President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 06 September 2026, join the families and colleagues of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty at the annual South African Police Service (SAPS) Commemoration Day.

The solemn event will take place at the SAPS Memorial Site at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the nation will honour and remember members of the SAPS who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the people of South Africa.

This year’s commemoration pays tribute to 12 SAPS members who lost their lives in the line of duty during the 12-month period from 01 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Members of the media wishing to attend the event are requested to submit their credentials by 14h00 on Friday, 04 September 2026 to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe (SAPS) on 082 040 8808 or Khutjo Sebata (Presidency) on 079 898 4621.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Sunday, 06 September 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: SAPS Memorial Site, Union Buildings, Pretoria

Broadcast media: All broadcast media houses are requested to arrive by 05:30 to allow for the necessary security sweeping and preparations.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the media are advised that drones will not be permitted for the duration of the programme.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za / Major General Nonkululeko Phokane, SAPS Head of Communications - 083 645 6252

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Leonard Gaoretelelwe Lekgetho as head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) with effect from tomorrow, Tuesday, 1 September 2026.

President Ramaphosa has made this appointment in terms of section 3(1)(a) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996 (SIU Act),

Mr Lekgetho succeeds Adv Andy Mothibi who exited his position as Head of the SIU on Feburary 1 to become the National Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Lekgetho was subsequently appointed to act as head of the SIU. He has now been appointed as permanent Head to secure the stability of the Unit and its ongoing impact in the fight against crime.

The Special Investigating Unit is an independent statutory body established in terms of the SIU Act.

The primary mandate of the SIU is to investigate serious allegations of corruption, malpractice and maladministration in the administration of State institutions, State assets and public money as well as any conduct which may seriously harm the interests of the public, and to recover any financial losses suffered by State institutions through civil ligation.

The SIU is empowered to take civil action to correct any wrongdoing it uncovers in its investigations.

Mr Lekgetho's experience spans 19 years from 2007 to the present in the SIU, during which he served in diverse portfolios, from investigation to his current portfolio of Chief Operations Officer. He also served as an investigator in the former Directorate of Special Operations.

The new Head of the SIU holds degrees in law, education and science; a diploma in forensic auditing and a post-graduate diploma in cyber law.

President Ramaphosa wishes Mr Lekgetho and the leadership and staff of the SIU well as Mr Lekgetho assumes leadership of an agency that is a critical component of the criminal justice architecture against crime and corruption.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director, 
Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane, 
Mr Enrico Brandt, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, 
Dr Oliver Blume, Chief Executive Officer of the Volkswagen Group, 
Mr Thomas Schäfer, Global CEO of the Volkswagen Brand, 
Ms Martina Mamtshawe Biene and the Volkswagen Group Africa Board, 
Representatives of labour, 
Representatives of business, 
Volkswagen employees and members of the supplier community, 
Distinguished guests, 
Ladies and gentlemen, 
 
Good evening. 
 
It is a great pleasure to be here in Kariega as we celebrate 75 years of Volkswagen manufacturing in South Africa. 
 
Like me, many South Africans carry memories of the place of Volkswagen cars in their lives. 
 
This brand is so woven into our culture that we sometimes have to remind ourselves that VW is not a South African vehicle. 
 
As Volkswagen itself says: it is a German brand, with a South African heart.
 
On the 31st of August 1951, the first Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line in what was then Uitenhage. 
 
That moment marked the beginning of what would become the largest German investment in Southern Africa.
 
This plant is the oldest Volkswagen manufacturing facility outside Europe. 
 
It is today the only plant in the world that manufactures the Volkswagen Polo, and the sole exporter of the Polo to Europe and the Asia‑Pacific. 
 
Every Polo you see outside South Africa was built right here.
 
Close to five million vehicles have been built here – the Beetle, the Kombi, the Golf, the Jetta, the Citi Golf, the Polo and the Polo Vivo.
 
These vehicles have been built for South Africa and for the world.
 
This is a remarkable achievement. 
 
Volkswagen has never been content simply to do business in South Africa. 
 
It has sought to become part of the fabric of our nation.
 
At the height of apartheid, when it was neither easy nor popular to do so, Volkswagen was the first company in this industry to recognise black trade unions and to employ black artisans.
 
Tonight we celebrate this proud history. 
 
We celebrate generations of Volkswagen employees who have built this company. 
 
We celebrate the suppliers, dealers, organised labour and communities that have been part of this journey. 
 
And we celebrate the contribution that Volkswagen has made to Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape and the South African economy. 
 
Tonight is about honouring the past, celebrating today and driving tomorrow. 
 
It is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the last 75 years and to look to the future. 
 
The automotive sector is one of the largest manufacturing industries in our country. 
 
It supports more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than half a million jobs across the automotive value chain. 
 
The industry accounts for just over 5 percent of our gross domestic product and reaches 155 export destinations.
 
Vehicles manufactured by our plants reach markets across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Africa and many other parts of the world. 
 
The automotive industry is therefore vital to our efforts to grow the economy, expand exports, attract investment and create jobs. 
 
Volkswagen has been an integral part of this journey. 
 
Last year, more than 156,000 vehicles were produced here in Kariega. 
 
Almost 120,000 of these vehicles were exported to markets around the world. 
 
Volkswagen works with an extensive network of South African suppliers. 
 
Through these operations, thousands of South Africans earn their livelihoods, acquire skills and participate in one of our country's most important manufacturing value chains. 
 
Volkswagen's presence in South Africa demonstrates what can be achieved through long-term investment, industrial capability and partnership. 
 
We are greatly encouraged by Volkswagen's continued investment in our country. 
 
We particularly welcome the R4 billion investment associated with the introduction of the new Volkswagen Tengo. 
 
The Tengo will become the third model manufactured here in Kariega, alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo. 
 
It is a vote of confidence in our workers. 
 
It is a vote of confidence in our manufacturing capability. 
 
And it is a vote of confidence in South Africa as an investment destination. 
 
We do not take this investment for granted.
 
In an intensely competitive environment, South Africa must continue to demonstrate that we have the capabilities, the skills and the policy environment required to attract these investments. 
 
We also welcome Volkswagen's investment of more than R800 million in social investment in the communities around this plant.
 
The establishment of the LEAP 9 Maths and Science School in KwaNobuhle, here in Kariega, is an important investment in the future of our young people. 
 
Volkswagen is also working with our Department of Basic Education on early childhood development and on raising mathematics and science competencies.
 
The company also invests R40 million every year in the Youth Employment Service, an initiative that government founded together with business.
 
This programme gives unemployed young people their first experience of work.
 
These investments remind us that the future of advanced manufacturing begins long before a young person enters a factory. 
 
It begins in our schools, in the teaching of mathematics and science, and in giving young South Africans the skills and confidence to participate in the economy of the future. 
 
The automotive industry is undergoing profound change. 
 
The transition towards battery electric vehicles, hybrids and other new-energy technologies is changing the way vehicles are designed and manufactured. 
 
For South Africa, this transition presents both a challenge and a significant opportunity. 
 
We have an established automotive manufacturing base. 
 
We have skilled workers. 
 
And we have significant reserves of many of the critical minerals required for the technologies of the future. 
 
We must build on these strengths. 
 
We are determined to ensure that South Africa remains an important global manufacturing base for the vehicles of the future. 
 
Government is working to ensure that there is a stable, predictable and supportive policy environment in which automotive companies can invest, localise and grow. 
 
We are reviewing the South African Automotive Masterplan and the automotive policy framework to ensure that they respond to the changing conditions facing the industry.
 
Detailed discussions are underway among all partners, including the industry, unions and government, to develop a common programme to grow and sustain the automotive sector in South Africa.
 
We are committed to concluding this work as a priority.
 
We need a sustainable plan that is suited to changing circumstances and that will address constraints, unlock opportunities, build skills, create policy certainty and enhance South Africa's competitiveness as an investment destination. 
 
Our objective is to increase vehicle production in South Africa. 
 
We want more of the vehicles sold in our country to be produced here. 
 
And we want this industry to continue creating jobs and opportunities for our people. 
 
As we increase production, we must increase the value that is created in South Africa. 
 
We want more black industrialists participating in the automotive value chain. 
 
And we want South African companies to develop capabilities in batteries, electronics and the other technologies that will increasingly define the vehicles of the future. 
 
We must not only assemble the vehicles of the future. 
 
We must increasingly manufacture the components, process the materials and develop the skills and technologies that go into them. 
 
The success of this plant over the last 75 years has ultimately been built by people. 
 
It has been built by generations of South African workers. 
 
The true value of industrial investment is therefore not measured only by the number of vehicles that leave a production line. 
 
It is measured by the skills that are developed, the businesses that are created and the opportunities that are opened for young people. 
 
We commend Volkswagen for its contribution to skills development, supplier development and community investment. 
 
The workers who built the automotive industry of today must be joined by a new generation of South Africans who will build the automotive industry of tomorrow. 
 
We must also look increasingly to our own continent. 
 
The African Continental Free Trade Area provides us with an opportunity to build larger markets, develop regional value chains and expand automotive manufacturing across the continent. 
 
And we want South Africa to remain an important manufacturing base for vehicles made for South Africa, for Africa and for the world. 
 
Volkswagen's history in South Africa is a story of partnership. 
 
I therefore welcome the call from Volkswagen, and from the broader automotive industry, for stronger partnership between government, business and labour.
 
And as the global industry transitions towards new-energy vehicles, we want South Africa to be part of Volkswagen's future technology and manufacturing strategy. 
 
Investment decisions being taken today will determine where the vehicles of the next decade are manufactured. 
 
Seventy-five years ago, the first Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line here in Kariega. 
 
Much has changed since then. 
 
The vehicles have changed. The technologies have changed. 
 
The markets have changed. And the world has changed. 
 
But what has endured is the partnership between Volkswagen and South Africa. 
 
Tonight we honour the people who built that partnership. 
 
We congratulate Volkswagen Group Africa on this important anniversary. 
 
We thank the Volkswagen Group for its continued confidence in our country. 
 
And we look forward to the next chapter of this relationship. 
 
We thank Volkswagen for believing in South Africa for 75 years. 
 
Let us work together to build people’s cars in this country for many years to come.
 
I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in a meeting with the Chairperson of the Eskom Board on Thursday 27 August 2026, reaffirmed South Africa's energy reform path as imperative to achieve an affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply for all South Africans.

The President reiterated government’s commitment to establish a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) with ownership and control of transmission assets, to create a level playing field for competition and unlock investment in the electricity sector.

The implementation of the reforms are being developed by the Eskom Restructuring Task Team (ERTT), which will oversee the process, and includes representatives of The Presidency, National Treasury, the Department of Electricity and Energy, Eskom, and the National Transmission Company South Africa.

President Ramaphosa further emphasised that the TSO will remain state-owned, as a strategic national asset serving the public interest.

In response to matters of concern raised by the Eskom Board Chairperson, Mr Mteto Nyati, President Ramaphosa reiterated government's commitment to continue working closely with Eskom, the NTCSA, and other stakeholders to ensure that the reform is implemented in a manner that preserves Eskom’s financial position; ensures that the TSO is able to invest in expanding and strengthening the transmission network, and engages lenders and funders in a transparent and responsible manner.

The Chairperson confirmed the Board’s strong support for the policy direction determined by government and committed to ensuring continued alignment between the Board and shareholder in this regard going forward.

The August 27 meeting followed a recent engagement between President Ramaphosa and the leadership of the National Union of Mineworkers and was in line with the President’s commitment to continued engagement with all affected parties throughout the process.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Office of the Deputy President has noted the article published by Sunday World concerning the Deputy President’s health and his absence from some public engagements.

The Office reiterates the position communicated previously: the Deputy President became unwell while at home in Johannesburg and, under the supervision of his medical team, sought medical attention. He was admitted for a minor surgical procedure and observation, was subsequently discharged, and has continued to receive appropriate medical care and rest.

The Deputy President is recovering well and remains in contact with his office. His programme and official responsibilities continue to be managed appropriately during his recovery.

The Deputy President joined Parliament and has been participating in other crucial meetings related to his work on virtual platforms.

The Office respects the Deputy President’s right to medical privacy and will therefore not comment on speculative or unverified claims. 

We urge members of the public and media to rely on information issued through official channels rather than speculation or anonymous sources.

The Deputy President appreciates the messages of support and well wishes he has received and looks forward to resuming his full programme of official engagements when advised by his medical team.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi will tomorrow, Saturday, 29 August 2026, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, deliver the eulogy at the funeral of late Justice Fikile Eunice Mokgohloa, who passed away on Thursday, 20 August 2026.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that Justice Mokgohloa will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 featuring ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

Justice Mokgohloa was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal since June 2019, after serving as Deputy Judge President of the Limpopo Division of the High Court.

She also served as Acting Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The official funeral service will take place as follows:
Date: Saturday, 29 August 2026
Time: 07h30am
Venue: Hillsong Church located at Plot 2, Corner of Lavender Road and Sage Avenue, Wonderboom, Pretoria

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 31 August 2026, deliver the keynote address at the Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Volkswagen Plant in Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape.

The 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner is convened under the theme: “A Legacy in Motion: Honouring the past, celebrating today, driving tomorrow.”

The celebration marks 75 years of Volkswagen in South Africa and commemorates the company’s longstanding contribution to the country’s automotive industry, economy, skills development and communities.

The first Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line at the Kariega plant, then known as Uitenhage, on 31 August 1951.

The plant was initially established in 1946 as South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD) for the local assembly of Studebaker cars and commercial vehicles.

Over the past 75 years, the Kariega plant has produced nearly 40 different models and has built more than 4.8 million vehicles, of which more than three million were produced for the local market.

Today, Volkswagen Group Africa’s Kariega plant is the sole manufacturer of the Volkswagen Polo worldwide, exporting the model to 38 countries, while also manufacturing the Polo Vivo for the local market.

Volkswagen Group Africa has also established a growing footprint on the African continent, with assembly facilities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.

The company remains a significant contributor to South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector and to the economy of the Nelson Mandela Bay region.

Volkswagen Group Africa employs approximately 3 600 people and supports 1 440 suppliers, with its wider operations estimated to support approximately 50 000 indirect jobs.

Since 2010, the company has invested more than R13 billion in its facilities in South Africa, while its Corporate Social Investment investment since 1994 totals more than R800 million.

The objectives of the 75th Anniversary Gala include reflecting on Volkswagen’s journey and contribution to South Africa’s automotive industry, economy and communities; honouring the generations of employees, partners, dealers, suppliers and customers who have shaped the company’s legacy; and highlighting key milestones and achievements over the past 75 years.

The celebration will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the state of the local automotive industry, including industry challenges, competitiveness, policy requirements and the future of manufacturing in South Africa.

Volkswagen will officially unveil a new vehicle model to be built at the Kariega plant, demonstrating its commitment to local manufacturing and future growth.

The event will further showcase Volkswagen’s expanding footprint across Africa and its strategy to develop sustainable automotive ecosystems and strengthen mobility solutions across the continent.

President Ramaphosa will address the VWGA 75th Anniversary celebration as follows:
Date: Monday, 31 August 2026
Time: 18:00
Venue: Volkswagen Plant, 103 Algoa Road, Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape

Media accreditation: Media representatives wishing to attend the Gala Dinner event are requested to submit their details for accreditation to Miss Odette Parfitt on odette.parfitt@vwsa.co.za/0716196640.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late Justice Fikile Eunice Mokgohloa will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 tomorrow, Saturday, 29 August 2026.

Justice Mokgohloa passed away on 20 August 2026, at the age of 65.

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late judge, who has served the nation and the judiciary with distinction, integrity and dedication over the last 20 years.

Justice Mokgohloa was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal since June 2019, after serving as Deputy Judge President of the Limpopo Division of the High Court.

She also served as Acting Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

President Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Justice Mokgohloa for her contribution to the judiciary and jurisprudence.

The President said: “Judge Mokgohloa has left us at the pinnacle of her commitment to the rule of law and the administration of our courts.

“Her legacy is entrenched in the many landmark judgments she delivered and in her exceptional judicial leadership.

“May her soul rest in peace.”

Justice Mokgohloa will be buried in Pretoria.

The funeral service will take place at 07h30 tomorrow, 29 August, at the Hillsong Church in Wonderboom Pretoria.

The Special Official Funeral Category 2 will feature ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

President Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations until tomorrow evening, 29 August.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the release to the public of the report of the Nkabinde Panel of Enquiry that probed the fitness to hold office of Gauteng South Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Andrew Chauke.

Before the public release of this report, President Ramaphosa communicated to Adv Chauke that he had been exonerated by the Panel of Enquiry.

President Ramaphosa established the Enquiry on 29 September 2025 in terms of section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998.

The mandate of the Enquiry was to investigate and determine whether Adv Chauke was fit and proper to continue to hold office in the context of certain serious allegations regarding his fitness and propriety to hold such office.

President Ramaphosa placed Adv Chauke on suspension with effect from 20 July 2025, pending finalised of the Enquiry.

The Panel chaired by Justice Baaitse Elizabeth Nkabinde found that there was no credible evidence upon which it could conclude that Adv Chauke had taken prosecutorial decisions as alleged in respect of the Cato Manor matter, or that he had acted unlawfully in the performance of his coordination functions.

Based on the Panel’s conclusions, President Ramaphosa indicated to Adv Chauke that the President was satisfied that there was  no basis upon which to conclude that Adv Chauke was unfit to hold office as Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Panel’s report can be accessed at www.thepresidency.gov.za through the following links:

The Report: https://tinyurl.com/4aak7y6v.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 3 September 2026, deliver the inaugural Nokuthula Simelane Memorial Lecture at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province.

The Nokuthula Simelane Memorial Lecture is being established as a national platform to promote dialogue on democracy, social justice, ethical leadership, gender equality, human rights and nation-building, while preserving and advancing the legacy of Nokuthula Simelane and other heroes and heroines of South Africa's liberation struggle.

The Memorial Lecture seeks to create a national conversation on justice, accountability, truth, reconciliation and the unfinished business of South Africa's democratic transition.

Hosted by the Nokuthula Simelane Foundation, the inaugural lecture will position Mpumalanga as a custodian of Nokuthula Simelane's legacy while inspiring future generations.

Nokuthula Simelane dedicated her life to the struggle for freedom and democracy and paid the ultimate price in service of the people of South Africa. In 2024, she was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli in Gold for her "incredible bravery". President Cyril Ramaphosa described her disappearance as “a wound that will never heal for her family”.

The President will deliver the Memorial Lecture as follows:

Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
Time: 13h00
Venue: University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Members of the media wishing to cover the  Memorial Lecture are invited to apply for accreditation by completing the accreditation link below before Friday, 28 August 2026.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kHjCyfeX-EXlb3XvFlzvmfDC2AshPM6Ia3jRKnOPHnU/edit?usp=drivesdk&pli=1&authuser=0

Media accreditation enquiries: Ms Thembisa Mdoda on 071 238 0715 or Ms Patience Mtshali on 083 376 9468 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria