinary citizens can be as powerful communicators as any of the global news and television agencies.

Within minutes, a clip about some injudicious or downright ill-conceived incident in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, or any small town or village can reach a significant number of the world’s 6.92 billion smartphone users and inform perceptions about South Africa across the globe. These impressions invariably affect the choices and judgements, big or small, public or private, that others make about South Africa. In short, our audience is no longer just our fellow nationals; we sit in a global fishbowl!

Yet, our political focus must unerringly remain on the well-being of our people. Our pursuit of national consensus on how to approach coalition governments is a matter of national interest. Properly handled, it has the potential to bring the necessary stability, especially to the local government sphere, despite the intemperance we have witnessed in relation to coalitions.

This dialogue therefore seeks to promote fidelity to the national interest so that we remain focused on the fulfilment of the constitutional injunction to build a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous society.

You will all have seen our discussion paper entitled: "A Policy Framework Towards Stable Governance." It makes the important point that "Coalitions are an unmistakable expression of choices that the electorate has made. It is democracy at work!" It also identifies problems and challenges in the local sphere of government, amongst them: "lack of skills, inadequate revenue, indifference from both administrators and politicians, and the substitution of the public good with self-interest."

The document also makes an important point whose nuances must be kept in mind throughout our discussion. Whereas it asserts "a direct correlation between the constant collapse of municipal executives and them being coalition governments," it also cautions that the "correlation... does not imply causality — that is, coalitions trigger collapses" in that "both the coalitions and their turbulence have separate triggers, albeit somewhat inter-related."

However, the "frequent collapse" of coalitions at the local government level "is deliberate, sometimes even unrelated to the pursuit of the public good, and can be minimised down to a healthy level, with little detrimental effect on municipal administration."

Other distressing problems the document identifies with our recent coalition experiences at the local government level and in the country’s major metropolitan municipalities include:

•    opportunistic political behaviour, enabled by institutional loopholes;

•    the lack of a threshold for the admissibility of a motion of no confidence and the vulgarisation and proceduralization of the process that are not related to considerations of ethics and competence;

•    the monetisation of votes and seats in municipal governance — patronage/rent-seeking, and;

•    power-play and relevance; ganging up against incumbents.

The discussion document also says, in passing: "Career politicians, without any prospects of employment elsewhere, face a constant risk of job insecurity". This is no minor matter. It is closely related to a broader sociological characteristic of South African society, which manifests the continued racial imbalance in the distribution of opportunities, wealth, poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

It is also exacerbated by an economy that has not grown sufficiently over the years to absorb greater numbers of job seekers. Together, both factors — the sociological characteristics of our society and the stagnant economy manifest in a stampede towards the political sphere, especially by the youth, who increasingly demand greater representation in politics than the professions and the rise in variants of right-wing and left-wing populism alike. In fairness, populism is not only a South African but a global phenomenon that cannot be understood outside the context of national and international resource distributional imbalances.

Like any other country, our sociological reality impacts the state of political parties and the country. It reflects the political party’s social base and the extent to which, as creatures of agency, every social base exerts itself on the national stage in a dynamic intercourse with others to produce particular outcomes.
 
Consequently, while we must be ready and willing to learn from the coalition experiences of other countries, we must also bear in mind South Africa’s unique sociological and political characteristics. Our history of a unique colonialism that is unlike any other and the enduring legacy of that special colonialism has a direct impact on our politics today and will undoubtedly be the case for a long time to come. We must therefore craft viable partnerships that reflect the South African context in all its nuances, complexity, and opportunities. 

A few days ago, I finished reading a book about the destruction of Somalia written by one of the country’s former diplomats, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohamed Osman Omar. The thrust of his thesis is that after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in January 1991, Somalia descended into civil war and eventually collapsed because the leadership was driven by a "power struggle without restraint." Emphasising the point, he argues that they were inspired by "self-aggrandisement, absence of discipline and national spirit". They pursued Somalia’s narrow "social cleavages based on clan loyalties" — never "willing to learn from our own or from other [people’s] follies."

Ambassador Omar’s observation about his country begs several questions. Perhaps the most crucial is: what must be done to institutionalise fidelity to the national interest, a challenge that is as much Somalian as it is South African? For South Africa, the process is made all the more urgent by the alarm bells sounded in the document we have circulated when it asserts that “the substitution of the public good with self-interest” and that the "frequent collapse" of coalitions at local government level is sometimes “deliberate, [and] unrelated to the pursuit of the public good." What of the fact that we now know from the Somalian experience what can happen to a country when "follies" eclipse the national interest!

Implicit in this is the nature and character of the South African political party and the national political culture that it promotes in word and in deed. We will be well-served to defer to Ben Okri: 

“We dream of a new politics
That will renew the world
Under their weary suspicious gaze.
There’s always a new way,
A better way that’s not been tried before.”

This is crucial because the membership and support base of political parties are dreamers inasmuch as they are carriers of political outlooks and messages which, in turn, shape the nation’s political thinking, ways of seeing and doing politics, with profound implications for its future prospects. 

I am suggesting that our social structure and its economy are central to all our endeavours.  With or without coalitions in any sphere of government, but most especially because of coalitions, South Africa requires a growing economy, which creates opportunities for people beyond the political sphere. As an enduring dividend of freedom, such an economy will be a factor in social and political stability, state and nation-building, all of which can elude us if the economy fails.

We must salute the work done by a number of institutions on how to improve and stabilise coalition governments at the local level. The government has contributed some proposals towards a framework for coalitions. These include:

•    commitment to a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous society;

•    coalition leadership based on the actual votes received by each party in an election;

•    commitment to Batho Pele principles — putting people first;

•    working towards poverty eradication through a growing and inclusive economy, and;

•    good governance and zero tolerance for corruption.

This is an open process in which everyone is free to make proposals.  We intend to synthesise proposals from as many South Africans as possible and to present these in the coming months as a framework for consideration, which may or may not end up in legislation. 

In many respects, we are fortunate that we may be the generation in our evolving democracy that co-creates and designs resilient solutions to our political architecture. Coalitions must therefore give us the possibility to consolidate national efforts to create a truly substantive democracy that is based on the will of the people!

To underscore the urgency with which we should respond to this moment of our democracy, let us recall Dr Martin Luther King Jr: "There are millions of poor people in this country who have very little, or even nothing, to lose. If they can be helped to take action together, they will do so with a freedom and a power that will be a new and unsettling force in our complacent national life."

Although this was directed at the America of his time, it carries equal meaning for us. We can ignite the hopes of our people with the demonstration of united leadership, which communicates the message that we have gathered here today as a collective of South African stateswomen and statesmen and not as mere politicians representing their parties.

I, therefore, invite the collective wisdom of all those who led us previously in the making of this country, weaving it together as a proud nation of all who live in it, united in their diversity. I am talking here about our liberation ancestors, who initiated and successfully delivered democratic South Africa. May they come forward and bless us as we undertake similar steps that require the nation to pause in attention and reaffirm its commitment to move forward in concert towards the attainment of a united democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous South African nation.

This national dialogue will not stop after tomorrow; it is just the beginning. It is the launch of the dialogue that must spread across our nation as we collectively grapple with the most crucial question: what do we do going forward to serve the people even better?

The motto of this eminent institution of higher learning is Respice Prospice: look back, look forward, and take what is worthy from the past, and build the future. As we grapple with these issues, may we embrace the opposite counsel of the motto of the University of the Western Cape so that we are able to meet the expectations of the people for the material improvement of their lives, and secure a better future for them and their children. So shall we be true to the national interest!

I am delighted to end with some good news. His Excellency, Mr António Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, has appointed Professor Thuli Madonsela, our former Public Protector, to serve on his newly formed Scientific Advisory Board, which consists of seven eminent scientists to advise on emerging scientific issues so as to maximise scientific advances for the global good. 

Congratulations, Prof. Madonsela!

You have done our country proud. We are confident that you will fly the National Flag even higher! Your appointment illustrates the fact that we are a nation that has everything it takes to rise to greater heights.

I want to end off with the words of President Nelson Mandela: "It seems impossible until it is done." Let us build this great nation together. 

Thank you!

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will attend and address the National Teaching Awards to be held in Pretoria on Thursday, 5 October. 

The Deputy President will join the Department of Basic Education at the 23rd National Teaching Awards (NTA), which will be held at the Heartfelt Arena in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria.

The annual awards are hosted to recognise and honour the nation’s best teachers and to celebrate outstanding educators who, often under challenging circumstances, remain committed to their roles in moulding leaders of the future.

Teachers nominated represent the diverse nature of schools across the country and will be awarded for their excellence across a variety of categories including, but not limited to, Excellence in Grade R Teaching, Excellence in Primary School Teaching, Excellence in Secondary School Teaching, Excellence in Secondary School Leadership as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:

Date: Thursday, 5 October 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria 

Live Stream:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BasicEd

Members of the media wishing to attend the physical event are requested to RSVP to khala.t@dbe.gov.za 

Contact information: Elijah Mhlanga on 076 341 1233 or Vukani Mde on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President of World Netball, Mrs Dame Liz Nicholl,
President of Netball South Africa, Ms Cecelia Molokwane,
CEO of Netball South Africa, Ms Blanche de la Guerre
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa,
The Premier of the Western Cape Province, Mr Allan Winde,
Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Cllr Geordin Hill-Lewis,
Head Coaches, Captains and members of the various national teams,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Sanibonani! Molweni! Dumelang!
 
I would like to welcome you to the Netball World Cup 2023, the first ever on African soil.
 
As the history of the relationship between World Netball and our country amply demonstrates, sport has the capacity to unite people within and between countries. We are therefore grateful to have been given the opportunity to host this World Cup.
 
In the next nine days from today until the end of this world cup on the 6th of August, I will make sure to follow the games when the various national teams battle for first position. I wish every player and national team success.
 
In particular, I wish head coach Norma Plummer, Captain Bongiwe Msomi and the the SPAR Proteas team members victory in this World Cup.
 
You will do the country immense pride were you to make it possible for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be here on the 6th of August to carry the cup on behalf of our nation.
 
Let the games begin!

Thank you.

Programme Director;
Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu;
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr Buti Manamela;
United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Mr Nelson Muffuh;
Resident Representative of UNDP in South Africa, Dr Ayodele Odusola;
Executive Deputy Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency, Ms Karabo Mohale;
Acting Statistician-General of South Africa, Ms Nthabiseng Makhatha;
Chief Executive Officers of the Human Sciences Research Council and of the National Youth Development Agency, Prof Sarah Mosoetsa and Mr Waseem Carrim;
The youth of South Africa;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon!

I would like to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for inviting us to the launch of the South Africa National Human Development Report 2022 under the theme "Harnessing the Employability of South Africa’s Youth."

The government commends the UNDP and its partners for undertaking the research and producing this timely report. Hopefully, the report will shine the light on blindspots on the work we are doing to develop the youth of our country.

To this end, we endorse the five strategic areas recommended in the report; namely:
• the urgent prioritisation of public sector investment in education and skills development as well as scaling up initiatives that harness youth participation in the economy;
• the development of one-stop job services that consolidate existing tools and services;
• the necessity for the expansion of youth entrepreneurship in technology-based and green industries;
• building on shifting gender norms to achieve greater women’s economic empowerment;
• strengthening and expanding the National Youth Service to bridge the school-to-work gap.

We agree with the UNDP when you say: "There is no doubt that the high unemployment rate is a ticking time bomb.

Accordingly, in addressing youth unemployment, the country will simultaneously address poverty and income inequality. Addressing and tackling youth joblessness is not only sound economics but also a development imperative." For its part, the government is pursuing several youth empowerment programmes.

In 2018, we launched the Youth Employment Service Programme, which is part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, and aims to combat youth unemployment. A collaborative effort between government, business and labour, the programme has placed over 100,000 young people in employment. This concrete evidence of how far we can go when we work together. Without doubt, more needs to be done to benefit as many young people as possible.

As part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, the government also launched the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI). Since 2020, the initiative has made significant progress in addressing the difficulty of transitioning youth from learning to earning. Despite its three year existence, more than four million youth have joined the network.

To respond to employers’ requirements for work experience, which first-time entrants into the labour market do not possess, the government has also launched the Public Service Graduate Internship and Learnership Programme, which provides interns with the necessary work experience.

Yet another initiative is the National Rural Youth Service Corps programme, which trains young people in areas such as leadership, community service and interpersonal communication.

Cumulatively, these initiatives should impact positively on moulding young people into responsible members of society who appreciate the relationship between their rights and their responsibilities to society inasmuch as they assist them in acquiring occupational skills necessary to access livelihood opportunities.

Evidently, the challenge is not one of a lack of programmes. It is one about the effectiveness, acceleration and massification of our programmes.

In doing so, we will also have to address leakages throughout the public policy system. For example, the report we are launching found that those without a matric qualification make up a significant proportion of the youth unemployment rate at around 40%, in contrast with only 13 percent of graduates who are unemployed.

However, the Development Bank of Southern Africa also found that: "there is a discrepancy between employers’ needs and the skills of the youth entering the labour force. Paradoxically, many graduates are doing menial jobs that are not in any form linked to their degrees due to the unavailability of opportunities in their chosen fields of study."

Among other things, this means that we should return to the "youth lens" adopted by the drafters of the National Development Plan. 

It is worth recalling that amongst other interventions, the NDP called for:
• the accelerated improvement of the quality of education, skills development, and innovation;
• strengthening of the youth service programmes and the introduction of new, community-based programmes to offer young people life-skills training, entrepreneurial training, and opportunities to participate in community development programmes;
• strengthening and expanding the number of FET colleges to increase the participation rate to 25%;
• increasing the graduation rate of FET colleges to 75%;
• a tax incentive to employers to reduce the initial cost of hiring young labour market entrants;
• a subsidy to the placement sector to identify, prepare, and place matric graduates into work;
• a formalised graduate recruitment scheme for the public service to attract highly skilled people, and;
• expanding the role of state-owned enterprises in training artisans and technical professionals.

We seek to understand the factors that lead to dropouts throughout the schooling system. Implicit in this fact is a deficit of skills and exposure for the young person who does not possess a matric. This means that our interventions have to be more specific and targeted, taking into account the urban-rural divide, race, gender, and the availability of opportunities.

Work also needs to be undertaken by all the social partners to examine the quality of the tuition in FET colleges, the better to derive maximum benefits to the enormous public resources we are expending into this important sector.

None of us needs any tutelage about the importance of skills development. To illustrate the point, in the three days from September 12th to the 15th, South Africa will host the BRICS Future Skills Challenge, in which young people from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will compete to show solutions to the 21st century’s most pressing challenges. 

The skills in question are in the areas of:
• Aircraft Maintenance;
• Agri IOT;
• Building Information Modelling;
• Cyber Security;
• Data Science;
• Digital Twin;
• Drones;
• Internet Marketing;
• Manufacturing Robotics;
• Mobile app development;
• Renewable Energy, and;
• Robotic Process Automation.

It goes without saying that to compete amongst the BRICS nations and the world on a sustained and sustainable basis, we cannot but empower the youth with the wherewithal to acquire the skills of the 21st century. It is here that that the expression: “a country that does not value its youth does not deserve its future” becomes glaringly obvious.

It is equally obvious that the government’s efforts to empower young people must be premised on a growing and inclusive economy. 

This is why it is crucial that the social partners all act in unison about re-industrialising and growing the economy.

We look forward to studying the report to benefit from its insights in our work to empower young people. 

Since the report is about the plight and well-being of young people, we call upon the youth of our country to read and study it and to make the necessary input which only those who feel and know it can expertly make.

I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will attend and deliver a keynote address at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) and the Green Energy Summit (GEA), taking place from 09 - 13 October 2023 in Cape Town under the theme: “Maximising Africa's Natural Resources”. 

It is envisaged that this year’s AOW will connect more than 50 global Energy Ministers and Government Leaders, an expected more than 100 leading speakers, and more than 2 000 delegates during the five-day conference to share insights and explore opportunities for cooperation and trade among the participating countries.

The Deputy President will use the opportunity to explore avenues for the development of power generation, creation of new jobs in the energy sector, reduction of the energy deficit, and acceleration of socio-economic development for South Africa.

Deputy President Mashatile will be supported by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, as well as senior government officials.

Details of the attendance and address are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Time: 09h00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre 2

Media wishing to cover the event should please send their details for accreditation to Bongani Majola (The Presidency) on 082 339 1993 or bonganim@presidency.gov.za or Pabalelo Serepo on 076 757 5140 or pabalelo.serepo@ogilvypr.co.za 

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on matters of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, will on Saturday, 14 October 2023, visit the Limpopol Province in Tshikombani, Venda, to attend and deliver a keynote address at the Tshivhase Day Celebration.

The event will be held under the theme: “Celebrating the life and time of His Majesty King Frans Rasimphi Tshivhase contribution to the struggle for a free, just and democratic South Africa”

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

Date: Saturday, 14 October 2023
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Prince Thikhathali Stadium, Tshikombani, Vhembe District, Venda, Limpopo Province
 
For media accreditation, please send your full details including ID Number by 18h00 on Friday, 13 October 2023 to the following officials:

1. Sam Bopape in The Presidency on 082 318 5251
2. Tshamano Makhadi on 082 223 0621

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 083 779 3086
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director, Ms Nuraan Alli;
SEIFSA CEO, Mr Lucio Trentini and All Board Members present;
Leaders of Business and Investors on the platform,
Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Cllr S Ngodwana;
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning! 

Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed CEOs and distinguished guests from the Metal and Engineering Industries, thank you for inviting us to this roundtable discussion this morning. 

We are pleased to have this opportunity to address you and discuss the government's view on restoring business and investors' confidence under the theme, “Restoring Business and Investor Confidence”.

As we convene here today, it is clear that our industries have recently faced severe challenges. The global economic landscape has been thrown into disarray as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Moreover, the South Africa's economic and social challenges are mounting, risking stagnation amid an unprecedented energy crisis, increasingly binding infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks, high unemployment, crime and corruption. 

These are the real problems that need real answers from society, business, and the government. We must always keep in mind the most important parts of our country, which, based on how they affect our efforts, can either help or hurt those efforts.

As a result, we must never be disheartened by our divergent approaches to overcoming these obstacles; rather, we must use dialogue such as this one to find common ground and develop an amicable strategy that will propel our nation forward.

In everything we do, we must remember that our end goal is to help our country grow by getting more people to work together in resolving the key challenges listed in the National Development Plan 2030.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I firmly believe that amidst adversity lies opportunity. 

In order to restore faith in our economy and the Metal and Engineering industries in particular, we need to come together, change with the times, and take decisive action.

As a first step, we must recognize the importance of government in creating a dependable and helpful atmosphere for businesses to flourish. We recognize the critical importance of having encouraging policies, solid infrastructure, and a receptive regulatory framework. 

Our commitment to establishing a favourable business climate remains unwavering. 

To this end, Government has already undertaken various initiatives to restore confidence and promote growth. 

We have implemented tax incentives and relief measures to alleviate the burden on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

We are actively finding solutions to streamline regulatory processes, reduce bureaucracy, and enhance ease of doing business.
Ladies and Gentlemen

With regard to reducing bureaucracy, you will recall that President Ramaphosa last year in his State of the Nation Address introduced the Red Tape Reduction (RTR) task team.

The task team's goal is to make tangible progress in reducing excessively complex rules, regulations, procedures, and processes that stifle economic growth and job creation in key areas of the economy, and to collaborate with relevant stakeholders from government, the private sector, and community-based organizations.

The team is also supporting initiatives to simplify processes relating to property registration, cross-border trade and construction permits.

In addition, we understand the value of putting resources into infrastructure improvement. Transportation networks, power grids, and Internet access are all examples of essential infrastructure that may spur development and bring in capital. 

In this regard, we have allocated significant resources to upgrade and modernize our infrastructure.

Our infrastructure development priorities are appropriately aligned with continental and global economic development imperatives, particularly through the NDP, which is our country’s development blueprint.

For example, The National Rail Policy has been enacted as a road map for modernizing and reforming the rail industry, and it includes provisions for third-party access to the railway network.

To implement the policy commitments, the government is constructing a Transnet Roadmap, which will include reorganizing Transnet Freight Rail to appoint a new Infrastructure Manager for the rail network by October 2023. 

In the Durban and Ngqura container terminals, Transnet and private sector business partnerships encourage fresh investment in the nation's ports as well as boost their effectiveness.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Improving the country's ports will also help them get back to being some of the best ports in the world like they used to be. 

The repositioning of the Port Elizabeth Automotive Terminal for instance has already been a huge success. It has more than doubled its capacity, and exports have already gone up.

A lot of vehicles are leaving the Port Elizabeth auto port for markets outside of South Africa. Transnet is also adding to its fleet and fixing up trains that aren't being used.

Thirteen commuter train lines have been restored as a result of the PRASA restructuring, greatly lowering the cost of transportation.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited SOC (SANRAL) is still working to fulfil its duties related to funding, enhancing, managing, and maintaining the country's road system.
Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the economy. It makes it possible to transport goods and services, but it also enables movement for people to gain access to basic healthcare. 

As government we have also invested heavily on the improvement of our roads. SANRAL recently announced two big road infrastructure development projects for the Great Kei Local Municipality. Together, they will cost more than a billion rand (R1.165 billion).

Investing in projects like this one could make a big difference in the lives of a lot of people by creating jobs and making it easier for things to get from one place to another. This would also help our economy grow. 
Ladies and Gentlemen

As Government, we understand that we have a huge role to play in the advancement of our economy and changing the course of our economic trajectory, hence our implementation of the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, keeping in mind that the plan requires all society to succeed. 

