Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Kgosi Seatlholo: Rapulana!
Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Nkosi Langa Mavuso: Ah! Zwelidumile,
Your Majesties, Kings and Queens, 
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane,
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premiers,
Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders,
The President and Deputy Presidents of Contralesa and Rolesa,
Representatives of Khoi and San Communities present,
Members of the Commission on Khoi-San Matters,
Leaders of political parties,
Representatives of Chapter 9 Institutions,
Directors-General and officials,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen. 

It is my honour to address the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders on the tasks and priorities of our nation for the year ahead. 

As I begin, I wish to honour the memories of traditional leaders that we have recently lost. 

We remember with reverence Kgosi Bogosieng Mahura of Batlhaping ba ga Phuduhutswana in the Northern Cape, who passed away in December. 

A few days ago, we laid to rest Hosi Dr Tinyiko Lwandlamuni N’wamitwa of the Valoyi Traditional Community in Limpopo. 

These and other departed leaders leave behind towering legacies that we should nourish, sustain and build upon. 

The institution of traditional leadership forms the sturdy roots that hold the great tree of our nation up. Traditional leadership is the institution that anchors us in history. It nourishes us with identity. It stabilises us when storms rage. 

In many of the provinces across our country, traditional leaders remain enablers of social cohesion, mediators of conflict, guardians of land and transmitters of culture. Long before the formal architecture of the modern state, there were systems of cogent accountability rooted in consensus and community. 

As the custodians of many of our cultures, customs and shared values that are the source of our nation’s strength, you hold the soil together, anchor the trunk and help us grow taller. Without strong roots, a nation cannot stand. 

It is you who our people turn to in times of uncertainty and upheaval, and on whom they rely for guidance and wisdom that has been passed down through the ages and generations. 

As such, traditional leaders are indispensable partners as we work to improve our economy and the lives of every South African man, woman and child. 

In the State of the Nation Address two weeks ago I outlined the national priorities of the Government of National Unity for the year ahead. 

I called on all of society – including traditional leaders – to marshal their energies, resources and talents towards our collective goals. 

The country is in a much better position than it was a year ago. But our challenges are many and our difficulties are deeply embedded in our past. 

Joblessness, especially among young people, is rife across the country. But its effects are most severe in rural communities. 

With limited access to opportunities in villages and small towns, many young people migrate to urban centres in search of work. 

This affects the local economy and weakens the social fabric. Young people become disconnected from customs and leadership structures. 

The service delivery challenges in local government are felt particularly hard in rural areas. 

Where roads are poorly maintained, farmers cannot transport their goods to towns. Schoolchildren and the elderly have to travel long distances to get to clinics and schools, costing them money that is already in scarce supply. 

Rural areas are increasingly water-stressed. When the taps are dry, it doesn’t only affect households, but small-scale and communal farmers who rely on water to till the land, grow crops and sustain their livestock. 

The effects of climate change are worst in rural areas, as we saw with the recent floods in parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Extreme weather such as floods and droughts affect crop yields and the condition of livestock herds. 

As communities rooted in land and tradition, there is much we should learn from traditional communities as we approach these challenges. 

When we launched the District Development Model, we said that development plans must be informed by engagement with communities. 

We have sought through this model to align planning and service delivery across the country’s districts and metros. 

We continue to work with traditional leaders to gain an understanding of the conditions in their communities, of their specific needs and priorities, and to undertake development that is responsive to these realities. 

One area where we are seeing impact is in our efforts to support youth development in rural communities is through public employment. 

The Presidential Employment Stimulus has to date created over 2.5 million work and livelihood opportunities for young people, including in rural areas. 

The Social Employment Fund continues to support agricultural interventions for smallholder farmers, including skills development, training in sustainable farming practices and access to markets. 

The National Rural Youth Service Corps, commonly known as NARYSEC, is having a positive impact on the lives of rural youth. 

Last year, many young people in rural areas graduated from this programme, having received training in agriculture, construction, IT, hospitality and other areas. 

Agriculture is the lifeblood of rural communities. 

In the State of the Nation Address, I outlined the steps we are taking to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity across the country. 

We will continue to provide innovative funding to black producers, with the support of the Land Bank and commercial banks. 

As we look to new markets for our agricultural exports, we want to ensure that a citrus farmer from Xitlakati village in Giyani and a poultry producer from Malangeni in Umdoni in KwaZulu-Natal have the same opportunities to expand their businesses as an established commercial farmer. 

That is why this year we will be deploying 10,000 new agricultural extension officers across the country to provide technical support to both smallholder and commercial farmers. 

We will also be consolidating the training funded by the AgriSETA to bring more young people into the agriculture sector. 

The foot-and-mouth disease that is wreaking havoc on farming operations across the country has not left small-scale farmers untouched. 

As we procure the vaccines we will use to vaccinate the national herd, we will ensure that communal and small-scale farmers have access to them. 

The mineral riches beneath the soil of the lands under the stewardship of our traditional leaders must be harnessed for the benefit of the communities. 

With some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals lying beneath our soil, government has dedicated funding to mapping our reserves and undertaking exploration.

Our progressive legal and regulatory frameworks have sought to ensure that mining activity does not result in environmental degradation, displacement or loss of livelihoods. 

In some cases, rural communities have benefited from these developments, but in far too many instances they have not. 

As we work to harness the potential of our critical minerals, government and traditional leaders must work together to ensure that these resources create jobs and businesses in the areas where they are mined.

We are determined that our minerals should be processed and beneficiated where they extracted, so that we export finished goods, not raw materials.

South Africa’s natural endowments must be harnessed for the benefit of those who live on and work the land. 

The service delivery challenges at local government level are severely affecting communities under the stewardship of traditional leaders. 

One of the greatest problems is water. 

In the State of the Nation Address, I outlined our plans to invest more than R156 billion for water and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years. 

Many projects to supply water to rural areas are either underway or about to commence. 

From the Moretele North-Klipvoor Bulk Water Scheme in the North West and Limpopo, to the Ntabelanga Dam on the uMzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, to the Mandlakazi Regional Bulk Water Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, we are investing in securing water for generations to come. 

We have embarked on a comprehensive review of the White Paper on Local Government. 

This review is an opportunity for us to reimagine the architecture of our local government, including how it interfaces with and provides a role for the institution of traditional and Khoi-San leadership. 

We are proposing a more structured cooperation between municipalities and traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions. 

We know that we can rely on the wise counsel and lived experiences of our traditional leaders to help in repositioning our local government to better serve the needs of our people. 

As we seek to strengthen our local government system we know that the dual governance approach – of both municipal and traditional bodies – can create friction. 

As we address the challenges that our local government structures are going through we need to establish structured engagement platforms with municipal leadership and ensure that our traditional leaders are involved in the reform process.

Our traditional leaders by definition are development-oriented. 

As the custodians of the most valued asset of our people, which is land, they need to use it as a most strategic lever. 

We all know that the land question should be addressed and that communal land which is central to rural development should be managed transparently through effective and equitable allocation systems.

These systems must prevent elite capture of scarce land that has economic value in areas such as mining and tourism or as commercial land. 

We need to be clear that land-use and ownership rights should be fairly availed to our people as in households, as was the case in the past, to cooperatives, women and youth with a view of promoting productive land use for agriculture, agro-processing and eco-tourism. 

We are pleased that the processing of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill is proceeding at a good pace in preparation for its re-introduction in Parliament. 

As you would recall, we previously reported that the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers had conducted a comprehensive review of the salaries and benefits of public office bearers, including traditional leaders. 

Upon consideration of the report that the Commission had submitted to me, I found it necessary to refer it back to the Commission to provide further clarity on some critical aspects. We will be communicating any updates on this matter through the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. 

The establishment of the Kings and Queens Forum has been one of the most significant developments in recent years. 

