President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded a constructive meeting with the Mpumalanga provincial executive.

This was a 3rd session between the National Executive and a provincial executive council following meetings with the provincial leadership of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
 
Over the next year the National Executive is planning to meet with the leadership of all other provinces. The meeting acknowledged the great potential that exists in Mpumalanga that can be harnessed to resolve the many challenges facing the province. Therefore, inclusive economic growth and job creation must therefore be at the forefront of the efforts of government and all social partners.

The President welcomed the detailed approach applied by the provincial leadership on areas that are focused on economic growth and job creation. 

The meeting welcomed the province’s articulated vision on future catalytic projects that will inject more growth opportunities in Mpumalanga. 

President Ramaphosa encouraged the province to explore project funding mechanisms that are not wholly dependent on the national fiscus. 

Relevant state agencies will work closely with the province in the packaging of catalytic projects for private sector partnership and funding. 

The meeting agreed on further enhancing inter-governmental cooperation in addressing pressing issues in the provision of basic services such as water and sanitation and electricity. 

President Ramaphosa applauded the Mpumalanga province for its investments into social infrastructure such as boarding schools and hospitals. 
 
For media enquiries: 
Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President 
media@presidency.gov.za 
Zothile Ngoma, Spokesperson to the Premier of Mpumalanga
063 722 1676

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

I would like to thank the leadership of the Provincial Government for making themselves available for this meeting with members of the National Executive. 

This is our third engagement, as the National Executive, with a Provincial Executive Council. We have previously met with the provincial leadership of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

Over the next few months we plan to meet with the leadership of all other provinces.

Cooperative governance is mandated by our Constitution. 

There is an obligation on all spheres of Government to cooperate, collaborate and consult on matters of common interest.

At the same time, it is important to respect the scope of the respective powers and functions of each sphere.

Our experience over the last 30 years of democracy is that economic and social development requires greater integration of the work of national, provincial and local government.

It is for this reason that we launched the District Development Model in 2019.

We no longer wanted programmes and projects to be conceptualised far from the realities and conditions on the ground.

We no longer wanted to work in silos.

We agreed that we needed to get closer together as the different components and spheres of Government. 

We needed to plan together, to budget together and to implement together.

In support of the District Development Model, there needs to be open channels of communication between provincial authorities and their counterparts at national government. 

It is our expectation that this meeting will set in motion a more structured and regular form of cooperation between the national and provincial executives. 

We come to Mpumalanga excited by the great potential that exists in this Province.

We know that the Province faces many challenges.

The unemployment rate in Mpumalanga is higher the national average. And we know that nearly a half of all young people are unemployed.

More than half the population live below the lower bound poverty line.

For Mpumalanga, inclusive economic growth and job creation must therefore be at the forefront of the efforts of Government and all social partners.

Like other provinces, Mpumalanga needs to grow faster and the benefits of growth need to reach more of its people.

Fortunately, this Province has many advantages that it can use to drive growth and development.

Mpumalanga is literally South Africa’s powerhouse.

Most of the country’s electricity comes from here, fuelled by the abundant coal reserves in this province.

Mpumalanga will therefore continue to be vital to the social and economic development of the country for many years to come.

For this reason, the province will also be at the centre of the just transition to a low-carbon economy.

This presents both challenges and opportunities.

We need to ensure that this transition does not damage livelihoods in the Province.

Rather we must plan and invest in the new technologies, industries and skills that are needed to expand job opportunities and build thriving communities.

This is a fertile province, which has the ability to sustain a wide variety of agricultural activities.

Mpumalanga is a province of natural splendour. It has long been a destination for visitors from across South Africa and across the world.

We are encouraged by the determination of the Province to invest in infrastructure.

This infrastructure is necessary for economic development, whether it is through improving the roads on which mining materials are carried, or the facilities for the marketing of agricultural production, or upgrading tourist sites.

This infrastructure is also important for improving the daily lives of the citizens of the Province, from bulk water infrastructure to hospitals, clinics and schools.

This aligns with the National Government’s focus on a massive infrastructure investment. 

It is vital that we build linkages between the Province and entities like Infrastructure South Africa and the Infrastructure Fund.

Our efforts must be coordinated and integrated. 

In my meetings with other provinces, I have said that one of the aims of this new collaborative approach must be aligning efforts that leverage the respective comparative advantages of the provinces. 

Different provinces have different resources and capabilities.

As a country, we must ensure that these are developed and that they work to complement each other.

I am accompanied today by several Ministers and Deputy Ministers. 

It is their responsibility to work with the Province to build its economy and meet the needs of its people.

We look forward to the presentation from the Province and to taking forward the practical actions that will arise from this meeting.

I thank you.

At the invitation of the South Africa-China Economic Trade and Association (SACETA), Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, attend and address the Launch Ceremony of Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Chinese Funded Enterprises in South Africa, scheduled to take place at the China Construction Bank in Sandton, Gauteng.

SACETA was established in April 2011 and serves as a vital platform for fostering economic and trade collaboration between China and South Africa. It represents 200 Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa and is guided by the principles of Shared Future and Joint Pursuit.

Through their collective efforts, SACETA members have made significant contributions to South Africa’s economic growth and social development. In this regard, SACETA will launch the Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Chinese-funded Enterprises in South Africa, 2024 report. 

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

Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Time: 11h00
Venue: China Construction Bank, 95 Grayston Drive, Morningside, Sandton

Members of the media are requested to RSVP to Ms Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 10 December 2024, lead a meeting with the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive.

The meeting will be the third engagement between the national and provincial cabinets following  meetings  with the provincial governments of KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo province respectively. 
 
The President will meet with the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu and the Provincial Government Executive.

The President will address the opening of the engagement, following that the media is expected to take leave. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior government officials. 

The meeting with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Executive is part of a series of engagements between the President and provinces aimed at enhancing intergovernmental coordination and improve service delivery in line with the priorities of the 7th Administration.

The Provincial Executive will present to the President its 5-year program in alignment with the priorities of the 7th Administration. 

The meeting will also discuss various approaches to service delivery issues including interventions to improve service delivery at local government level.

The meeting will take place as follows: 
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2024 
Time: 10:00 (media to arrive from 08:00) 
Venue:  Nkangala District Council Chambers, Middleburg, Mpumalanga Province 

Media accreditation for the opening of the engagement with Cabinet and Mpumalanga Executive Council can be collected at the Banquet Hall next to the Council Chambers from Phumla Mokoena – Office of the Premier of Mpumalanga on 060 998 8781

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, and Wednesday, 11 December 2024, undertake a visit to Mpumalanga where he will meet with the Provincial Executive Committee, and undertake the second phase of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Handover.

President Ramaphosa will commence his Mpumalanga visit on Tuesday, 10 December 2024 with a meeting with the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive.

The meeting will be the third engagement between the national and provincial cabinets following the recent second session with the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal.
 
The President will meet with the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu and the Provincial Government Executive.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and will deliver an opening address at the meeting.  

The meeting with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government’s Executive part of a series of engagements between the President and provinces aimed at enhancing intergovernmental coordination and improve service delivery in line with the priorities of the 7th Administration.

The Provincial Executive will present to the President its 5-year program aligned to the priorities of the 7th Administration. 

The meeting will also discuss various approaches to service delivery issues including interventions to improve service delivery at local government level.

Following his engagement with the Provincial Executive, President Ramaphosa will undertake the second phase of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Handover in Mpumalanga Province.

The handover ceremony will afford the President an opportunity to directly witness the work that has been done since the pronouncements made in the 2023 State of the Nation address.

President Ramaphosa indicated at the time that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure working together with the South African Defence Force would build 96 bridges in the financial year 2023/2024.

Derived from the Nguni word meaning "to assist the nation in crossing over," Welisizwe was a strategic Integrated Project (SIP) prioritised by the Sixth Administration.

Collaborative efforts between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the Department of Defence have already commenced implementation in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West.

The Welisizwe bridges are a key investment in community Infrastructure and are giving people dignity, access to opportunities for education and work.

In areas where Welisizwe bridges are constructed the socio-economic conditions in our communities are improving and barriers for communities to get where they need to get safely are eliminated.

These bridges are essential in addressing the challenges faced by citizens and children who previously navigated perilous rivers to access schools and essential social services.

Details of the President’s engagements are as follows:

MEETING WITH PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2024 
Time: 10h00
Venue: Nkangala District Municipality, Middleburg, Mpumalanga Province
 
WELISIZWE RURAL BRIDGES HANDOVER
Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Time: 09h00
Venue: Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Honourable Les Govender
Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders and Patron of the National Men's Parliament, Nnkosi Langa Mavuso,  
Deputy Ministers Ganief Hendricks;
Traditional, Religious and Business Leaders Present;
Organised Labour;
Former SANDF General and Patron of the Men's Parliament, General Monwabisi Jamangile;
Patron of the Men's Parliaments, His Royal Highness Prince Nhlanganiso Zulu Ka Zwelithini;
Leaders of the SANAC Men's Sector, led by Mr. Beau Nkaelang;
Developmental Partners, especially PEPFAR South Africa and South African AIDS Conference (SAAIDS); 
Members of the Media; 
Ladies and Gentlemen,  
 
Molweni, Goeie more, Avuxeni, Thobela, Ndaa! 
 
Compatriots, it is once again an honour to join you at this National Men's Parliament. Last year, we gathered on November 19, to kick off the Programme of Action, to tackle violence against women and children. 
 
We are convening this meeting following International Men's Day, World AIDS Day, and 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. I hope all of you participating in this Men’s Parliament were involved in activities in your respective areas as engaged and responsible men.

Compatriots, we remain committed to supporting all initiatives put forward by men's organisations to mitigate the impact of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
 
Cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide are reported daily, including instances of young girls aged between 15-24 years who have tested HIV positive, while young boys of the same age are HIV negative. This raises a question: Who infects these young girls? As we gather as men today, let us also reflect on this issue and determine to deal with it decisively. 
 
This Men's Parliament should be a meaningful platform for men to engage in conversations and reflect on their mindsets, ultimately becoming good role models in our communities.
 
Compatriots, we also encourage continued partnership with the Department of Basic Education and Department of Health to ensure that boys are capacitated and supported. We know that some of our boys are already in initiation schools, and we trust that the requisite health screenings and preventative measures have been taken to maximise the safety and protection of our children. 
 
I welcome the newly elected SANAC Men's Sector leadership and challenge you and the National Men's Forum to prepare a detailed report on the work accomplished since the last International Men's Day. This report should be in line with the upcoming launch of another Programme of Action and a Men's Charter in the coming months.  
 
Compatriots, on July 19, 2024, you appointed me as your Patron, alongside General Monwabisi Jamangile, Mr. Solly Nduku, Nkosi Langa Mavuso, Mr. Lechesa Tsenoli, and Prince Nhlanganiso Zulu-Ka Zwelithini. Today, we welcomed Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike and Hon. Les Govender. 
 
We agree that all resolutions from our consultations must be implemented, including that of appointing Premiers as Patrons, like how the KwaZulu-Natal Men's Sector designated Honourable Premier Ntuli as the Patron of the KZN Men's Parliament.
 
Your recent initiative to unify all men's formations during the national men's lekgotla is commendable. With this work, society will take us seriously if we continue to work cohesively and not in silos. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the SANAC Men's Sector and National Men's Forum South Africa must be translated into actionable frameworks at provincial and district levels to streamline men's responses. 
 
As the Government, we understand your need for resources, a topic we discussed at length last year November in Ha-Masia Village, Collins Chabane Local Municipality in Limpopo.
 
Compatriots and fellow delegates and developmental partners will readily engage with your member organisations, especially if compliance and accountability are prioritised. The Deputy Minister of Social Development has expressed frustration over non-compliance among some groups. The Department of Social Development has previously supported your work through SANAC to ensure it is well-coordinated. To receive continued support, the Men’s Sector organisations must ensure that all their records are up to date and that they comply with the requirements set by partners. 
 
We must join forces to bolster campaigns and networks aimed at combating violence against children. As a nation, we all bear witness to the unacceptable violence against children and must unite to protect our future generations — both boy children and girl children alike.
 
Programme Directors,
 
These gatherings are a prime example of how you can mobilise community support. When you first envisioned the National Men's Parliament under the “Takuwani Riime” banner, you had a modest budget of R38, 000. The involvement of the former Deputy President and our current president at your launch at Constitution Hill amplified the initiative's visibility.
 
It pleases me that Deputy Minister Steve Letsike is ensuring that men with disabilities and those from the LGBTQIA+ community are included in this dialogue.
 
 
Compatriots, we have agreed on the objectives for this session, which are the following:
 
● To create a comprehensive social compact that unites all social partners in a collective program of action focused on intensifying the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide while simultaneously launching the Men's Health Programme of Action in partnership with PEPFAR and SANAC's Civil Society Forum.
● To engage stakeholders who interact directly or indirectly with men through formal and informal structures. These stakeholders were identified during the recent Accelerator II meeting, co-chaired by the Minister of Health and PEPFAR Ambassador Nkengasong on October 3, 2024. They include traditional and religious leaders, the transport industry, government departments, and youth movements.
 
As we are gathered here today, we are also endorsing a campaign called "BETTER MAN 4 TOMORROW" aimed at bringing men back to care in partnership with the Minister of Health, SANAC Civil Society, and the men's formations at all levels. 
 
I am happy that yesterday, during your deliberations at this Men’s Parliament, you did endorse this campaign fully, following its launch in Mdantsane, East London on World AIDS Day last week Sunday.
 
Compatriots,

We urge you to continue your existing campaigns, such as the #NoExcuse campaign, Men Campaigning for Change, Boys Assemblies, Sukuma ndoda Sakhe, Act Now Against GBV, and the National Men's Walk. You should also not lose sight of the work of the “Takuwani Riime” initiative to ensure that we continue mobilising men and boys beyond SANAC and government structures. 
 
Although efforts in this sector are at the foundational stages, we should not undermine the progress that is being made in communities, schools and workplaces. We still have a long way to go until we see a violent free South Africa, but standing together, hand in hand, such a future is possible!

Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, this event must always take place under your leadership, as the NCOP. Since we initiated this program in 2018 through the Deputy President's office, the NCOP has played a vital role in ensuring consistency and focus. The Men's Charter is scheduled to be launched in June 2025, and the Women's Caucus can assist our men's sector and structures in finalising the charter. Over the years we have seen the influence of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament, and we want to see this also among the men. 
 
With the launch of the Men’s Charter, we must ensure that it is easily accessible and displayed in municipal buildings, police stations, government facilities, correctional centres, and NGO offices. This must be done to enforce the framework for values and social norms approach to addressing gender inequality and its interface with social justice, education, the economy, social services, family and civic life, culture, religion and the violence epidemic in South Africa. 
    
We need to unite men and boys across this country. 
 
As you organized the National Men's Walk in Gauteng and other regions, including Khayelitsha, we saw men committed to making a difference and ready to work towards ending the scourge of HIV by 2030. On Sunday in East London, hundreds of men stood side by side and raised their hands to play a part in achieving the 95-95-95 targets and paving the way for an HIV-free future in South Africa. We must reaffirm this position and make it our priority! 
 
Compatriots and fellow delegates,
 
Some of the work that we continue to do in the sector can not be possible without the support of our partners. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Cape Town for their support in hosting this event, the NCOP for their technical support, NACOSA and AFSA for helping assemble the sitting, and SAfAIDS for organising the stakeholder engagement last night. 
 
Thank you also to Show Me Your Number, and PEPFAR for their contributions to the BETTER MAN 4 TOMORROW initiative. The data provided by the Minister of Health will help identify the men who need to be brought back to care and link that information with your framework so that you are better focused on the deliverables, particularly, the implementation of your Programme of Action.
 
We are also happy to see the different sectors of SANAC collaborating and working together for a common good. Well done also to Comrade Mawethu Zitha, who has ensured that Better Man 4 Tomorrow is inclusive and leaves no one behind.
 
It is essential to keep the National Men's Forum of South Africa and the SANAC Men's Sector United in order for us to implement our programmes successfully.  We can not afford to have a fragmented national men’s movement! 
 
I look forward to hearing from the leadership about the strides made in the men’s movement thus far in the next meeting that I will have with you. We must be committed and strengthen our efforts in dealing with the scourge of violence in our communities. We must do this as a significant step to protecting future generations and breaking the cycles of trauma and violence that have characterised our society for decades. 
 
To borrow from the words of the father of our nation, President Nelson Mandela, “To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
 
As the men of South Africa, let us therefore be committed to the freedom of all women, children, People with Disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and all vulnerable groups. Let us rally other men towards this cause of gender equality, social justice, and freedom for all. May we persevere on this path towards becoming ‘BETTER MAN 4 TOMORROW’!
 
Thank you, Na Khensa, Ke a Leboga, Baie Dankie!
 

Speaker of the National Assembly 
Speaker of the Senate
Members of parliament 
Ministers 
Ambassadors  
Honourable Brahim Boughali, President of the Algerian People’s National Assembly,
Honourable Members,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good Evening.
 
It is an honour to be here in the Parliament of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
 
My delegation and I have been received with great warmth and kindness in Algeria, a country with which we have a deep fraternal bond.
 
Algeria’s war for independence greatly inspired our liberation struggle in South Africa.
 
In 1962, in his first speech as leader of a free Algeria, President Ahmed Ben Bella declared that Algeria had a duty to support anti-colonial struggles across Africa. 
 
On another occasion, President Ben Bella said:
 
“We have no right to think of eating better when people fall in Angola, Mozambique, in South Africa. But we have a ransom to pay. We must accept to die together so that African unity does not become a vain word.” 
 
Algeria made good on this promise to the people of Africa and to the people of South Africa.
 
We recall that Algeria gave refuge and military training to our freedom fighters.
 
We recall that in the early 1960s, the father of our democracy, Nelson Mandela, visited bases of the Algerian National Liberation Front as the ANC was setting up its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 
In 1963, the African National Congress became one of the first national liberation movements to set up its international bureau in Algiers.
 
Under the leadership of President Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria lobbied against apartheid on the world stage and for the racist regime to be isolated. 
 
This great wave of human solidarity in which our brothers and sisters in Algeria took part contributed to the downfall of apartheid and to the achievement of our democracy.
 
When President Mandela was released from prison in 1990, Algeria was one of the first countries he visited. 
 
We remember the famous words he spoke on his arrival: 
 
“The Algerian army made me a man.”
 
We remember this history as a constant reminder of the bravery and sacrifices of those who came before us.
 
We who have inherited the torch of freedom have a responsibility to ensure that it continues to burn brightly. 
 
We must wield the torch of freedom to banish forever the darkness of oppression and injustice.
 
We must ensure that this torch illuminates the path of African progress and unity for the generations yet to come. 
 
Algeria’s contribution to South Africa’s liberation is engraved in history. 
 
We owe the noble people of Algeria a great debt. 
 
As South Africa, we are committed to deepening our fraternal ties with the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. 
 
Through the Bi-National Commission, we aspire to strengthen our trade, investment and people-to-people relations for mutual benefit.
 
Yesterday, we held a Business Forum.
 
It was greatly encouraging to see the interest by South African and Algerian businesses in expanding ties.
 
There are promising signs that bilateral trade and investment between our two countries is growing. 
 
We seek greater cooperation in areas such oil and gas, green hydrogen, agriculture, aviation, renewable energy and other key sectors.
 
We seek to use the abundance of natural resources in our two countries to benefit our people.
 
To share our knowledge and expertise.
 
To benefit from each other’s strengths and capabilities.
 
We are determined to create more favourable business and investment conditions in South Africa and Algeria to enable our respective companies to flourish.
 
We are committed to sustaining the momentum of the African Continental Free Trade Area as part of realising the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
 
As nations, we know too well the pain of having our lands colonised and our people oppressed.
 
South Africa and Algeria stand firm in our support for the Palestinian people’s quest for self-determination.
 
Israel’s barbaric war on the people of Gaza must end. 
 
The killing of women, children and non-combatants; the bombardment of homes, schools and hospitals; and the denial of humanitarian aid is a stain on the conscience of the world.
 
We cannot turn a blind eye to this injustice. 
 
We have a responsibility to stop this genocide. 
 
Israel must be held accountable for its crimes against the people of Gaza. 
 
Algeria and South Africa need to stand firm in our commitment to the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.
 
We applaud Algeria for its unwavering support for the struggle of the people of Western Sahara to determine their own future.
 
We must remind the international community of its responsibility to the people of Western Sahara.
 
International law must be upheld.
 
The values of the United Nations Charter must be respected.
 
We need to build a new world order founded on justice, fairness and inclusivity.
 
South Africa reiterates its call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative and accountable. 
 
As South Africa and Algeria, we must stand together in our call for the transformation of the systems of global governance.
 
They need to serve the interests of all countries and all peoples.
 
We must lend our full support to vulnerable and marginalised people everywhere.
 
We need to stand up for the innocent civilians who find themselves engulfed in war and conflict.
 
As an international community, as Africans, we need to do everything within our means to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution of these conflicts.
 
We must unite as Africans to accelerate the pace of social and economic development, as we strive to attain the United Nations  Sustainable Development Goals and our own continent's agenda 2063.
 
It is our great desire that the South African and Algerian Parliaments should deepen their collaboration. 
 
We have much to learn from each other. 
 
There is much we have in common.
 
We have common histories, common interests, common values and a shared vision for continental unity and cooperation.
 
Algeria and South Africa are on opposite ends of the African continent.
 
Yet, we are brought together by a shared struggle.
 
Let us continue to work together to build the Africa of which we all dream.
 
Let us build the future that our people all want and all deserve.
 
I thank you.
 

Your Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 
President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria,
Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have just concluded a successful 7th session of the Bi-National Commission between the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Republic of South Africa.

President Tebboune and I were extremely satisfied with the detailed report that was presented on progress in the key areas of cooperation between Algeria and South Africa. 

We see this Bi-National Commission as a mechanism to expand trade and investment ties between our two countries. 

While there is currently a healthy volume of bilateral trade, we agreed that this should be far higher. 

With preferential trading now having commenced under the African Continental Free Trade Area, there is even greater opportunity to deepen intra-African trade and strengthen economic linkages between major African economies.

We have a shared conviction that deepening our bilateral relationship should serve the cause of African economic integration, shared prosperity, stability and peace. 

An Algeria-South Africa Business Forum took place yesterday.

It will be an important opportunity for Algerian and South African businesses to explore synergies and plan projects. 

South Africa has a sizeable business delegation spanning a range of economic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, automotive, construction and mining. 

We also have representatives from our Industrial Development Corporation who are here to pursue investment leads the corporation could potentially fund. 

President Tebboune and I agreed that potential exists for cooperation on low-carbon economic growth in areas such as renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. 

South Africa and Algeria have respective comparative advantages that can be harnessed for mutual benefit. 

This Bi-National Commission is taking place at a time of rising geopolitical tension, conflict and disregard for international law. 

I appraised President Tebboune on South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice to hold the State of Israel accountable for its crimes against the people of Gaza. 

South Africa reiterates its call for a cessation of hostilities, for the release of all hostages, and for the suffering population of Gaza to receive the humanitarian aid they so desperately need.

South Africa and Algeria agree that the only lasting solution to this conflict is the realisation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

As countries that have known the pain of occupation and dispossession, we stand in solidarity with the oppressed everywhere, including in Palestine and Western Sahara.

This year, South Africa marks thirty years since the achievement of our democracy.

We once more thank the noble people of Algeria for standing with us in our struggle for liberation. 

From our discussions today, we are certain that this Bi-National Commission will continue to deepen collaboration, trade, investment and people-to-people exchange between South Africa and Algeria.

I thank you.
 

Your Excellency, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,
Honourable Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Officials,

This 7th Session of the Bi-National Commission between our two countries has been most productive. 

It has set our partnership on a promising trajectory. 

Our task now is to ensure the effective implementation of the key decisions we have made here. 

It is important that Ministerial Review sessions take place between our BNC sessions.

South Africa and Algeria have a common vision for a better Africa. 

Africa is a continent on the move. 

Our progress is being driven by the abundance of resources, the innovation and resolve of our people and the rich diversity of our cultures.

We agreed that more work needs to be done to maximise the opportunities and possibilities both our countries present. 

It is important for our officials to accelerate the technical work needed to finalise Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding that are important for deepening cooperation. 

One of the key observations we have made is that there should be an immediate focus on increasing investment and trade relations between our countries. 

We agreed that private sector collaboration and cooperation between our state-owned enterprises are critical for stronger economic ties. 

Expanded economic, scientific, educational, cultural, and people-to-people cooperation will support our efforts to address challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. 

It is important for South Africa and Algeria to continue playing a significant role in promoting a peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous Africa. 

We should be working together with other countries to promote principles and actions that enhance peaceful relations among nations.

I thank the technical experts for their hard work during the past few days under the leadership of the two co-chairs of the Ministerial meeting. 

In conclusion, Your Excellency, on behalf of myself and my delegation, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for inviting and hosting us in the historic and beautiful capital of Algiers. 

Our engagements have allowed us to chart a path forward and to consolidate and strengthen relations between our countries. 

I look forward to hosting you in South Africa for the 8th Session of the Bi-National Commission between our two great countries.

I thank you.

Your Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 
President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria,
Honourable Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Senior Officials,
Members of the Media,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my privilege to address this 7th Session of the Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. 

South Africa commends Algeria for holding successful Presidential elections on the 7th of September 2024. We congratulate you on your re-election.

Thank you for the warm welcome extended to our delegation. 

It affirms the deep and lasting fraternal bonds between our two countries that were forged in the trenches of struggle.

This year marks 30 years since the achievement of democracy in South Africa. 

It is an occasion to pay tribute to the many countries that supported our struggle for freedom from the bondage of apartheid. 

The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria was foremost among those countries. 

We owe the people of Algeria a great debt.

We may have achieved our liberation, but the task of development continues. 

The Bi-National Commission between South Africa and Algeria is an opportunity to engage meaningfully on the issues affecting our respective countries and our continent.

We share a common conviction that deepening our bilateral relationship should serve the cause of African economic integration, shared prosperity, stability and peace.

It is of paramount importance that we strengthen the capacity of the African Union and that we operationalise AU instruments such as the African Court of Justice, the African Court on Human and People’s Rights and the AU financial institutions.

Bilateral relations between the Republic of South Africa and Algeria have grown exponentially since the establishment of the Ministerial Joint Bi-National Commission of Cooperation in 1998.

This was elevated to a Bi-National Commission in 2000, signifying the strategic nature of the bilateral relations that exist between our two countries.

This Bi-National Commission covers a range of areas of cooperation.

These areas include investment and trade, agriculture, water resource management and information technology.

The areas of cooperation also include tourism and people-to-people exchange.

This BNC attests to the great potential that exists for even further cooperation.

Bilateral investment and trade between our two countries needs to be expanded. 

Currently South Africa imports mainly chemicals, mineral fuels, ceramic products and machinery from Algeria.

South Africa’s top exports to Algeria include prepared foodstuffs, fresh produce, machinery and base metals.

We need to be harnessing the comparative advantages of South Africa and Algeria to deepen investment and trade. 

For example, Algeria is one of Africa’s top oil and natural gas producers.

South Africa, with its vast platinum reserves, is positioning itself to be at the forefront of green hydrogen economy.

Opportunities exist to deepen bilateral trade and investment in agriculture and agro-processing, aviation, automotive, mining and financial services, among others. 

The investment climate is ripe for cooperation on infrastructure development.

We should prioritise our respective state-owned companies and businesses to support each other’s infrastructure programmes.

We should not need to source materials, products and expertise from outside the continent.

We must take advantage of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

In January this year, South Africa commenced preferential trade under the AfCFTA.

We look forward to more countries on the continent operating under the Agreement, including Algeria. 

We are committed to work with Algeria in this regard.

As we work to develop our countries and continent, we cannot be complacent about climate change. 

Extreme weather caused by climate change – whether in the form of floods, heatwaves or severe drought – has profound social, economic and political implications.

Like Algeria, South Africa is already a water-stressed country. 

The effects of climate change provide a compelling case to further explore cooperation in water resource management.

With the countries of the world having committed themselves to low-carbon, climate resilient development, opportunities exist to collaborate in the renewable and cleaner energy space. 

We look forward to the Business Forum that will take place on the sidelines of the Bi-National Commission as an important opportunity for South African and Algerian companies to connect and explore avenues for collaboration. 

We meet at a time when the state of global peace, stability and security is extremely fragile.

In many parts of the world, we are witnessing the rise of unilateralism, impunity and disregard for international law, which runs contrary to the aspirations of the UN Charter.

This is undermining the spirit of multilateralism that must be at the centre of global affairs.

South Africa is deeply concerned at the worsening situation in the Middle East.

Israel’s war on the people of Gaza continues unabated. 

We repeat our call for a cessation of hostilities, for the remaining hostages to be freed, and for humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian people.

As we have consistently reiterated, there can be no peace without justice.

The only lasting solution to this terrible conflict is for the Palestinian people’s right to statehood to be realised. 

It is our responsibility as the international community to support all efforts towards this objective.

South Africa remains equally concerned by the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco. 

It is the right of the people of Western Sahara to determine their own destiny. 

The United Nations and the African Union must fast-track the process to resolve this matter in line with the provisions of the 1991 Ceasefire Agreement, UN resolutions and the legal opinion of international and continental institutions.

As a country that won our freedom through dialogue and negotiation, we reiterate our commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflict and to peacebuilding efforts in Africa, whether in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Sudan or Mozambique.

Beyond the tragic humanitarian toll, these conflicts threaten to derail the achievement of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and, with it, peace and development for the continent.

We reiterate our call for the institutions of global governance, particularly the UN Security Council, to be reformed and transformed so that they are more representative and reflect global realities. 

As the Global South, we must remain united and speak with one voice.

A few days ago, South Africa assumed the Presidency of the G20. 

We will use our Presidency to advance the African agenda and to champion the needs and interests of the Global South.

We look forward to welcoming you to the first G20 Summit on African soil.

In conclusion, it is greatly encouraging to witness the strong bilateral relations between our two countries. 

We look forward to further deepening our collaboration.

I thank you.