As part of the Plan, reducing and ultimately ending load shedding is one of the foremost priorities of Government. 

The current issue of load shedding is being addressed through the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and a variety of other adjustments and efforts aimed at maintaining a reliable electricity grid.

In addition, the Minister of Electricity has currently been working toward a resolution to the matter of load shedding before the end of the year. He has been engaging with various stakeholders, including businesses, to find a long-lasting solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allowing private developers to generate electricity is one of the country's significant reforms. In this regard, there are already over 100 projects underway, with a total capacity of over 9,000 MW planned to be added over time.

Many enterprises involved in the renewable energy programme will shortly begin building on a total of 2,800 MW of new capacity. To close the immediate shortfall, Eskom will acquire emergency power that can be installed in the near future. 

The Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape, and the Western Cape are seeing a disproportionate amount of new transmission lines and substation construction. Over the next 12–18 months and beyond, all of these measures will significantly increase power to the system.

South Africa already has a diverse energy mix that includes coal-fired power plants, solar, wind, gas, nuclear, hydro, and battery storage, all of which are compatible with the enhanced power output. 

We also appreciate the US Trade and Development Agency's (USTDA) R18.6 million grant, which will fund expert assistance to investigate the economic, technical, commercial, and financial viability of employing new technology to improve our transmission system. 

We are completely committed to transitioning to renewable energy sources. We cannot transition while sitting in the dark, so the pace of this change will be optimal for us, establishing a balance between economic growth and job security, social justice and environmental responsibility.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Our efforts to fight for a better South Africa are not limited to the energy crisis, but our Government is also up in arms to fight crime and corruption which are a thorn in the flesh to our democracy. 

Corruption undermines the functioning and legitimacy of institutions and processes, the rule of law and ultimately the State itself and it also damages the economy.

Therefore, the fight against crime and corruption is vital for the success of our country. As Government, we are committed to fighting corruption in all sectors of society.

Remember corruption in Government is no better than corruption in the private sector. The battle to root out corruption and strengthen the rule of law can succeed only it is taken on by the whole of society. 

We must therefore all join forces to fight this scourge.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy is one of the necessary instruments for addressing the issues of crime and corruption. The plan outlines the steps necessary to achieve a society devoid of corruption by leveraging the most significant provisions of our Constitution, our anti-corruption legal framework, the National Development Plan, and other instruments such as international treaties. 

This whole-society effort aims for a state, business, and society that are ethical, accountable, and accountable and have high levels of integrity and respect for the rule of law. It encourages people to be involved citizens who are able to hold leaders and organizations accountable and responsible 

In order for it to be successful, an integrated approach that addresses socio-economic initiatives, the development of the criminal justice system, and the attending to of intangibles such as society's moral perspective would be required.  

By cooperating with one another, we will be able to eradicate corruption from our society and build institutions on the principles of fairness and equity. 

At the same time, Ladies and Gentlemen, fostering a skilled workforce is essential for the success of our industries. 

The Government is committed to collaborating with industry leaders and educational institutions to equip our workforce with the necessary technical skills and knowledge. 

Through vocational training programmes, apprenticeships, and continued professional development, we aim to bridge the skills gap and ensure that our industries have the expertise required to thrive in the modern world.

Additionally, we recognise that international trade and investment partnerships are vital for the success of our industries. 

We are actively engaged in promoting investment opportunities and forging stronger ties with countries that show potential for collaboration. By enhancing our exports and diversifying our markets, we can reduce our dependency on any single market and mitigate risks associated with economic volatility.

Hence we are signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which holds the potential to inject $450 billion worth of investments into the African economy and help lift between 50 and 100 million people out of poverty by 2035.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Government is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

We recognise that advancements in technology and disruptive innovation are transforming industries around the world. 

Therefore, we are investing in research and development, promoting innovation hubs, and supporting start-ups to harness the power of innovation and create a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, we stand at a crucial juncture, where restoring business and investor confidence in the Metal and Engineering industries is of paramount importance. 

The Government is fully aware of the challenges facing our industries, and we are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to ensure their growth and resilience.

As Government, we are not going to stop working until we have developed a domestic steel sector that is healthy, robustly competitive, and well-positioned for the coming decades.

We invite you all to join hands with the Government in this endeavour, as together, we can overcome any obstacle, unlock investment in the sector and emerge stronger than ever before.

I thank you.