I have been advised of the successful engagements that the Forum had in December last year with a range of stakeholders and partners, where their Majesties discussed how they could best work together with other role players to advance the needs of the communities under their jurisdiction. 

When we last met, South Africa had just begun its Presidency of the G20, which culminated in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November last year. 

We were gracious and worthy hosts and our remarkable hospitality is still being commended by world leaders. 

We are grateful for the active role that traditional leaders played in the Disaster Risk Reduction Ministerial Working Group and the G20 Social Summit, and for the broader contribution to the overall success of our G20. 

Let me also commend the House on the important work it has embarked on in partnership with government and other stakeholders. These include work with Habitat for Humanity, the Al-Imdaad Foundation, the National Heritage Council, the Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu Foundation, and others. 

These partnerships remind us: when we walk together, we walk far. 

The House must be applauded on the launch of the Lenaka Memorial Lectures that honour and celebrate the sterling contributions of past and current traditional and Khoi-San leaders in development. 

As we reflect on the work of those who have come before us, we must accept our responsibility to confront some of the challenges of the present. 

We must act together to end the death and injury of our young men during customary initiation. 

I am aware of Minister Hlabisa’s efforts in collaboration with traditional leaders to promote safe initiation practices. 

Let us give these interventions our all so that we can restore this profound cultural practice to its proper place in the life of our people. 

We must work together to end gender-based violence and femicide. 

Government has classified GBVF as a national disaster so that we can better focus and coordinate the work we must do across government and across society. 

As the custodians of our culture, heritage and values, traditional leaders must be at the forefront of the effort to end violence against women and children. 

As leaders of communities, traditional leaders can take a firm stance against those attitudes and practices that enable such violence. 

We are a nation that succeeds when we work together to find solutions. 

We must take advantage of the opportunity presented by the National Dialogue to fix the challenges our country faces. 

It is vital that traditional communities are involved in the dialogues that will take place across the country during the course of this year. 

We are pleased that traditional and Khoi-San leaders are well represented in both the Eminent Persons Group and the National Dialogue Steering Committee. 

Our great nation is rising once more from the ashes of a difficult past. 

We have endured a global pandemic, civil unrest, devastating natural disasters, an energy crisis and other great challenges. 

But we are making progress and we are recovering. 

We must join hands and work together for the betterment of our villages and towns, for our communities, and for our country as a whole. 

As our valued partners in governance, we will continue to rely on your guidance, your wisdom and your support. 

And as our traditional leaders you must be a partner in shaping the future. As we open this gathering, let us reflect on a simple but enduring image I alluded to at the beginning: 

A great tree does not grow separately from its roots.

It depends on them. And roots do not resist growth. They enable it 

May this House continue to be a stabilising force in our democracy and national life.

As our traditional leaders you must remain custodians of dignity and cohesion.

And may you help lead the renewal of our rural economies, the empowerment of our youth, and the strengthening of our social fabric. 

Because when the roots are strong, the nation stands firm. 

I now declare this fourth session of the sixth House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders officially open. 

I thank you. 

Pula! 

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Nonceba Mhlauli, will participate in an online Family Meeting hosted by Politically Aweh on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

The session forms part of an open and youth led dialogue platform that creates space for direct engagement between young South Africans and public leaders. The Deputy Minister will engage on issues affecting young people, including youth unemployment, opportunities available through government programmes, the future of South Africa’s economy, and broader political questions raised by participants.

The discussion follows heightened interest from young people on economic reform, the upcoming local government elections, and global developments such as South Africa’s role in the G20. The Deputy Minister will respond to questions submitted live during the session and engage in a candid conversation focused on accountability, participation and solutions.

Members of the public, particularly young people, are encouraged to register and participate.

Event details:

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 18:00 to 19:00
Platform: Zoom Webinar
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Ps-Fo2zTC20B86nZRrSeQ#/registration

The online Family Meeting provides an opportunity for young people to speak directly to decision makers and contribute to shaping the national conversation on youth development, employment and governance.
 

Media enquiries: Ms Mandisa Mbele, Office of the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on 082 580 2213 or mandisam@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 26 February 2026, deliver the keynote address at the Annual Official Opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) at Parliament, Cape Town.

The address marks the official opening of the NHTKL and underscores the integral role of the institution of traditional leadership in advancing and deeping constitutional democracy. 

The collaboration and partnership between government and traditional leaders is rooted in the promotion of seamless integration of the traditional and democratic governance systems.

The NHTKL comprises traditional leaders who are delegates from the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders of South Africa and who represent the nine Provinces at national level.

The institution of Traditional and Khoi-San leadership is an important pillar of unity and cohesion in our democratic constitutional dispensation. 

As custodians of culture and heritage, Traditional and Khoi-San leaders promote the interests of citizens through their active participation in efforts to address the broader socio-economic challenges, especially those in traditional communities.

Invited guests include Kings and Queens, Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Executive Councils (MECs) responsible for Traditional Affairs, Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Provincial Houses, CONTRALESA, royalities, representatives from business and religious sectors, NGOs, Chapter 9 Institutions, the National Khoi-San Council, and delegations from SADC countries.

The President's address will be as follows:

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Good Hope Chamber, Parliament, Cape Town
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Friday, 27 February 2026, officiate the launch of the Strategic Hydrogen Localisation Investment Facility, a landmark R100 million investment aimed at advancing South Africa’s hydrogen research, innovation and localisation capabilities, at the University of the Witwatersrand in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

The Wits–South Africa Hydrogen Localisation Initiative (Wits-SAHLI) is a partnership between Air Liquide South Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University), and the Localisation Support Fund.

Funded by Air Liquide South Africa, the R100 million initiative seeks to strengthen South Africa’s research capacity and build local expertise to support the country’s just energy transition towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy.

The initiative represents a concrete step towards decarbonisation and sustainability, directly aligning with national and global commitments to build a low-carbon and sustainable society. It is designed to empower South African companies by creating direct opportunities to participate, innovate and grow within the hydrogen value chain through targeted development and industrial integration.

Wits-SAHLI will also pioneer research, development and the scaling of hydrogen technologies, bridging the gap between laboratory scale research and industrial scale implementation. The establishment of a modular pilot hydrogen plant on Wits University’s West Campus in particular will support applied research and teaching, enable on-campus testing of hydrogen applications, and provide a de-risked platform for industry partners to explore and scale hydrogen solutions.

Central to the initiative is fostering localisation by building competitive local industrial capacity and developing a tangible domestic supply chain for hydrogen components and services, thereby reducing reliance on imports.

Wits-SAHLI also represents a collaborative ecosystem that unites industry, academia and government in pursuit of a shared vision for South Africa’s energy transition.

The launch event will bring together Executive Leadership of Air Liquide, University leadership, industry partners, including representatives from Sasol, as well as Cabinet Ministers and key stakeholders across the energy, higher education and industrial sectors.

Deputy President Mashatile will be joined by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela.

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

Date: Friday, 27 February 2026
Time: 08h00 – 12h30
Venue: Wits University, West Campus, Johannesburg

Media wishing to cover the launch event are requested to RSVP by submitting their full names, ID number and media house by 18h00 on Thursday, 26 February 2026, to Matome@presidency.gov.za or 082 318 5251.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, attend the 2026 National Budget Speech in Parliament, Cape Town. 

The Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana will present the 2026 National Budget.

The Budget Speech follows the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), in which President Ramaphosa outlined the government’s policy priorities and programme of action for the 2026 year ahead. 

The Budget sets out how government will fund these priorities.

The Budget Speech will be tabled as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Nieuwmeester Dome, Cape Town

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the return of the South African men who were lured into the battle lines between Russia and Ukraine by South African elements that remain under investigation. 

The South African government working closely with the Russian government has secured a safe return of the men. This followed receipt of distressed calls for assistance to return home from seventeen (17) South African men between the ages of 20-39 years. 

President Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home. 
President Putin had pledged his support during a telephone call with President Ramaphosa held on the 10th of February 2026.  

Out of the seventeen men, four are already back in the country, while eleven will be on their way home soon. Two remain in Russia with one in a hospital in Moscow, while the other one is being processed before finalising his travel arrangements. 
The South African embassy in Moscow will continue to monitor the individual that is in hospital until he has fully recovered to travel. 

The investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into mercenary activities is ongoing. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

The litigation that has been initiated by various parties against the President and the Minister of Health has necessitated that President Cyril Ramaphosa following  consultations with Minister Aaron Motsoaledi agree to delay the proclamation of any sections of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act until the Constitutional Court has handed down its judgments in challenges due to be heard on 5-7 May 2026.
 
These cases relate to the public participation process that led to the adoption of the NHI Bill by Parliament.
 
The Department of Health has indicated that preparatory work has been ongoing such as the improvement of health services before any sections of the NHI Act are ready for commencement. The undertaking by the President will not affect the timetable for the implementation of the NHI.
 
The Department of Health will continue in its constitutional responsibility to strengthen the health system and improve the quality of care.
 
It is anticipated that this agreement will be made an order of court on 24 February 2026.
 
Government remains committed to the National Health Insurance and will work within the requirements of the law and judicial process to ensure that there is no undue delay.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Directors, 
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile,
The family and members of the N’wamitwa Royal House,
Your Majesties,
Chairperson of the Valoyi Royal Council, Mr Ben Shipalana,
Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba,
Executive Mayor of the Mopani District Municipality, Cllr Pule Shayi,
Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Rt. Rev. Advocate SPH Nyambi,
South African Police Service Chaplain, Lt. Col (Rev) RM Mahlangu,
Fellow Mourners, 

Good Morning, 

It is with great sorrow that we today bid farewell to a leader, a pioneer and a great daughter of the soil, Hosi Dr Phylia Tinyiko N’wamitwa II. 

The VaTsonga nation has lost a mother.

Those who have experienced the pain of losing a mother will attest that it is one of the deepest wounds. 

On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa we offer our deepest and profound condolences. 

Since the news of the passing of Hosi N’wamitwa was announced on the 9th of February, tributes have been pouring in from South African citizens and from beyond our borders. 

She was a towering figure who embodied humility and was passionate about the development of her people. 

As the first female Hosi of the VaTsonga, she was a trailblazer.

She demonstrated to this community, to South Africa, to Africa and indeed to the world the right and the ability of women to be traditional leaders. 

Above and beyond her royal duties, Hosi N’wamitwa had an illustrious career as an educator and was a seasoned political activist. 

She participated in the CODESA negotiations that preceded South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, and served as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress from 1994 to 2009. 

Most recently, she accepted my invitation to be a member of the Eminent Persons Group, which is entrusted with guiding and advising on the National Dialogue.

The late Hosi was also a philanthropist who leaves behind a rich legacy of community development and advancing the rights of rural women. 

She was firm that women should receive equal treatment in traditional courts on matters relating to customary disputes. 

She was a steadfast advocate for women’s rights and a powerful voice against gender-based violence. 

She was a custodian of the culture of the VaTsonga, and supported the work and efforts of the N’wamitwa Cultural Village and Museum. 

Despite her advancing years, she remained full of vigour and determined to still contribute to the upliftment of her community. 

She wanted to see more jobs being created for the local community. 

In this regard, she was passionate and excited about the construction of the N’wamitwa Dam, a bulk water project being spearheaded by the government of Limpopo and the Department of Water and Sanitation. 

Even though our hearts are heavy at the departure of our mother and comrade, we celebrate her remarkable life and her contribution to the betterment of South Africa. 

In 2008, when she was officially installed as the first female Hosi of the VaTsonga, history was made. 

When the Constitutional Court ruled that the Valoyi Traditional Authority was entitled to adapt its customary succession rule to allow a woman to become Hosi, it was a great advance for all traditional communities in South Africa and on the continent. 

Going to court to assert her right to chieftaincy took great courage, resilience and strength of character. 

She stood up to claim the rights guaranteed by our Constitution. 

In this sense, Her Royal Highness embodied the spirit of the women of 1956 who marched on the Union Buildings, the seat of apartheid power, to assert that they would not tolerate being oppressed and marginalised.

The discriminatory laws against which they stood were still in place twelve years later, in 1968, when the late Hosi’s father, Hosi Fofoza N’wamitwa passed away. 

Black women lived at the intersection of racial domination and legal exclusion. 

In the cities, villages and farms, they were harassed by the apartheid regime. 

They could not work or live where they chose, or study a profession of their choice. 

They had no choice but to become domestic workers, farm workers, menial labourers and informal traders to survive and feed their families. 

Women who were part of resistance against apartheid were treated brutally, jailed, tortured, assaulted and even killed. 

Women were treated as perpetual minors, with their legal identity tied to their fathers, husbands or male guardians. 

Black women could not enter into contracts freely. They could not own land or register property in their own names. 

Traditional marriages were not recognised, leaving millions of women financially destitute if they divorced or their husband died.

In far too many instances, customary law reinforced state policy.

The late Hosi N’wamitwa II was not spared the humiliation of these discriminatory laws. As customary law at the time did not permit a woman to become Hosi, her right to the chieftaincy as the only child of her late father was not recognised. 

Yet, like the brave women of 1956, she did not accept her fate. And in challenging it, she transformed her fortunes and altered the course of our country’s history. 

After a long battle, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Valoyi Traditional Authority was indeed entitled to apply a developmental and transformative approach to customary law in dealing with a chieftaincy succession dispute. 

It affirmed that customary law and constitutional rights are not in opposition, but are complementary. 

As we reflect today on the legacy of Hosi N’wamitwa II, the symbolism of her installation is most enduring. 

It signalled that tradition cannot be invoked to entrench the oppression of women and gender discrimination. 

She had to fight to claim her birthright and her rights as a woman. In doing so, she ensured that all future Royal daughters do not suffer the same fate. 

As agriculturalists, the people of this province know that one cannot reap the harvest before ploughing.

The emancipation of women in this country and their right to equality was not extended as a favour.

It was achieved through decades of tireless struggle, of great advances and painful setbacks.

Since the advent of democracy we have made significant progress in advancing the rights of women in traditional communities to equality and dignity – to have their marriages recognised, to own property and land, and to inherit. 

Thanks to the efforts of the pioneering Hosi N’wamitwa II and the transformation of our laws, more women hold positions of authority in traditional communities, including on traditional councils. 

We continue to work with all the houses of traditional leadership to advance the position of women in their activities and programmes.

At the same time we know that today women face many challenges: poverty, financial exclusion, unemployment and the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. 

Rural women bear the brunt of these challenges.

Many live in communities where they face discriminatory practices.

The challenge to us all as we celebrate the life of the late Hosi is to work together as government, as traditional leaders, as civil society and as communities to give effect to her legacy.

She was a traditionalist and a champion of gender equality. 

She respected and upheld cultural practices and traditions, but did not hesitate to speak out if these violated the rights of others.

To honour her memory, I call on all organs of State, the institutions of traditional leadership and all communities to declare that never again will culture and tradition be used as an excuse for the oppression, exclusion and subjugation of women. 

Let us work to ensure that the full and meaningful equality of men and women is lived out in every village, town, city and province. 

We call on the youth of this community and the youth of our country to ensure that the legacy of the late Hosi N’wanitwa lives on in your words and actions. 

We are counting on your energy and vision to pick up where she left off for the betterment of your villages, towns, the province and the country at large. 

Let us who remain behind pick up the spear that has fallen.

Let us ensure that in the onward march towards full gender equality in South Africa, that we leave no-one behind: even in the most rural and remote community. 

Fellow Mourners, 

In Proverbs 31:10, the Holy Scriptures speak of the good woman. They say:

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity... She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed.”

Today this community, who are all the children of Hosi N’wamitwa II, who have all benefited from her faithful instruction, arise and call her blessed. 

She was a pillar of this community and our nation. 

We mourn her and we will forever remember her. 

Surely goodness and mercy followed her all the days of her life. May she dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

To the Shilubana and Valoyi families, loved ones and friends, we share in your sorrow. 

Famba kahle Mthondolovhani, Famba kahle Khalanga, 

N’wina vaka ncila a va ololi, loko u olola wa tshoveka.

N’wina vo khandziya nsinya mi chika hi rhavi. 

Etlela hi kurhula Hosi N’wamitwa 

Eka Vuhosi bya ka N’wamitwa, mi va na kurhula eka nkarhi lowo tika swinene. 

I thank you
 

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga,
Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans,
Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba,
Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede,
Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya,
The Plenary Defence Staff Council,
The Military Command,
The Executive Mayor of Vhembe District Municipality and the Mayor of Thulamela Local Municipality,
Your Majesties, Thovhele Vho-Mphaphuli and Thovhele Vho-Gole Mphaphuli, 
Traditional Leaders,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of other countries,
Men and Women in Uniform,
Members on Parade,
Military Veterans,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans,

I am honoured, as Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force, to address this Armed Forces Day.

We are gathered here in Vhembe District to honour our men and women in uniform, the patriotic soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen who for 32 years have stood in defence of our democracy.

Our armed forces reflect the diversity of the South African nation, a people of different identities and varied origins, united in our shared nationhood and common purpose.

We are united in advancing the values of our democratic Constitution and in safeguarding the fundamental rights of our country’s people.

Armed Forces Day is held at this time of year to remember the members of the Native Labour Corps who lost their lives in the sinking of the SS Mendi on the 21st of February 1917 during the First World War I.

It is recorded that they met their end not with cries of fear, but with a death dance of defiance and unity. 

The tragedy of SS Mendi reminds us of the importance of unity and solidarity, that despite great peril, those brave soldiers stood together as they faced their fate. Their courage and spirit continue to inspire us today.

Armed Forces Day honours all our soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving the Republic outside our borders and in internal operations. 

This day is a tribute to the courage of those who wear uniform, and we bow our heads in memory of those who never returned from the horizon. 

We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and comrades of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

To those who continue to serve: your sacrifices, bravery and commitment are deeply valued by a grateful nation. 

We are all aware of the recent heavy rains, devastating flooding, loss of life and damage to infrastructure in this province, in Mpumalanga and beyond. 

The SANDF brought its expertise to assist in the relief efforts, working together with local and provincial authorities: deploying engineers to support disaster management, repair roads and bridges, purify water and erect temporary structures for those affected. 

This recovery effort extended to our neighbouring country, Mozambique, where the SANDF rescued citizens from raging floodwaters.

I extend a special word of thanks to the Premiers, provincial agencies, local authorities and the SANDF members who have been on the ground in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Mozambique since the start of the devastation.

As a demonstration of its developmental capabilities, the SANDF has been active in communities in this province as part of the Armed Forces Day programme.

During this period, the South African Military Health Service's Project Owethu provided health services to rural communities in Sekhukhune, Waterberg and Vhembe Districts.

These services have covered medical care, mental health, ophthalmology, oral health and orthopaedic care. 

Over the past week alone, more than 85 cataract procedures were conducted at Elim Hospital, restoring sight to many elderly patients. 

Furthermore, the SANDF has visited schools to instil the values of patriotism, sharing with learners the importance of national symbols, the national anthem and nationhood. 

There is also a special programme to introduce the SANDF to the youth and the general public, showcasing the exciting careers available in the Defence Force.

Armed Forces Day is a significant training and logistical exercise.

It is a real-time simulation of the SANDF's ability to mobilise personnel and equipment across the country, modelling various threat scenarios in defence of our territorial integrity. 

What began as a day of mourning has evolved into a display of military capability and national pride. 

To our men and women in uniform: each one of you has picked up the spears of our fallen heroes and heroines. 

You are the shield that ensures our people know lasting peace, security and stability. 

You stand on the shoulders of giants: great warriors like King Makhado, the Lion of the North, and King Thohoyandou, whose leadership shaped our destiny, and of the soldiers who refused to betray the cause of freedom at the Battle of Mutale River. 

Their legacy is mirrored in the resolve of the modern SANDF.

The members of the SANDF serve in an era of great geopolitical tension. 

South Africa remains steadfast in our policy of non-alignment. 

We refuse to be drawn into the spheres of influence of competing global powers.

We assert our strategic autonomy and sovereignty.

And we conduct all our operations under strict civilian oversight and in absolute adherence to international humanitarian law.

We are called upon to adapt to new realities. 

There has been a shift on the battlefield from traditional weaponry to high-tech autonomous and unmanned systems such as drones, digital warfare and the use of artificial intelligence.

These changes require a SANDF that is responsive, relevant and agile.

Our military is having to adapt at a time when public resources are constrained.

Given the critical importance of the SANDF to our security, sovereignty and development, additional resources have been allocated from the budget.

This is a targeted intervention to close funding gaps, improve efficiencies and ensure our operational ambitions are matched by our resources. 

Having assessed our current priorities, I have decided to draw down our participation as a troop-contributing nation in the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO. 

This will be done in a phased and well-orchestrated manner to ensure the safe return of our troops and their equipment. 

As we withdraw, we pledge our continued support to continental peace and security initiatives under the UN, the African Union and SADC.

We are also mindful of the internal threats to the security and safety of our people. 

I have authorised the deployment of SANDF elements to support the South African Police Service in a targeted offensive against brazen criminality, illegal mining and ruthless gangs. 

From the Cape Flats to Gauteng, our message is clear: the rule of law will be enforced and the safety of our citizens will be secured. 

This deployment is a shield for the vulnerable, so that a child in Nyanga, Eldorado Park or New Brighton can walk to school without the shadow of a bullet haunting their steps.

To the young people present here today and watching across the country: I invite you to see the SANDF as a career and as a calling. 

We need your capabilities in engineering, medicine, technology, strategy and many other disciplines. 

Join the SANDF for the love of your country. By serving your people, you build your own future and you contribute to a better nation.

To our soldiers: continue to fly our flag high on all missions. 

Continue to guard our borders and build the bridges that connect our communities. 

You remind us that through our collective resolve as a nation, we are able to rise above any challenge we might face.

May the memory of SS Mendi and all those who served our country inspire us to work towards a brighter future for South Africa and her people.

To all the members of our armed forces, Ndi khou livhuwa.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, to serve as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land.
 
Mr Sihlobo is a Senior Lecturer Extraordinary at the Department of Agricultual Economics of the University of Stellenbosch and has published widely on agricultural policy, land reform, and food security. He has more than a decade of experience in the sector and academia.
 
Sihlobo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Stellenbosch University.
 
President Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Sihlobo as an envoy in view of the importance of agriculture in South Africa’s economic growth path, recurrent challenges in the sector and growth opportunities domestically and abroad.

In this role, Mr Sihlobo will support The Presidency’s priorities and objectives on agriculture, rural development, land reform and international trade. He will work closely with the responsible departments, in pursuit of The Presidency’s priorities.

The Envoy will also work closely with various state-owned entities, such as the Agricultural Research Council, Land Bank, and Onderstepoort Biological Products, as necessary, in support of agricultural development and growth opportunities.

The Envoy will also engage other stakeholders from time to time, including the private sector, to unlock progress and realise tangible gains.

The ultimate goal of this work is to advance The Presidency’s priorities for overcoming constraints to agricultural growth and boosting competitiveness, inclusion, and the sector's export profile.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria