The Presidency has noted with concern claims made in the National Assembly yesterday afternoon (30 August 2022) that President Cyril Ramaphosa did not answer the question for oral reply on the robbery that occurred at his Limpopo farm in January 2020.
 
On a proper reading of the question, President Ramaphosa did, in fact, answer the question.
 
The question that was posed asked “whether …he considered it prudent to take the nation into his confidence on the serious allegations surrounding his Phala Phala farm…, by accounting to the people of South Africa and speaking on the specified issue in the National Assembly…”
 
The President responded that he stands ready to take the nation into his confidence and that he would do so through the due legal and Parliamentary processes.
 
He indicated that he has responded, and will continue to respond, to all the questions that have been put to him by the relevant authorities. He also indicated that he would cooperate with, and be fully accountable to, the Section 89 process that Parliament has initiated.
 
It is clear from the President’s reply that he considers it prudent to account on this matter through the due processes.
 
This is consistent with what the President has said from the outset that there is no basis for the claims of criminal conduct that have been made against him, and that he will provide any information that the relevant authorities require.
 
Below in full is the question for oral reply and the President’s response:
 
---------
 
QUESTION:
 
(1)    Whether, notwithstanding the ongoing investigations by the Hawks and the Acting Public Protector, he has considered it prudent to take the nation into his confidence on the serious allegations surrounding his Phala Phala farm (details furnished), by accounting to the people of South Africa and speaking on the specified issue in the National Assembly, where the elected representatives of the people can engage him on the scandal that has divided the country and caused immeasurable harm to the reputation of the Republic;
 
(2)    whether with the benefit of hindsight, he has found that he could have responded differently to the serious allegations surrounding him with regard to the entire saga around his Phala Phala farm?
 
REPLY:
 
Honourable Members,
 
I know there is a great deal of interest in my answer to this question and I’d like to say that, without appearing that I do not want to answer questions, that I do not want to be accountable, I should say that as I have indicated before – in written replies to Members of this House, in the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote and in statements on various public platforms – I stand ready to cooperate with any investigations on this matter.
 
Investigations are ongoing by a variety of agencies and the focus that various agencies are putting on this matter demonstrates the importance of this matter and the way they are dealing with it.
 
I have responded, and will continue to respond, to all the questions that have been put to me by the relevant authorities.
 
In the course of what they are working on, the authorities have said that it is best if they deal with all these attendent matters relating to this theft that occurred at the farm, and be able to address every issue. I have been counselled and advised that it is best to address these matters when those processes have been done. I stand ready, as people have said, to take the nation into my confidence. I stand ready to do so, to give an explanation. But for me, it has been important that I should give space, stand back and allow the various agencies to deal with these matters as thoroughly as I believe they are doing.
 
While there are clearly individuals and organisations that seek some mileage out of this issue, the most appropriate response from my side is for the law to take its course.
 
It is important for me that due process is followed, including the process that is going to unfold in Parliament. I stand ready to cooperate with that process as well and will be ready to be fully accountable.
 
I stand here as Cyril Ramaphosa not being unwilling to be accountable. I want to be fully accountable and I am saying once again that it is important, and those who are dealing with these matters have said it is important that we be given time and space to deal with all the aspects of this matter.
 
I thank you.
 

Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President on +27 82 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 1 September 2022, address a national conference focused on local government accountability, service delivery and human rights.

The two-day event at the Capital On The Park Hotel in Sandton on 31 August and 1 September is co-convened by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).
 
President Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address on Thursday.

The South African Human Rights Commission has, as part of its mandate, identified a range of systemic challenges at the local sphere of governance, that hinders the attainment and enjoyment of human rights.  

Local government is responsible for services that are necessary for the realisation of basic rights as outlined in the constitutional Bill of Rights.

The conference will see critical voices and role-players deliberate on local government challenges with the aim of enhancing human rights-based service delivery.

These discussions will enable the Commission to: 

- Collaboratively deliberate on the key systemic challenges facing local government;

- Interrogate the roles and responsibilities of the other spheres of government, and government entities, in supporting the local sphere of government;

- Explore the role of various actors in holding the local sphere of government accountable;

- Deliberate on possible solutions to address and tackle the deteriorating state of service delivery within the local sphere of government;

- Consider methods for effective monitoring of service delivery, ensuring accountability, engagement, non-discrimination, and transparency in service delivery;

- Consider strategies for policy shifts towards a pro-poor, developmental local government sphere; and

- Strengthen old and establish new partnerships across sectors.

Details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 01 September 2022
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 8h00)
Venue: Capital on the Park Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg

Members of the media who wish to attend the conference are requested to register with Ms Alucia Sekgathume on asekgathume@sahrc.org.za, by 30 August 2022. 


Media enquiries:

South African Human Rights Commission: Wisani Baloyi, Acting Communications Coordinator/Spokesperson - 081 016 8308

The Presidency: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his warmest and most sincere congratulations to President João Lourenço and the people of the Republic of Angola on his re-election as the President of the Republic of Angola.

President Ramaphosa said the election results reflect the trust and confidence the Angolan people have in him.
 
“I am looking forward to working with President João Lourenço to strengthen the strong and cordial bilateral relations between our two countries as well as in matters of mutual interest in the African continent and our region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC),” President Ramaphosa added.

President Ramaphosa said it further gives him great pleasure that the elections were conducted in a calm environment, wherein the people of Angola exercised their democratic right of electing a government of their own choosing. 


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

South Africa’s response to illegal migration and actions at local government and community level to combat the prevalence of rape and other forms of gender-based violence are among key national issues President Cyril Ramaphosa will address in the National Assembly tomorrow, Tuesday, 30 August 2022.
 
The President will also outline the importance of the recent Presidential Social Sector Summit in enabling civil society to be effective in tackling poverty and inequality as part of the national effort to overcome the many social ills that confront communities.
 
President Ramaphosa will touch on these issues as part of responding to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly. The President will interact with Members of Parliament on a virtual platform during the hybrid session due to his preparation in Gauteng for public and other engagements during the course of this week.
 
As part of his replies, the President will brief Parliament on how Eskom is preparing to integrate renewable energy capacity into the national grid as part of increasing energy supply and reducing the risk of loadshedding.
 
Members of Parliament have also submitted questions on the investigation by law enforcement agencies into allegations around the President’s Phala Phala game farm, as well as whether the South African National Defence Force has a role to play in combating criminality in the country.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has strengthened South Africa’s fight against fraud and corruption with the appointment of members of a National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC), which brings together representatives from civil society, including business, who will work alongside government to prevent and stamp out wrongdoing.

The Council will advise the President on matters related to fighting corruption, in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2030. Among other areas of focus, the Council will advise the President on effective implementation of the anti-corruption strategy by government and civil society, including the private sector.

The Council will also provide advisory input on matters related to government’s comprehensive response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.

An interdepartmental team led by the Presidency is currently developing government’s response, which President Ramaphosa will present to Parliament by 22 October 2022.

The Commission has made wide-ranging recommendations on dealing with cases of fraud and corruption as presented in testimony to the Commission, and measures to be taken to prevent, detect and prosecute corruption across all sectors of society into the future.

The National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council is a multi-sectoral partnership for advocacy and action against fraud and corruption that will augment the work done by law enforcement agencies who play an independent role in terms of combating corruption and other criminal activities.

The Council has been established to deepen the country’s efforts to rid society and the administration of corruption, improve investor confidence and secure higher levels of public trust.

The new body will advise government on the critical preventative measures, institutional capabilities and resources that are required to proactively curb a recurrence of state capture and to prevent fraud and corruption in South Africa.   

The appointment of the Council is another fulfillment of commitments made by President Ramaphosa in the February 2021 State of the Nation Address.

Council members have been drawn from civil society, academia, business and labour, based on a list of publicly nominated individuals.

The diversity of the Council reflects the understanding that corruption takes on many forms in all sectors of society and that prevention, detection and consequence management requires an inclusive and collective effort, in the spirit of “Let’s Grow South Africa Together”.

The members of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council who will serve a three-year term from 1 September 2022 are:

1) Ms Kavisha Pillay
2) Mr David Harris Lewis
3) Mr Nkosana Dolopi
4) Ms Barbara Schreiner
5) Adv. Nokuzula Gloria Khumalo
6) Professor Firoz Cachalia (Chair)
7) Mx Sekoetlane Phamodi
8) Ms Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki
9) Inkosikazi Nomandla Dorothy Mhlauli (Deputy Chair)

In executing its advisory role, the Council will interface with a number of coordinating Ministers who play significant executive oversight roles on key legislative and policy mandate areas related to combating corruption.   

The Advisory Council will advise on the effective implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy by government, civil society and the private sector, and on strengthening of South Africa’s anti-corruption architecture.

The Council will also engage with sectoral stakeholders, such as organised business and labour, academia, community- and faith-based organisations to further develop the country’s anti-corruption agenda and evaluate progress in the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy.

The President wishes the Council well in its pioneering work.

President Ramaphosa said: “The National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council is the embodiment of our united resolve as a nation to rid all components of our society of all forms of crime and corruption and develop a whole-of-society response to and prevention of this scourge.

“We have, over a number of years, witnessed the varied impacts of corruption on our public and private sectors. This damage exposed systemic failures as well as shortcomings in personal ethics and commitment to the country.

“The Council will enjoy the support of the vast majority of South Africans, who are honest and law-abiding and want our country to succeed. The Council will be a source of concern only to those whose days for undermining our development and prosperity are numbered.”


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the Republic of Angola on Sunday, 28 August 2022, to attend the State Funeral Service of Former President José Eduardo dos Santos, who served as the second President of the Republic of Angola from 1979-2017.

President Dos Santos passed away on 08 July 2022, at the age of 79, following an extended period of illness and hospitalisation in Spain.

The State Funeral Service will take place in Luanda at 10h00 (11h00 SA Time) on Sunday, 28 August 2022, the day of President Dos Santos’ 80th birthday. 
 
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes. 


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the Right Honorable Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), to discuss the need for leaders to urgently address the reversals being witnessed in the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.

These reversals have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other compounding crises, such as increasing incidences of conflict and the climate emergency.  

President Ramaphosa and Rt Hon Helen Clark met today, Thursday, 25 August 2022.

Half-way toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is at a point where instead of working towards closing the gender equity gap, decades of progress are being rolled back, with women’s and girls’ fundamental rights and health under threat. 

PMNCH is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents' health and well-being, partnering with sovereign states and over 1,300 partner organizations, hosted by the World Health Organization. The mission of PMNCH is to “mobilise, align and amplify the voices of partners to advocate for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being, particularly the most vulnerable.”
 
The President and Rt. Hon. Clark explored opportunities to undertake high-level political advocacy and strategic interventions to amass political, financial, and programmatic commitments from all sectors of society, including the private sector, critical to delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes the SDG 3 targets for women’s, children’s and adolescents' health, especially in the face of the toxic combination of COVID-19, escalating gender-based violence, economic instability, the climate crisis and conflicts. 
 
South Africa’s leadership is anchored in a set of commitments by the government to implement various programs at the country level that address service delivery, financial resourcing, nutrition, HIV prevention and youth empowerment. 
 
Says President Ramaphosa: “I was impressed with the way the PMNCH sought to elicit our commitments for our people first because indeed charity begins at home. I hope that as Head of State, I can  build confidence in our ability to positively impact these vulnerable population groups by sharing the models being implemented across the Republic of South Africa, exchanging best practices, and mobilizing other champions to galvanise greater action, thereby elicit lasting commitments for real change in the lived experience of our women, adolescents and children.” 

The Right Honorable Helen Clark met with President Ramaphosa to invite President Ramaphosa to engage closely with PMNCH to shape the agenda for the Partnership at the highest political levels. “We are deeply honored that President Ramaphosa has agreed to support this critical agenda as we need urgent and transformative action to reverse these worrying trends. This will help drive the much-needed political will behind issues that impact on outcomes for women, children and adolescents. At PMNCH, we are committed to working alongside the President to position this agenda so that action is taken to get back on track towards achievement of SDG3. “At this time when compounding crises are rolling back previous progress made on women’s empowerment and the health of communities,” she said.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Prof Somadoda Fikeni and Ms Zukiswa Mqolomba as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson respectively of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
 
The Commission derives its mandate from Sections 195 and 196 of the Constitution and is tasked and empowered to, among others, investigate, monitor, and evaluate the organisation and administration of the Public Service.
 
This mandate entails the evaluation of achievements, or lack thereof, of government programmes.
 
The PSC also has an obligation to promote measures that would ensure effective and efficient performance within the Public Service and to promote values and principles of public administration as set out in the Constitution, throughout the Public Service.
 
Prof Fikeni has been acting as Chairperson of the Commission since the term of the former Chairperson, Adv Richard Sizani, came to an end on 31 January 2022.
 
Prof Fikeni is a Senior Executive Director within the Public Administration leadership and has a PhD in Comparative Politics and Public Policy Analysis.
 
He has lectured Public Administration in several universities, worked as an academic in universities and research institutions, and has experience as a public servant.
 
He has served as Chairperson for 7 different public and private entities in the last 16 years and was part of the team that designed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s School of Diplomacy.
 
As Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Zukiswa Mqolomba  brings to the position more than 12 years’ experience in the Public Service, 8 of which have been at senior management levels.
 
She is an economics researcher, policy analyst and programme manager rooted in economics, poverty and public policy research.
 
She holds two Masters Degrees in Public Policy with the University of Cape Town, as well as an MA in Poverty and Development with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.
 
In terms of section 196(7) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 the President appoints fourteen (14) commissioners to the Public Service Commission comprising five national commissioners and one commissioner for each province.
 
In terms of section 5(1) of the Public Service Commission Act, 1997, the President shall designate one Commissioner as Chairperson and another as Deputy Chairperson of the Public Service Commission.
 
President Ramaphosa wishes Prof Fikeni and Ms Mqolomba well in leading the Commission in its critical mission of contributing to the development of an efficient, ethical and capable Public Service.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has enacted legal provisions directed at improving the capacity and ethical standards of local government through, among others, the way senior appointments are made and by preventing high-ranking officials from holding political office in political parties.

The law also enables municipalities to conduct recruitment searches nationally, in order to widen the pool of talent they can attract.

The President has assented to the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill of 2022, as part of building the capacity of the state at the level of government that has the most immediate impact on the way communities live.

The new legislation is an important element of turning around the performance of local government, preventing the abuse of public resources and stamping out the sheltering of officials who move from municipality to municipality following wrongdoing.

Among its far-reaching interventions, the new legislation provides for the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to make regulations relating to the duties, remuneration, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment of municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers.

The law requires that a vacant post of municipal manager be advertised nationally to attract as wide as possible a pool of candidates. A person may be selected for appointment as municipal manager only from this pool of candidates.

If the pool of candidates is insufficient, the municipal council may re-advertise the post. Provision is, however, made for the Minister to exempt a municipal council from these strict appointment requirements if the municipal council is unable to attract a suitable candidate, which may happen especially in the rural areas.

The legislative amendments bar municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers from holding political office in political parties.

Political office refers to the position of chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary or treasurer of a political party nationally or in any province, region or other area in which the party operates. Other political rights of senior managers are unaffected by the amendment and they remain entitled to enjoy and exercise these rights freely.

In a different area, the law now directs that any staff member of any municipality who has been dismissed for misconduct may only be re-employed in any municipality after the expiry of a prescribed period.

A staff member dismissed for financial misconduct contemplated in the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), corruption or fraud, may not be re-employed for a period of five years.

Municipalities are now required to maintain a record regarding the disciplinary proceedings of staff members dismissed for misconduct and forward it to the provincial Member of the Executive Council for local government, who must forward it to the Minister to keep and make available to municipalities as prescribed.

President Ramaphosa has expressed his appreciation to the significant numbers of stakeholders, including individuals, who participated in the public consultation process on this legislation.

The President said: “The amendments passed by Parliament show that the concerns of communities have been heard and been acted upon.

“A capable, ethical state requires a strong foundation at local level, and the new law will go a long way to building communities’ confidence in local government and enabling stronger partnerships and cooperation between municipalities and the communities they serve.”


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of struggle veteran and pioneering trade unionist, Rita Alice Ndzanga.

Ms Ndzanga passed away on Wednesday, 17 August 2022, at the age of 88.

She was an Esteemed Member of the National Order of Luthuli, who was honoured in 2004 for her lifetime contribution to the struggle for workers’ rights and to the realisation of a non-racial, non-sexist, free and democratic South Africa.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the family, friends and comrades of the late veteran who was subjected to detention and banning as a result her activism against apartheid.

Born in Ventersdorp in 1933, the young Ms Ndzanga became a labour organiser in male-dominated industrial sectors and played a role in the formation of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.

President Ramaphosa said: “Our nation and especially our progressive movements and organised labour, will remember and continue to honour Mama Rita Ndzanga for dedicating the many decades of her life to advancing the fundamental rights of all South Africans.

“As a young woman who witnessed the birth of apartheid and its ravages over time, Rita Ndzanga took a stand that endangered her own freedom and security so that all of us could be free and secure today.

“The death in detention of her husband, Lawrence, was among the many profound sacrifices forced on Mama Rita during her life of struggle in which she put the interests and comfort of others first.

“Her service to workers on the factory floor and her contribution as a Member of Parliament are part of a legacy we can and should respect while this stalwart rests in peace.”


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria