Your Excellency Dr Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan-African Parliament;
Honourable Vice-Presidents of the Pan-African Parliament;
Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa, Hon Thoko Didiza;
Honourable Members of the Pan-African Parliament;
Heads of African Union Organs and Agencies;
Members of the diplomatic corps;
Representatives of the Nelson Mandela Foundation;
Guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;

Good afternoon. 

It is my privilege to address this First Ordinary Session of the 7th Pan-African Parliament.

The Pan-African Parliament carries the hopes and aspirations of more than 1.5 billion Africans for peace, progress and prosperity across our beloved continent. 

It is an enduring symbol of unity in diversity: a unity anchored in the conviction that Africa’s future must be shaped not only by its governments, but by its peoples.

We gather at a moment when events beyond our shores are having a profound and damaging impact on the lives of Africa’s people.

Our continent is not spared the effects of conflict and instability, greater global economic turbulence, and increasing geopolitical tension across the world.

Nor is our continent spared the devastating impact of accelerating climate change.

In recent days, we have seen destructive fires raging across our sister countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, resulting in the loss of many lives.

We convey to these governments and peoples our deepest sympathies for the loss of life, livelihoods and properties.

These developments make it even more important that Africa is able to stand together to advance its own development.

Mr President, we congratulate you and the four Vice-Presidents on your successful election to lead the seventh legislature. 

We wish you well for your term. 

We are confident that you will advance the noble mandate of African unity with integrity and purpose.

For the democratic South Africa, few honours have carried greater significance than hosting the Pan-African Parliament.

Being the home of one of the pre-eminent institutions of Africa’s democratic architecture is more than a privilege for South Africa. It is a responsibility and a duty.

The year 1994 was momentous for South Africa, not just because we won our liberation from the bondage of apartheid.

It was also the year that we formally returned to the embrace of the African family of nations – a family that had supported us and stood by us during our struggle.

Just weeks after our first democratic election, South Africa was admitted as the 53rd member state of the Organisation of African Unity.

Having emerged from decades of apartheid isolation to reclaim our place within the community of African nations, we were – and remain – determined to repay and honour Africa’s solidarity.

In June 1994, at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU in Tunis, our nation’s founding father President Nelson Mandela challenged the nations of Africa to commit to the continent’s rebirth.

He said: 

“If freedom was the crown which the fighters of liberation sought to place on the head of mother Africa, let the upliftment, the happiness, prosperity and comfort of her children be the jewel of the crown.”

Thirty-two years ago, South Africa embraced the responsibility to work for Africa’s upliftment. 

Our commitment has not wavered.

South Africa has sought to be more than a mere signatory to the instruments of African unity. 

Since then, South Africa has sought to honour the solidarity Africa showed us during our struggle by contributing to continental peace, integration, development and institution building.

We have consistently and actively committed our efforts and resources to building the institutions, initiatives and capabilities our continent needs.

In 2002 we were honoured to host the inaugural Summit of the African Union.

South Africa is a founding member of the African Peer Review Mechanism and was one of the co-architects of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

Through our African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund, South Africa continues to finance democracy support, mediation, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and capacity building across our continent.

It is during times of need, at moments of crisis, that African unity is at its most potent.

Six years ago, our continent was confronted with the worst global health crisis in more than a century. 

Through the collective efforts of Member States, African Union institutions and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, we coordinated a continental response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We established the first Africa Medical Supplies Platform to procure critical supplies and medical equipment.

We established the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team to procure millions of vaccines for the continent. 

As a continental collective, the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have strengthened our resolve to better coordinate future pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Africa demonstrated the value of continental solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through the African Union, virtually an entire continent was brought under a Joint Continental Strategy, coordinated by Africa’s own public-health agency, the Africa CDC.

Our continental response extended beyond the geographic boundaries of Africa. 

Recognising the African diaspora as the sixth region of Africa, we opened the Africa Medical Supplies Platform and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust to the countries of the Caribbean Community. 

This enabled Caribbean countries to benefit from Africa’s pooled procurement of critical medical supplies and vaccines.

At a time when vaccine nationalism was taking hold and poorer countries were being pushed to the back of the queue, Africa did not only call for international solidarity. 

Africa practised solidarity. We extended the institutions and mechanisms we had built to our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean. 

This demonstrates that African integration can produce practical benefits not only for the continent, but also for the wider global African family.

This resolve is evident in the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, ably led by the Africa CDC.

We commend the affected countries for the decisive action they have taken to contain the Ebola outbreaks and further congratulate this Parliament for dedicating time during this parliamentary session to deliberate on the continental response to this public health emergency.

South Africa has had the privilege of contributing to peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction on our continent through election observers, troop contributions, capacity-building and mediation.

When the African Union was born right here on South African soil, the people of South Africa stood firmly behind the powerful vision of an African Renaissance.

Today, South Africa stands behind the collective effort to translate the vision of continental unity into cooperation, action and progress. 

This historical arc, this continuity of purpose, is testament to our enduring commitment to the African Agenda.

By hosting this Pan-African Parliament, and through our humble contributions to African unity, integration, peace and security, we affirm our profound conviction that South Africa’s future is inseparable from the future of our continent.

The Pan-African Parliament is a pillar of Africa’s democratic architecture.

It gives expression to the voice of the peoples of Africa.

It reinforces our shared commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for human rights. 

As elected representatives of our citizens, you have a unique responsibility to strengthen accountable institutions, promote transparency and ensure that the aspirations of the African Union are translated into tangible improvements in the lives of our people.
This Parliament must itself exemplify the democratic values it seeks to advance across the continent.

It must be a model of integrity, transparency, accountability, responsible stewardship and fidelity to its own rules.

Its strength will depend not only on the powers entrusted to it, but also on the confidence it inspires among the people of Africa.

We welcome the efforts of this Parliament to exercise oversight over the flagship projects of the African Union through its various committees.

By bringing various national Parliaments together under a single roof, this institution is able to monitor implementation of the policies and programmes that are key to Africa’s development and integration.

This session takes place under the African Union’s Theme of the Year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”.

This theme addresses one of the most urgent challenges facing our continent.

Access to clean water and safe sanitation is a fundamental human right. 

It is essential to human dignity, public health, food security, education, industrial development and social stability.

Yet millions of people across Africa still live without a reliable supply of safe drinking water or adequate sanitation.

Women and girls often carry the heaviest burden, travelling long distances to collect water and losing opportunities to learn, work and participate fully in community life.

Climate change is intensifying droughts and floods. Ageing and poorly maintained infrastructure is failing communities. 

Pollution, inadequate investment and weak governance are placing further pressure on scarce water resources.

Water insecurity does not respect national borders. Many of Africa’s rivers, lakes and groundwater systems are shared between countries. 

Their sustainable management requires cooperation, trust and a shared commitment to the interests of present and future generations.

The Pan-African Parliament and national parliaments have a decisive role to play.

They must develop and harmonise enabling legislation, oversee public expenditure, promote investment in water infrastructure and hold governments accountable for delivering reliable water and sanitation services.

They must ensure that continental commitments are reflected in national development plans, municipal budgets and the daily lives of our people.

South Africa is confronting its own severe water supply challenges. Through our National Water Action Plan, we are working to strengthen accountability, rehabilitate infrastructure, improve municipal performance and mobilise investment in water security.

We recognise that no country can address these challenges in isolation. We must share knowledge, technology, finance and expertise across our continent.

We look to the Pan-African Parliament to continue to leverage its mandate in pursuit of peace, good governance, the empowerment of women and young people, climate justice and other key issues facing our continent. 

This Parliament must be resolute in defending constitutional democracy.
It must speak clearly against unconstitutional changes of government, the unlawful extension of political tenure, the weakening of democratic institutions and the misuse of public resources.

It must defend the independence of legislatures, courts and institutions established to protect democracy.

Democratic governance is not an abstract ideal. It is essential for peace, development and the confidence of citizens in the institutions that serve them.

As the voice of all of Africa’s peoples, this Parliament is a strident voice in support of multilateralism, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. 

Africa must speak with one voice on the reform of the institutions of global governance and the global financial architecture so that they are more representative, equitable and responsive to the needs of emerging economies.

One of the most significant tasks of the Pan-African Parliament in this era is to provide guidance to the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is undoubtedly the most powerful instrument we have to realise our cherished goal of African unity, prosperity and progress.

If used to its greatest effect, this continental free trade area will overcome the boundaries that colonial division and exploitation imposed upon our continent.

It will open our rivers to commerce and our ports to trade. 

It is the foundation on which we will build new factories, develop new mines, plough new fields and build new data centres.

This continental free trade area will enable our people to realise their potential and to develop the skills that will drive the global economy of the future.

It will allow the women and youth of this continent to place their energies and capabilities in the service of inclusive growth.

But agreements alone will not create a continental market.

We must remove non-tariff barriers, modernise customs systems, improve transport and logistics, harmonise regulations and establish payment systems that make it easier and less costly for African businesses to trade with one another.

The Pan-African Parliament must work with national and regional parliaments to domesticate AfCFTA commitments, harmonise legislation and hold governments accountable for implementation.

The goal of African integration extends beyond infrastructure, commerce and trade.

African integration imagines a continent where knowledge, culture, innovation and ideas flow freely across borders, rivers, mountain ranges and great plains.

It envisages a continent where people are not constrained by the strictures placed upon them by lines drawn on a colonial map.

If we are to realise this vision of African unity and integration, we need to collectively attend to the challenges and opportunities of migration.

Today, many parts of our continent are confronted by the challenge of migration.

Here in South Africa, as has been the experience of other countries, we have witnessed outbreaks of anti-migrant sentiment and incidents of intimidation and violence directed at foreign nationals. 

This has been fuelled in part by misinformation and prejudice, but it draws on a genuine concern among some South Africans about the social and economic burden of illegal migration.

As the South African government, we have taken a firm stance against any form of intimidation, vigilantism or violence directed at foreign nationals.

We have taken steps to strengthen and enforce our laws, to defuse tension and to ensure that all persons within our borders respect the rights of all.

Migration is an essential part of the African story.

Throughout history, across every continent, people have moved in search of opportunity – and they will continue to do so.

We must not conflate lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with people who enter or remain in countries in violation of immigration laws.

Nor should migrants be made scapegoats for unemployment, crime or shortcomings in the delivery of public services.

Our response must combine firm, fair and effective immigration management with an unwavering defence of human dignity and the rule of law.

Our task is to ensure that migration is managed in a manner that affirms the rights and dignity of all people, that respects international conventions and that advances social cohesion.

We have seen how unmanaged migration can undermine the sovereignty, security and social order of countries.

As African countries, we have to acknowledge and address the conditions that drive migration in the first place.

We need to work together to address issues like conflict, instability, governance failure, poverty and social discord.

We need to create equal economic opportunity across Africa.

We need to silence the guns. We need to build inclusive institutions of governance.

We must work for a future where Africans migrate out of choice and not necessity.

We call on this Pan-African Parliament to take up the mantle of leadership, to be at the forefront of finding sustainable solutions to this issue.

The measure of Africa’s development will not only be the ease with which Africans can move across borders. 

It will also be the extent to which every African country offers all its citizens sufficient opportunity, dignity and hope.

As the honourable members of this Parliament, as the collective leadership of this continent, we have a responsibility to build a better Africa.

We have a responsibility to build a continent at peace with itself, where conflicts are resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than through the barrel of a gun.

It is a continent that produces everything that it needs. 

That extracts from its abundant resources the full value that belongs to its people.

Rather than exporting our raw wealth, we must process our minerals, our agricultural produce and our energy ourselves.

We are building a continent where our young people have the skills, capital and opportunity to build enterprises and careers on African soil, rather than seeking them abroad.

This is a continent where women take their rightful place in the boardrooms, parliaments and factories that drive our economies.

It is a continent whose voice in global institutions matches its size, its history and its potential.

We must have a common voice, one that is powerful and resolute, on the reform of the United Nations Security Council, on the international financial architecture, and in the councils that set the rules of trade, climate and technology.

To build this Africa, we must translate the agreements we have signed into the laws, institutions and resources that give them life. 

Too many of our continental commitments remain aspirations on paper.

We must invest in our people – in education, health and skills – so that our demographic strength becomes a dividend and not a burden.

We must connect our continent with the roads, railways, ports, energy grids and digital infrastructure that allow goods, capital, data and people to move freely.

We must strengthen the institutions of this Union, so that they have the authority, resources and political support to act on matters of peace and security, health, development and trade.

And we must remain united. 

Africa’s history teaches us that division has long been the instrument through which others have sought to shape our destiny.

A united Africa shapes its own destiny.

The success of this Seventh Legislature will not be measured only by the debates it holds or the resolutions it adopts.

It will be measured by the laws it helps to shape, the commitments it helps to implement and the difference it makes in the daily lives of the people of Africa.

History will judge us not by the speeches we deliver, but by the Africa we build.

Let this Parliament be the conscience of our continent.

Let it be the voice of Africa’s most vulnerable.

Let it be the guardian of democracy.

Let it be the champion of peace.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998 accepted the request by Adv Andrea Johnson, the Investigating Director of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), to vacate office with immediate effect.

The President’s agreement follows a recommendation by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, and supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Andy Mothibi, that Adv Johnson’s request be granted.

Adv Johnson directed her request for an immediate release from office to the National Director of Public Prosecutions and President Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa thanked Adv Johnson for her years of service in the NPA and as the head of IDAC. The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of liberation struggle stalwart Shantavothie “Shanthie” Naidoo Tweedie at the age of 91.

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to Mr Dominic Tweedie, the Naidoo family and friends and comrades of Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie who lived in exile in the United Kingdom from 1972 to 1991.

Born in Pretoria in 1935, Shanthie Naidoo became an activist while at school and became active in the then Transvaal Indian Youth Congress, the Federation of South African Women, the South African Congress of Trade Unions and the African National Congress, in whose service she and Dominic Tweedie worked at the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College in Tanzania.

Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie faced various periods of detention, including solitary confinement, under the Terrorism Act as well as banning orders.

She was imprisoned for two months for refusing to give evidence against Winnie Mandela and 21 comrades who had been charged with furthering the aims of the African National Congress.

The apartheid state refused her exit permits to go into exile, until allowing her to leave the country following a campaign by supporters in South Africa and abroad, in which liberal Member of Parliament Helen Suzman had played a leading role.

President Ramaphosa said: “The passing of Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie causes us to revisit and pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution she made to our struggle for freedom.

“Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie was a hero who followed in the footsteps of her politically active family and sacrificially devoted her extended life to fighting for a free, non-racial South Africa.

“Her passing, on the eve of Women’s Month, draws our attention to the struggles women faced under apartheid and which spurred courageous women to confront a system founded on race and gender discrimination.

“As we mourn Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie’s passing, we also celebrate her legacy and that of the 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings 70 years ago as well as other women, who have made South Africa a better place for women and girls.

“We can only repay Shanthie Naidoo Tweedie by honouring her sacrifice and leadership, and continuing to make South Africa a nation that works for all, and especially women.

“May her soul rest in peace.”

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa notes the Western Cape High Court’s granting today of the President’s urgent application to temporarily interdict and pause Section 89 impeachment proceedings by Parliament.

The President asked the court that impeachment proceedings be paused until the court finalises a separate application by the President for a review of an independent panel’s report on an incident at the President’s Phala Phala game farm.

President Ramaphosa respects the ruling handed down today, Friday, 24 July 2026. 

The President reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution. The President will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Master of Ceremonies, Prof. Nick Binedell, Founder of GIBS Business School,
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe,
Mrs Gugu Motlanthe, Executive Trustee, The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation,
Business associates, Delegates, Colleagues Good Morning,

I am honoured to join you today at this year’s Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar.

Let me start by emphasising the importance of this seminar, particularly in light of the current situation that confronts our country. The migration-related challenges facing South Africa today require spaces like this seminar to debate and reflect on difficult questions honestly, respectfully and constructively.

Indeed, the current wave of discussions around migration, border management, social cohesion, economic competition, and public service delivery has generated intense public debate. The issues we confront are complex, perspectives are firmly held, and emotions often run deep. That is why platforms such as this are essential to fostering meaningful dialogue.

We have not gathered here to impose predetermined answers or reinforce existing positions. The objective should be about providing a platform for deliberate engagement, fruitful discourse, and critical thinking. We are as much here to listen as to speak, to question as to advocate, and to seek to understand rather than easy conclusions.

Migration is not something new.

People throughout human history have moved in search of safety, opportunity, family reunification, and a better future. At the same time, migration has often raised legitimate questions about governance, resource allocation, identity, and social integration.

South Africa’s history is characterised by movement, displacement, and the struggle for human dignity, as well as a deep need for solidarity and the experience of exclusion. The birth of our constitutional democracy was rooted in the commitment to human rights, equality, and the recognition of our common humanity.

However, it would be disingenuous to ignore the brutal realities faced by many communities. High levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality continue to put significant stress on households and communities. Jobs, housing, education, health care and other public services are often scarce commodities and the feeling that they are not available to all fuel’s exclusionary politics. In such contexts, migrants are likely to be the target of wider frustrations associated with structural socio-economic problems.

This reality requires us to bring honesty and nuance to the migration debate. On the one hand, we must resist simple narratives that seek to blame migrants for all our social and economic problems. Such perspectives ignore the complexities of our developmental problems and are likely to increase intolerance and social division.

On the other hand, we need to recognise the legitimate concerns of communities about the effective management of immigration, border security, the regulation of labour markets and the capacity of public institutions.

To dismiss these fears is not to forge social cohesion but to undermine public trust. The challenge before us is not whether to choose between security and humanity or national interests and human rights. The real challenge is to implement policies that simultaneously promote all these objectives.

This means that decisions about policy should be based on facts, not on feelings. Effective and fair migration management requires strong institutions. It urges African nations to collaborate to address migration drivers like conflict, political instability, unemployment, inequality, and climate change.

Most importantly it requires an acceptance that migration cannot be considered in isolation from wider development issues. The movement of people is often a symptom of deeper economic, political and social conditions. To get to sustainable, long-term solutions we really have to address those underlying drivers.

In this regard, we would do well to reflect on the words of former President Kgalema Motlanthe, who reminded us that, “…in a democratic era, I urge you to use the democratic institutions available to us to voice our grievances and demands.”

His words are particularly meaningful today. They serve as a reminder that the strength of a constitutional democracy is its ability to create space for engagement, and peaceful resolution of differences.

Your words former President Motlanthe remind us that even in disagreement we have a responsibility to talk to one another using dialogue, evidence and democratic processes rather than exclusion, intolerance or division.

The purpose of a seminar such as this is not necessarily to arrive at complete consensus. Indeed, reasonable people will disagree on many aspects of migration policy.

Our willingness to engage with one another honestly, to test our assumptions, and to deepen our collective understanding of the issues is of greater value, as it enables us to progress from rhetoric to practical solutions.

Speaking of solutions, what we need to understand is that the migration challenge confronting South Africa cannot be addressed through South African solutions alone. Addressing this issue requires solutions that are specifically tailored to the realities of Africa.

It is not feasible or sustainable to consider migration only from a national perspective. We need to strengthen regional cooperation, step up economic integration, and work together to create opportunities across the African continent.

We must recognise that the prosperity and stability of one African nation are intrinsically linked to the prosperity and stability of others.

As Africans, we share a common history, a common destiny, and, increasingly, common challenges. The question before us is not simply how South Africa manages migration but how Africa creates the conditions under which migration becomes a matter of choice rather than necessity.

In this regard, I am reminded of the words of Kwame Nkrumah, who once said, “It is in our hands to join our strength, taking sustenance from our diversity, honouring our rich and varied traditions and cultures, but acting together for the protection and benefit of us all.”

The words are no less true today than they were when first uttered. They remind us that the challenges facing our continent cannot be met by countries acting in isolation. They require collective thinking, collective leadership, and collective action.

Our challenge is to look beyond narrow national responses and toward a continental conversation based on solidarity, shared responsibility, and a commitment to inclusive development. Only then will we have the chance to develop solutions that are effective and sustainable and just.

In the current context, it is for the benefit of our great continent, Africa, that we come together to examine the issue of migration into South Africa not merely as a South African challenge but as an African challenge.

South Africa has seen a rising trend in migration from various African nations, especially from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Malawi. The migration is caused by economic opportunities, political and governance issues, environmental factors and persistent family and cultural links across borders.

This reality presents the critical question: how do we as leaders and citizens of the SADC region work together to address the conditions that compel people to leave their countries of origin?

How do we grow our economies, deepen regional integration, and create opportunities that allow our people to thrive in their own communities if they want to?

SADC member states must take the first step by increasing cooperation, having honest conversations about economic development, youth unemployment, governance, skills mobility and regional investment. It is important to tackle the root causes of migration, not just migration management.

Let me put it very clearly: South Africa remains committed to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, and we continue to welcome our brothers and sisters from across the continent. Our history is a reminder of the importance of solidarity, and we thank many African countries who stood with us in our struggle for freedom.

However, social cohesion and public confidence in migration require a legal and orderly framework. We need to have proper and secure management of the migration flows, processing documentation efficiently, protecting the rights of migrants and enforcing immigration laws fairly and consistently.

We should therefore not look to divide Africans or create animosity towards migrants. Rather, our objective should be to build a migration system that is humane, well-managed, and responsive to the legitimate concerns of both host communities and migrants themselves.

We will not build the future we seek through isolation but through partnership; not through blame but through cooperation; not through division but through a shared commitment to building a prosperous, stable, and integrated Africa. Only then can migration become a source of opportunity rather than a source of tension.

The question often asked is: What is the South African Police Service or Government doing to combat illegal immigration and to manage the tensions arising from migration-related protests?

Government continues to strengthen migration management through coordinated efforts involving the South African Police Service, the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority. These interventions include enforcement operations, improved border management and stronger action against immigration-related criminal activity.

While citizens have the constitutional right to protest peacefully, the enforcement of immigration laws remains the responsibility of the State. This reflects a core value of our constitutional democracy: worries about illegal immigration are legitimate issues for public debate and government action, but they must be addressed lawfully and democratically, not through vigilante justice or hostility toward migrants.

SAPS has ensured a visible presence at demonstrations around migration to prevent the occurrence of violence, intimidation, vigilantism and attacks against foreign nationals.

We need to assist law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties and address the root causes of migration through regional cooperation, economic development, and stronger partnerships among SADC member states.

In the end, secure borders, effective migration management and African solidarity are not mutually exclusive goals, but complementary pillars of a stable and prosperous region.

We South Africans know that the strength of any democracy is not in the absence of disagreement, but in its ability to work through disagreement constructively. Only through dialogue based on our common belief in human dignity and guided by evidence can we find just and sustainable solutions.

Let me conclude by stating this: South Africans are not inherently xenophobic; they are a welcoming and Pan-Africanist people. Our country remains open to legal immigrants.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the spirit of Kwame Nkrumah’s call for collective action, and in the spirit of Kgalema Motlanthe’s enduring faith in democratic engagement, let’s continue the conversation with open minds, mutual respect and a shared determination to create a better future for all.

I have no doubt that the discussions that will unfold here today will contribute meaningfully to our national and continental conversation on migration, social cohesion, and the future we seek to build together.

I wish you a successful seminar and productive discussions.

I Thank You, Inkomu.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, on Monday, 27 July 2026, address the Official Opening of the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), at its headquarters in Midrand, Gauteng.

The session, convened by the Pan-African Parliament from 27 to 31 July 2026, will be held under the African Union's 2026 Theme: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."

This follows the successful election of the new PAP Bureau on 30 April 2026, marking the commencement of a new parliamentary term, and reaffirming the institution's role in promoting democratic governance, continental integration and the implementation of Agenda 2063.

As the host country of the Pan-African Parliament, South Africa remains firmly committed to  supporting the institution and strengthening cooperation among African Union Member States and continental institutions in advancing Africa's collective interests.

The Official Opening Ceremony will take place as follows:

Date: Monday, 27 July 2026
Time: 11h00
Venue: Pan-African Parliament Headquarters, Midrand

NOTE TO MEDIA: The Media Accreditation process has been concluded by the Pan-African Parliament: Communications.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, on Friday, 31 July 2026, officiate the commencement of commercial operations at the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility near Bethal in Mpumalanga.

The commencement of commercial operations marks an important milestone in South Africa's efforts to strengthen energy security, advance infrastructure development and drive inclusive economic growth through investment in renewable energy.

Three years after the investment commitment associated with the Seriti Green project was announced at the South African Investment Conference, the commencement of commercial operations represents a significant milestone in translating investment commitments into operational infrastructure that contributes to South Africa's long-term economic development.

Located in Mpumalanga, South Africa's traditional energy-producing region, the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility demonstrates the practical implementation of South Africa's Just Energy Transition.

The project combines renewable electricity generation with significant investment in transmission infrastructure, long-term regional operations, local supplier participation, skills development and community investment.

The first phase of the project entails 155MW of wind generation and forms part of a planned 900MW renewable energy programme that will contribute additional renewable electricity generation capacity while strengthening South Africa's energy system.

The event also showcases how collaboration between government, the private sector, investors and local communities is supporting infrastructure-led growth, expanding energy capacity, creating employment opportunities and contributing to regional economic development.

President Ramaphosa will officiate the commencement of commercial operations at the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility as follows:

Date: Friday, 31 July 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility, Bethal, Mpumalanga

Members of the media wishing to cover the event are requested to RSVP by completing the attached form and submitting to newsdesk@journalismweb.co.za before Monday, 27th July 2026.

Media accreditation enquiries: Dean McCoubrey at 083 4554 808/Patience Mtshali at 083 376 9468

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa today, Thursday 23 July 2026, released the National Water Action Plan following a meeting of the National Water Crisis Committee (WATERCOM) at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

The National Water Action Plan (NWAP) sets out a focused, programmatic series of actions to ensure a reliable supply of quality water to all South Africans, aiming to address the root causes of the water supply challenges in many municipalities.

The Plan outlines strategic interventions to address the water crisis over the short, medium and long term. 

The NWAP outlines a strategy to increase investment in infrastructure, including through private sector investment; to implement legal and regulatory reforms to improve municipal service delivery; and to address corruption and criminality in the water sector.

The NWAP was developed by WATERCOM, which was established following the 2026 State of the Nation Address in response to increasingly severe water supply interruptions in several parts of the country. 

WATERCOM is chaired by the President and includes a range of government departments and public agencies responsible for implementing the Plan as well as the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). 

The Plan was informed by extensive consultation with stakeholders across all three spheres of government – national, provincial and local – and associations such as SALGA. 

WATERCOM is working with municipalities to mobilise resources, expertise, and new partnerships to stabilise failing systems, recover critical services and expand access across the country. It will ensure a coordinated approach to the institutional and financing reforms necessary to achieve water security, including ring-fencing water revenues to ensure adequate maintenance of water assets and increasing investment in bulk water and distribution infrastructure. 

In doing so, it will build on the work already being done by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Treasury, among others, to address the challenges in the water sector. 

In releasing the Plan, President Ramaphosa said: “By acting boldly and decisively to improve the performance of Eskom and reform our energy system, we were able to end load shedding and achieve a secure and reliable energy supply. Now, we are applying the same approach to the water crisis that has been unfolding in many parts of our country. The National Water Action Plan outlines a clear, practical and focused approach to ensure water security for all South Africans, no matter where they live.”

Government is firmly committed to ensuring a reliable supply of quality water for all South Africans. The Plan will bring together all spheres of government and social partners to achieve this objective.

Background Note

Too many municipalities, communities and businesses can no longer rely on safe, reliable water services – threatening public health, economic activity, and social stability. 

The scale of the challenge now demands an urgent national response and a fundamental shift in how water services are managed.

The National Water Action Plan (NWAP) sets out a focused programme of priority interventions designed to establish new foundations for sustainable water service delivery. 

Dedicated teams have been mandated to drive implementation, accelerate results, and catalyse long-term reform. 

The NWAP identifies the root cause of the crisis as an inappropriate delivery model for water services. This is characterised by the absence of ring-fencing as water revenues are often used to fund other municipal functions, reducing the resources available for water infrastructure maintenance, investment and hiring skilled staff. 

Additionally, diffuse accountability weakens incentives for effective and financially sustainable water management and service delivery as municipal water and sanitation departments are typically responsible for technical functions but have limited control over billing, revenue collection, and asset protection. 

This points to a clear path to address this challenge, aligned with successful models and adapted to South Africa’s context. 

WATERCOM will meet regularly to oversee the implementation of the Plan and to hold the responsible departments and agencies accountable for delivery.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has communicated to Gauteng South Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Andrew Chauke that he has been exonerated by the Nkabinde Panel of Enquiry that probed the Director’s fitness to hold office.

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 considered extensive oral evidence, documentary evidence, expert opinions, witness statements and legal submissions.

The Panel has 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.

The Panel has also found that Adv Chauke’s decision to provisionally withdraw the murder and related charges against former Crime Intelligence head, General Richard Mdluli, and to refer the matter to an inquest was not irrational.

In view of these and other findings that exonerate Adv Chauke, President Ramaphosa is satisfied that there is no basis upon which to conclude that Adv Chauke is unfit to hold office as Director of Public Prosecutions.

The President has thanked Adv Chauke for his cooperation throughout the enquiry process and expressed his trust that the finalisation of this matter will enable Adv Chauke to continue discharging his constitutional and statutory responsibilities with dedication and integrity in service of the National Prosecuting Authority and the nation.

President Ramaphosa has also reiterated his appreciation to Enquiry Chairperson Justice Nkabinde, assisted by Adv Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC and Attorney Matshego Ramagaga for the manner in which they undertook their task.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria