President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 31 January 2023, participate in a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit taking place in Windhoek, Namibia.

The 42nd SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in August 2022 mandated the Chairperson of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency President Hage Geingob of Namibia, to convene the Summit to consider the peace and security situation in the SADC region.

It is expected that the Extraordinary Summit will consider the state of peace and security in the region, with a particular focus on the political and security situations in the Kingdoms of eSwatini and Lesotho as well as developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of  Mozambique.

The Summit will be preceded by meetings of senior officials and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika.

SADC is a Regional Economic Community of the following Member States: Republic of Angola, Republic of Botswana, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of eSwatini, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Seychelles, Republic of South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

South Africa is the outgoing Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise; and Minister in The Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences on the passing of Dr Lydia Meshoe, founding member of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and wife of ACDP President, the Rev Kenneth Meshoe.

Dr Meshoe, who was also President of the ACDP’s Women of Destiny and a former Member of the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng, passed away on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

The President’s thoughts and prayers go out to the Rev Kenneth Meshoe and his family, friends and associates of Dr Lydia Meshoe, and the membership of the ACDP.

President Ramaphosa said: “We join the Meshoe family and the African Christian Democratic Party in mourning the loss of a leader who was in the prime of her service to the communities and structures in which she realised her own destiny.

“May her soul rest in peace as we reflect on her life which, guided by her deep spiritual faith, she dedicated to the empowerment of women and the improvement of socio-economic conditions in various communities.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, 
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to take this opportunity to express once again my appreciation to His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob for honouring our invitation to pay a State Visit to South Africa. 

The purpose of the visit was to discuss, review and strengthen our political, social and economic relations. 

During our official talks, we considered broad areas of cooperation and evaluated progress in the implementation of previous decisions and agreements. 

We have directed that an audit of our legal instruments be conducted prior to the convening of the South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission in Windhoek later this year. 

In view of the length of time between sessions of our Bi-National Commission, we have discussed the need for an Inter-Session Review Mechanism of BNC decisions and commitments. 

This work is important for our collective efforts to rebuild our economies and improve the livelihoods of our people following the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Notable progress has been made in various sectors of cooperation. 

This is evidenced by the signing of new agreements to further expand our formal scope of cooperation. 

We have agreed to deepen trade and investment between our two countries. 

Our ministers responsible for trade and industry will convene a Business Forum later this year to be attended by business people from both countries.

We also agreed that the ministers of trade of the two countries should put in place a mechanism to protect investments in our respective countries. 

We will work together to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Tripartite Free Trade Area between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community.

We welcomed the progress made in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area, including ongoing work to finalise the rules of origin for the remaining set of products. 

This progress has been made possible through resolve and commitment.

President Geingob and I also discussed political, economic and security issues in our region. This includes developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. 

As South Africa, we wish Namibia well in its role as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, which is playing a central role in advancing peace and stability in the region.

I have assured President Geingob that we will continue, as part of the SADC collective and within available resources, to assist with regional initiatives such as the SADC Mission in Mozambique. 

We wish the people of Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Madagascar well as they prepare to hold elections this year. 

President Dr Geingob and I deliberated on continental and international issues of mutual concern, including the implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

We expressed our concern at the current situation in Sudan, the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara, the continued denial of the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

This State Visit has done much to reinforce the solid political, social and economic relations between our two countries in pursuit of mutual development and prosperity. 

I thank you.

Your Excellency and Dear Brother, President Dr Hage Geingob, 
Honourable Ministers,
High Commissioners, 
Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning.

Allow me to begin by thanking you, Your Excellency, for honouring our invitation.

Too many years have passed since the last state visit to South Africa by the Republic of Namibia in November 2012. 

A great many things have changed our world since then, including the global COVID-19 pandemic that wreaked havoc across the globe. 

The pandemic had a devastating impact on human health, livelihoods and economic activity, and it will take us some time to fully recover.

Therefore, as we further cement our strong bilateral relations, we need to work together for a swift economic and social recovery for our respective countries, for the region and for our continent.

It is gratifying that officials from our two countries continue to engage at various levels. 

The most recent structured engagement was the Senior Officials Meeting of the 3rd South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission that took place in Windhoek in March this year. 

I am pleased with the work that has been done in preparation for the upcoming BNC, which is scheduled to take place in Namibia later this year. 

Yesterday, Namibia’s Minister in the Presidency and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation had the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. This engagement will be valuable for our discussions today. 

As we sign new Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding during this visit, it is important that we conduct an audit of all existing legal instruments between our two countries in preparation for the upcoming BNC. 

We need to be certain that they are fit-for-purpose and that they continue to serve our respective developmental goals.

As neighbours with deep historical ties, we share the same aspirations for our people – development, employment, equality and prosperity.

We are therefore committed to deepen our cooperation, particularly in the area of trade and investment.

It is unfortunate that, due to other events taking place this week, we were not able to convene a Business Forum on the sidelines of this State Visit. 

However, we are determined that a South Africa-Namibia Business Forum should take place this year. 

It is an opportunity to bring our respective private sectors together to promote investment, trade and potential new areas for cooperation. 

Namibia is one of South Africa’s top trading partners in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

We must use our geographic proximity and the close ties between our respective economies for greater mutual benefit. 

One of the areas to expand cooperation is in energy investment. 

For example, how do we leverage the growing demand for new, clean technologies like green hydrogen to promote cross-border development? 

Both our countries are planning massive hydrogen projects.

Such projects are key to the energy security of South Africa and Namibia, and will catalyse economic growth and job creation in both our countries.

We need to look at how we collaborate, as our respective governments, state-owned enterprises and private companies, to seize this great opportunity. 

Our shared history enjoins us to pursue a common future. 

It is imperative that we implement the African Continental Free Trade Area to deepen African economic integration, to develop our economies and to lessen our reliance on imports from outside Africa.

South Africa pledges to continue to work closely with Namibia as current chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to promote regional peace and stability. 

Please be assured of our full support during your tenure, including with respect to regional anti-terrorism initiatives in northern Mozambique.

As we strive for peace and stability in our region, we must continue to support the struggle for self-determination and freedom of the Saharawi people. 

The declaration and commitments of the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara, co-hosted by South Africa and Namibia in March 2019, should be fully implemented. 

Similarly, all United Nations and African Union resolutions and decisions should be enforced.

We must continue to mobilise regional, continental and international support for a sustainable resolution to the Western Sahara issue, and push for the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front to resume dialogue without preconditions. 

At the same time, we should reaffirm our support for the Palestinian cause and for the two-state solution. 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exposed the frailties of international systems of governance. 

South Africa, like Namibia, maintains that the United Nations and the office of the Secretary-General should play an active role in resolving this conflict. 

We also agree that the UN in its current configuration needs to be more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the majority of the world’s people. 

We must step up our efforts to change the design of multilateral systems of governance. 

One of the most pressing issues facing our respective countries and our region is climate change. 

Like Namibia, South Africa is a water-scare country and is thus particularly vulnerable to climate change and its effects on food security, energy generation, and many other sectors. 

We need to work together in pursuit of low-carbon, inclusive, climate resilient development, which is critical to the sustainability of our continent. 

Your Excellency,

I look forward to our deliberations on these and other important matters of mutual interest.

I thank you again for honouring our invitation and warmly welcome you and your delegation to South Africa.

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Mr Wamkele Mene,
Premiers,
Mayor of the City of Johannesburg,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Business leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to the 5th South Africa Investment Conference. 

Your presence and participation at this investment conference is a clear demonstration that South Africa continues to be an attractive investment destination despite a strained domestic and global economic climate. 

The South Africa Investment Conference has continued to evolve and grow over the past five years.

In 2018, we set a bold and ambitious target to raise R1.2 trillion in investment over a five-year period. 

This year’s conference is an opportunity to reflect on progress we have made to achieve that goal. 

Given the state of the economy in 2018, and given that we were emerging from a decade of state capture, many thought it was an unattainable target.

We moved with speed, appointing the first of our Special Envoys to engage with domestic and foreign investors on investment opportunities in South Africa. 

In the same year, the first-ever South Africa Investment Conference took place. 

Despite economic headwinds, low business confidence and dampened investor sentiment, the first conference generated investment pledges to the value of approximately R300 billion. 

The value of investment pledges has continued to grow.

Since April 2018, we have had to contend with a devastating global pandemic, damaging social unrest, several natural disasters and a cost-of-living crisis worsened by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

In addition, we are now confronted with the consequences of years of under-investment, mismanagement and corruption in our electricity, rail and logistics sectors. 

Given all that has taken place in the intervening years, it is understandable that investor confidence has been sorely tested.

Doubters have had reason to be sceptical. 

We are on a long journey to rebuild our country and recover the ground we have lost. Our recovery is a mission that will take time to accomplish.

We are on the recovery path, we refuse to be daunted by the challenges we face, we are confident that we will recover.

We remain convinced that South Africa is an investment destination with significant untapped potential. We do believe that by leveraging our unique value proposition, we have the ability to attract higher levels of investment. 

In the midst of all the challenges we face, our ambition has not been misplaced. We do believe that the target we set in 2018 was not misplaced either.

The four South African Investment Conferences that have taken place to date have attracted R1.14 trillion in investment pledges. 

We expect that the investment announcements made here today will take this total beyond the target that we set five years ago.

While investment decisions often take several years to reach fruition, the investment commitments made to date have already resulted in substantial investment in the productive economy.

Almost 70 per cent of the total number of projects announced since 2018 are either completed or on their way to completion. 

To date, approximately R460 billion of capital has been invested in building new factories, purchasing equipment, constructing roads, sinking mine shafts and rolling out broadband infrastructure. 

What really stands out is the impact of these investments on the lives of South Africans who are now able to earn a decent living and care for their families. 

As we create sustainable jobs we are working to tackle poverty and inequality. 

Beyond the pledges made inside this conference hall, I have been encouraged by the investments that are happening in our economy and those that are being facilitated via InvestSA, our investment envoys, our diplomatic missions in various countries and our government departments, especially the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. 

Whether it is in business process outsourcing, tech start-ups, the automotive sector, green ammonia, green hydrogen or in the construction of mega data centres, local and international companies are expanding their footprint in South Africa. 

It has been a core conviction of this administration that to create jobs we must drive growth, and to achieve growth we must implement fundamental economic reforms.

This 5th South Africa Investment Conference affirms local and international investor confidence in the structural reforms we have been driving to improve the business environment. 

The energy sector remains our foremost priority. 

The lack of reliability in electricity supply weakens business and consumer confidence, taints international perceptions about our country and affects investment sentiment and decisions.

With a view to addressing the energy challenges we announced an Energy Action Plan in July last year. The Energy Action Plan presents a clear path to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding in the short term and achieve energy security in the long term. 

The Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, with the support of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Department of Public Enterprises and the National Energy Crisis Committee, is overseeing the implementation of this plan. 

Our immediate focus is on improving the performance of our existing coal fired power stations as they continue to provide the baseload of our energy.

Demand-side management initiatives will receive elevated attention, including through consumer behaviour, rooftop solar and facilitating embedded generation.

We have been implementing wide-ranging reforms in the electricity sector to enable private investment in electricity generation and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity from solar, wind, gas and battery storage. 

One of these reforms regarding the removal of the licensing threshold for embedded generation, has facilitated considerable private investment in the electricity sector. 

This reform, together with measures to streamline regulatory processes, has enabled a surge of new projects, with the pipeline of committed projects now representing over 10,000 MW of new capacity. 

Several municipalities are making use of regulatory changes to procure power independently. 

We have introduced tax incentives for households and businesses to invest in rooftop solar. We have called for financial institutions to support this effort through affordable funding for households and small and medium enterprises. The government will assist poor households through a number of programmes.

The debt transfer package for Eskom, together with the progress made in unbundling the utility, will enable the necessary investment in the transmission network and in maintenance of Eskom’s generation fleet. 

We expect the National Transmission Company to be fully operational shortly.

Through our renewable energy programme, we have signed agreements for approximately 2,800 MW from bid windows 5 and 6, with several large projects already in construction and others on track to reach financial close. 

We recently released a request for proposals for over 500 MW of battery storage, and will soon open further bid windows for wind and solar, battery storage and gas power. 
 
As we work to close the electricity supply shortfall and end load shedding in the short term, we are laying the foundation for a fundamental reform of the energy sector in the longer term. 

Cabinet has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, which will soon be tabled in Parliament, to establish a competitive market for electricity generation.

Though load shedding will remain a challenge in the immediate future, its severity will begin to ease as some of the more targeted initiatives recently announced begin to take effect. 

What we are witnessing in the energy sector is an undeniable surge of investment that will not only address the electricity supply shortfall in years to come, but will propel growth and create jobs. 

Even as we work to improve the performance of our existing coal-fired power stations to address load shedding, we remain committed to a just energy transition and our target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 

We will implement our Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, which outlines our investment needs to support a just and inclusive transition towards cleaner forms of energy.

We will soon be completing the review of the Integrated Resource Plan to lay the foundation for a fundamentally transformed energy landscape that transitions us along a low-carbon, climate resilient developmental path.

We will undertake this just transition at a pace our country can afford and in a manner that advances our developmental objectives and ensures energy security.  

In the long run, investment in green energy will be a huge boost to economic growth.

There are indeed opportunities in this crisis, including for the local manufacture of solar panels, batteries and inverters and the use of our unique natural endowment in resources like platinum and vanadium.

This will open up new opportunities for employment and the skilling and upskilling of workers, especially young people.

We are equally focused on addressing the crisis in the logistics sector. 

Transnet’s railway and port constraints are significantly affecting the mining, agriculture, forestry, automotive and manufacturing sectors. 

We are prioritising port and rail efficiencies as part of the structural reform process. 

Our new National Rail Policy provides for third party access to the freight rail network, which will allow private rail operators onto the network to increase investment and improve efficiency. 

To facilitate third party access, Transnet is establishing a separate Infrastructure Manager for the rail network. 

In the interim, Transnet is implementing a range of measures to arrest the decline in performance of the freight rail system, including to increase the availability of locomotives for key corridors. 

Transnet is also in the process of establishing private sector partnerships at the Durban and Ngqura Container Terminals, which we expect to be concluded in the coming weeks.

Significantly, we have agreed with key stakeholders to establish a National Logistics Crisis Committee to drive the implementation of a comprehensive roadmap for the freight logistics sector. 

Just as the private sector Resource Mobilisation Fund is providing support for the Energy Action Plan, we are greatly encouraged by indications from business that they are prepared to support government in our effort to fix the logistics system. 

We are confident that working together with the private sector and organised labour, Transnet and government will be able to overcome these constraints to improve efficiencies. 

Immigration reform has long been cited by many businesses as an area of concern. 

Today, we are able to announce a significant overhaul of the work visa system that will provide a further boost to investment.

This includes decentralising the adjudication of visa applications to foreign missions and streamlining application requirements to reduce the timeframes for obtaining a work visa.

We will introduce a Trusted Employer Scheme for qualifying companies and establish a points-based system to provide more flexible pathways for skilled applicants, in line with global best practice.

We will introduce new visa categories for remote workers and start-ups to attract dynamic entrepreneurs and promote spending in our economy. 

In addition, we will be expanding the e-Visa system to include an additional 20 countries over and above the 14 that are currently eligible, and will extend the e-Visa system to cover new visa categories such as study, business and intra-company transfer visas. 

These reforms will enable us to attract skills and investment and create jobs while protecting and promoting the employment of South Africans. 

As we reform our visa regime, we are investing in the skills development system to ensure that we produce the skills that our economy needs.

The National Skills Fund will soon launch a new model for demand-led skills development, which will provide R800 million to fund training for unemployed young people in digital skills. 

The key innovation of this model is that payment will be linked to placement of young people in employment, as opposed to training alone, to incentivise improved outcomes.

The pay-for-performance fund is designed to crowd in funding from multiple sources, and I would like to call on the support of the private sector in taking this model to scale.

Crime and corruption continues to hamper South Africa’s development. 

To address this grave challenge, specialised multidisciplinary task teams have been set up by the police to tackle crimes of economic sabotage such as violence and extortion at construction sites, illegal mining, infrastructure vandalism and cable theft. 

A number of arrests have already been made, followed by prosecutions and convictions. This steady progress is important as we strive to break up organised crime syndicates. 

Our hard work to rebuild state institutions is bearing fruit. 

The South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit and the NPA’s Investigating Directorate are making notable progress in dealing with cases of serious corruption. This work has resulted in arrests, asset forfeitures, successful convictions and the recovery of misappropriated funds. 

Supported by data provided by the South African Revenue Service and the Financial Intelligence Centre, a multidisciplinary Fusion Centre is helping the National Prosecuting Authority to successfully prosecute corruption-related offences and unravel complex financial crimes. 

Since its inception the work of the Fusion Centre has led to the preservation and recovery of approximately R1.75 billion in criminal assets. 

These developments highlight the importance of South Africa’s efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s ‘grey list’ as soon as possible. 

South Africa’s inclusion on the list of ‘jurisdictions under increased monitoring’ is intended to raise standards of compliance. 

Both our banking sector and our anti money-laundering legislation already meet FATF requirements. 

We are working with the FATF to effectively address all outstanding deficiencies and strengthen the effectiveness of our anti money-laundering regime. 

Yesterday, I met with business leaders from some of South Africa’s leading companies to discuss the challenges that are holding up growth in our economy.

We agreed to undertake practical joint action in three immediate priority areas: energy, logistics, and crime and corruption.

In doing so, we will be building on the collaborative model that we used so successfully in managing our response to Covid-19 and in our vaccine rollout.

We are confident that if we can address these three issues, we will be able to turn our economy around and unleash its full potential.

This 5th South Africa Investment conference marks the end of the first phase of our investment mobilisation drive. 

As South Africans, we have always believed in our country and its great promise. 

We know from our engagements with you as investors, that you see this potential too, a potential that is evident in the investment that we continue to attract. 

South Africa’s first Country Investment Strategy is being finalised. It will outline priority areas and sectors to advance our country’s economic interest and will be driven at the highest level with oversight provided by the Presidency. 

Investment in our economy is not just about the amounts you have seen on this stage over the years. When we expand the lens and take in the aggregate picture, we see some encouraging trends too. 

Following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, total fixed investment in nominal terms increased from R756 billion in 2020 to R811 billion in 2021 and to R933 billion in 2022. 

From historical data, we know that total investment in our economy over a five year period comes in at roughly R4 trillion. 

Building on this baseline, we will work towards a new target.

As I announced in the State of the Nation Address in February, we are now setting a new target to mobilise approximately R2 trillion in new investments over another five-year period, between now and 2028.

The investments emanating from the four South Africa Investment Conferences held to date have stimulated industrial, technological and institutional modernisation.

These investments have supported the expansion of human capital and knowledge transfer, and created more jobs and learning opportunities. 

With the achievement of our R1.2 trillion target today, we now cast our collective eyes to the horizon. 

With your support, with your investment, we can realise more growth, offer more opportunities and create even more jobs. 

As we work with dedication and focus to overcome our immediate challenges, let us not lose sight of the incredible promise of our country, South Africa.

I look forward our deliberations today and to the new investment pledges that will be announced. 

I thank you.

Programme Director,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

We have come to the end of the 5th South Africa Investment Conference.

Having now officially concluded the first phase of our national investment mobilisations drive, we can say this has been a watershed conference.

We have now reached R1,51 trillion in pledges, overshooting our initial R1,2 trillion target by 26 per cent.

We have honoured the undertaking we gave the South African people in 2018 that we would attract new investment to our shores, support the growth of local businesses and create more jobs.

When we set out on this ambitious path five years ago, none of us could have foreseen that the world would be struck by a deadly pandemic. 

Nor could any of us have imagined the lingering impact on investment, businesses, jobs, and livelihoods, even years after the existential health threat has passed.

For us to have been able to meet our five-year target despite major challenges and disruptions, including the pandemic, is no mean feat. 

It is a stellar achievement. We should all be proud. I want us to give ourselves a hand.

Today’s pledges cover 21 district municipalities across the country. 

A number of these investments aren’t only bringing much-needed economic activity to these localities, they are also supporting our overall national development goals.

Infrastructure development is one of the key areas of focus to drive economic growth and is the flywheel that drives economic growth.

When we talk about investment in the cause of development, infrastructure is at the center.

Infrastructure development meets pressing community needs, and leaves behind a legacy that future generations will use. 

By way of example, a few years back SANRAL announced at the Investment Conference their plans to build Msikaba Bridge, the longest and highest cable-stayed suspension bridge in Africa. 

On a superficial level, this bridge connects the peoples and economies of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal, But it is a deeper story about integrated development.

Iron ore for its construction is being mined in the Northern Cape; transported to KwaZulu/Natal and Gauteng to be converted into steel blooms and plates; fabricated in Mpumalanga; and finally, assembled in the Eastern Cape.

For each step in an infrastructure development value chain, jobs are created, small businesses and suppliers supported, and skills are imparted. 

Over the four-year period of our investment drive, we have realised approximately R263 billion in investment for infrastructure development. 

Not counted in this figure is the hundreds of billions of rands being spent on local and other public infrastructure by the three spheres of government.

Through InfrastructureSA we are hard at work driving the implementation of other key strategic infrastructure projects in water and sanitation. 

This includes bulk water projects such as Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Mzimvubu water project, the uMkhomazi Water Project, the Mokolo Crocodile River Water Augmentation Project, and others. 

A number of other strategic infrastructure projects are either in preparation or under construction in energy, transport, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. 

Today there have been pledges from several companies and entities to invest in property development and logistics. 

This includes in luxury resorts and mixed-use developments, but also in social infrastructure projects like student accommodation. 

The South African National Roads Agency is also investing R 19,7 billion in the construction of various roads, bridges, and other critical transport infrastructure.

In my opening remarks this morning I said that by leveraging our strengths and unique value proposition, we will attract higher levels of investment.

South Africa’s unique value proposition is the diversity and sophistication of our economy. 

Unlike many other countries whose national economies were founded in and remain reliant on the extractive sectors, we have a diverse economy, and the breadth of investments are indicative of these opportunities that exist. 

Today we have seen investment pledges across a range of sectors. They include:

• The R1 billion investment by Turkey’s Menar Group in thermal coal mining in Mpumalanga
• Seriti Group’s R4,5 billion investment in a wind energy project in Mpumalanga
• US-based Moove’s R284 million investment in e-logistics
• Hive Hydrogen’s massive R 105 billion investment in a green hydrogen production facility in Coega in the Eastern Cape. 

Hive’s investment in the Eastern Cape will see not only the construction of a green ammonia production plant, but the company also has plans to construct a seawater desalination plant capable of meeting approximately 50 per cent of the water needs of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. 

Bringing development, and creating jobs is the true measurement of the success of these five conferences.

Investors are keenly aware of the impediments to faster growth and development, but they also see the progress that is being made in fixing these problems. 

This was well expressed by the panellists who contributed their thoughts and ideas during the course of this conference, particularly on how collaboration between government, business and civil society would be the best solution to many of our challenges.

 I do believe that as investors, you can see the capabilities of our people, the resilience of our institutions, and our determination to forge ahead with a structural reform path that will make us the continent’s premier investment destination.

It is only with your investment that we can bring about the equitable, sustainable development that can forever transform the fortunes of our great country.

We need to see the achievement of our initial five-year target as an opportunity to deepen our collaboration to achieve even more ambitious targets in future. 

The success of this first phase must be a springboard towards a recovered, reconstructed, inclusive new economy.

As government and the private sector, we have proven ourselves capable of moving forward together, of working in unison in pursuit of the common good.

We did so exceptionally during the pandemic, we have done so with this investment drive, and now aim to replicate this collaboration as we address challenges with energy and logistics. 

I call on every one of us in this room to recommit ourselves to the common good that is South Africa’s development.

I want to thank the sponsors for their generosity.

These are the Industrial Development Corporation, Vodacom, Anglo American, ARM, Exxaro, Google, Thungela Resources, Huawei, Samsung, SAB, Discovery, Transnet, and Coca Cola. 

I also want to thank our partners the IDC and BrandSA. 

I want to thank our Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel and the Ministerial Steering Committee who have been working to ensure this conference is a success. 

I want to thank our investment envoys – Ms Phumzile Langeni, Mr Jacko Maree, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, Mr Trevor Manuel, Mr Derek Hanekom and Mr Jeff Radebe – for their dedication to the task of promoting South Africa as an attractive and dependable investment destination.

I also wish to thank my economic advisor, Ms. Trudi Makhaya, who has been central to the effort to promote investment and grow the economy over the last five years.

I also want to thank the Organising Committee, and all the government departments, agencies and entities that have contributed to this conference, including the InvestSA team. 

Thanks also go to our partners in business, labour, and civil society for supporting this Investment Conference.

The past five years have shown what we are capable of as a nation. They have shown our resilience and determination, our ability to make progress under difficult circumstances.

As we close this 5th South Africa Investment Conference, we look to the next five years with greater confidence and ambition.

I now officially announce the countdown to mobilise R2 trillion over the next five years or 1825 days. Let the hard work begin!

I thank you.

Your Majesty, King Philippe of the Belgians, 
Your Majesty, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians,
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Dr. Naledi Pandor,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium, Ms. Hadja Lahbib,
Ministers of the Republic of South Africa,
Ministers-President of the regions of Belgium,
Your Excellencies, the Ambassador of Belgium to South Africa and the Ambassador of South Africa to Belgium,
Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Majesty, it is my pleasure to welcome you to South Africa.

In 2018 you received me in Brussels during our working visit to the European Union. 

I was and remain most encouraged by your interest in developments in South Africa, and by our common desire to deepen relations between Belgium and South Africa.

As South Africans we were deeply moved how in 2013, in your first Christmas address to the people of Belgium as their new monarch, you paid tribute to the father of our democracy, President Nelson Mandela. 

You said, and I quote:

"He personified the will to build bridges. He showed us that dialogue and reconciliation can change the world. Let us find this strength in ourselves."

Indeed your visit to our country is about building bridges. We are pleased that you have honoured our invitation.  Our world has changed a great deal since January 2020 when we extended an official invitation for this State Visit.

We have had to contend with a global pandemic that wreaked great devastation on human life, livelihoods and the global economy; a series of natural disasters around the world; and since last year, a war between Russia and Ukraine that has sparked a global crisis of high cost of living.

We are indeed living through difficult times. Never has the imperative for global cooperation been greater, and never has the need for greater global solidarity been more urgent.

I wish to express our appreciation to the Kingdom of Belgium for its role in the global fight against COVID-19. Belgium is an important donor to the vaccine alliance GAVI, for the operation of COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative. Belgium has also donated more than 10 million vaccine doses, of which a significant proportion were sent to countries in Africa.

Belgium was also one of the earliest backers of the World Health Organisation’s mRNA tech transfer hub initiative in South Africa, operating from the understanding that long-term solutions are needed to address inequitable access to vaccines and therapeutics.

Today Belgium is a partner in in the mRNA Transfer Hub in Cape Town. 
One of our companies, Afrigen Biologics, is collaborating with Belgium’s Univercells Group to develop a novel mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This cooperation will ensure that we are better prepared in the event of future health emergencies, and towards achieving our goal of producing the first African-owned coronavirus vaccine.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is of grave concern to us all.

As South Africa we continue to emphasise the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. 

As you rightly said back in 2013, Your Majesty, dialogue and reconciliation can change the world. We look forward to sharing our perspectives on the conflict during our meeting, and to learn more about Belgium’s stance. 

It is also important to consider the impact of the conflict on the international economy, especially with regards to global food and energy security.

As South Africa we are encouraged at the growth of grade and investment between our two countries, and that our respective tourism links are also developing.

There has also been good cooperation between our two countries when we were both members of international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, and currently, on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

I believe that much more can be done for our bilateral relations to grow and expand. 

When it comes to our respective histories, we share some similarities. 

They include contending with a painful past, striving for national reconciliation, and building a common, united future. This should form the basis for greater dialogue between our two countries, because we have much to learn from each other.

Your visit, Your Majesty, will add momentum to this process. It is our wish that this is an opportunity to foster greater cooperation, but also understanding, between the peoples of Belgium and South Africa.

I thank you and invite you now to make your opening remarks.

Your Majesty, King Philippe of the Belgians,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium, Ms. Hadja Lahbib,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Ebrahim Patel,
Ministers-President of the regions of Belgium
Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Republic of South Africa,
Ambassadors of South Africa and Belgium,
Business and industry leaders from South Africa and Belgium,
Representatives of business organisations,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon.

It is my pleasure to address this South Africa-Belgium Business Forum convened under the theme of “Building Sustainable Partnerships”.

Your Majesty, we are honoured to receive you, your delegation, and businesspeople from Belgium.  

We have been in discussion earlier today, to identify ways to re-invigorate and boost trade and investment relations, I am pleased to note that our overall trade has not only recovered from the Covid-19 dip we saw in 2020, but in fact has exceeded the R100 billion mark for the first time. 

This Business Forum is an opportunity for exchanges and sectoral conversations that will enable us to intensify our efforts to improve the trade and investment relationship between our two countries and particular, use it as a means to promote South African industrialisation. 

South Africa and Belgium have vibrant, diverse, and growing economies, and there is a wealth of opportunities for businesses looking to expand into new markets. 

A closer economic partnership is in our mutual interest.

South Africa is often described as the gateway to Africa, and our strategic location makes us an attractive investment destination.

We have one of the most advanced and diversified economies on the continent, with a vibrant business environment, a strong regulatory environment, and a diverse, competitive, and well-regulated financial sector. 

We are a country with enormous potential for growth and development, and are also advantageously placed for companies looking to expand into the rest of the African continent.

Belgium, on the other hand, is a leading European nation with a strong presence in global markets, particularly in sectors such as technology, healthcare, renewable energy, ports, and logistics. 

Belgium’s central location in Europe, excellent transport links, and highly skilled workforce make it a gateway to the EU market. 

It is up to us to seize this opportunity and take our relationship to the next level. 

There are several areas where we can collaborate and create mutually beneficial opportunities.

Firstly, we can create new markets for our goods and services, expand trade and in the process create more jobs.

South Africa has a vibrant and diverse agricultural sector with an established presence in several markets in the EU. Certainly, we want to see greater market access for our agricultural goods, products, and services in Belgium. 

By way of example, in 2020, South African wines were the second largest export category to Belgium from the wine-producing region of the Western Cape.

Belgium has a strong track record in agribusiness and has several companies that have developed solutions to improve efficiency and productivity in the sector. These technologies can be adapted to suit the unique challenges faced by South Africa's agricultural sector, such as climate change and water scarcity.

Belgium has strong manufacturing and logistics sectors, as well as expertise in technology and innovation. Belgian companies will find there are innumerable business opportunities to manufacture products in South Africa, utilizing our excellent industrial experience and capabilities. 

We do want to move from being a large importer of manufactured products to being a major exporter, as we have shown with our auto industry. 

There are also significant investment opportunities between our two countries in energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. 

South Africa has ambitious plans to modernize its infrastructure by investing in the expansion of ports, rail, and road networks. These projects will require significant investment, and there are opportunities for Belgian companies with expertise in these sectors to come on board.

We are on a path to revolutionise our energy sector in pursuit of low-carbon, climate resilient development, and are actively seeking investment in the energy sector with a particular focus on renewables and green hydrogen.

Belgium has a proven track record in developing and implementing innovative renewable energy solutions. Together, we can create sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions that benefit both our countries. 

In this regard, a global just-energy transition requires multilateralism in dealing with climate change. 

We are concerned at the impact of unilaterally- introduced measures, such as the proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism that will affect exports of products from the global south; and we look forward to working with Belgium to address these concerns. 

We can also collaborate on research and development projects and share knowledge and expertise.

By working together, we can create value chains that are mutually beneficial, leading to job creation and economic growth.

Ultimately the growth of the South African economy will support the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area that opens access to a market of over 1.3 billion people. African economic integration is no longer a pipe dream, but becoming a reality. 

As African countries we see the AfCFTA as a game-changer and the transformer of Africa’s fortunes in the same way that the countries of Europe saw the establishment of the European Union in 1993. 

On technology there is also vast untapped potential. 

South Africa and Belgium can collaborate to promote innovation and technology transfer. Belgium has a strong R&D sector, while South Africa is home to many innovative start-ups. We must share our knowledge and expertise to create new opportunities for growth and development.

By way of example, in 2022 the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research signed a cooperation agreement with VITO, the CSIR’s counterpart in the Flanders region of Belgium. This partnership will focus on sustainable development and data science.

Of course, there are also challenges that we must address if we are to realize the full potential of our partnership. 

However, by working together and building strong relationships between our governments, businesses, and people, we can create a brighter future for both South Africa and Belgium.

By leveraging our respective strengths and exploring new avenues of collaboration, we can create mutually beneficial partnerships. 

I wish to emphasise this, because we have long moved from a situation where Africa’s vast wealth was extracted to enrich the West, leaving the continent impoverished. 

Mutually beneficial partnership is about trade and investment and not about benevolence or charity. It is about doing business, in a favourable climate, that leads to economic growth, job creation and prosperity for both our respective countries.

To this end our focus now must be on building stronger business relationships, promoting cultural exchanges and tourism, and creating a favorable business environment. 

It is about streamlining bureaucracy, reducing trade barriers and other forms of protectionism such as those currently against South African citrus products. We also need to promote education and training to develop a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of the modern economy.

With these few words let me thank you for your participation in this business forum. I look forward to also seeing you at the Fifth South Africa Investment Conference in a few weeks’ time on the 13th of April. 

Let us seize this opportunity to build a stronger, more prosperous future for our respective countries.

I thank you.

Programme Directors:

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa, and,

MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and
Recreation, Ms Desery Fienies,

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola,

Ministers and Deputy Ministers,

Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul,

Premier of the Free State, Mr Mxolisi Dukwana,

Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Prof Bongani Majola,

Executive Mayor of Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality, Cllr Rhoode Itumeleng,

Mayor of Emthanjeni Local Municipality, Cllr Lulamile Nkumbi,

Community leaders,

Fellow South Africans,

Today is a day on which we celebrate the great progress we have made as a nation in building a democracy that is founded on equal human rights for all people.

It is a day on which we remember and pay tribute to the many people who fought for these rights and for the great sacrifices that they made.

It is also a day on which we look to the future. We reaffirm our pledge not only to safeguard and uphold these rights at all times, but to strive to ensure that all people may exercise these rights to their fullest.

This is a significant year for the celebration of Human Rights Day.

This year is the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the first bill of rights in South Africa’s history.

This was an act of remarkable vision at a time when the majority of South Africans were by law denied the most basic of human rights.

The adoption of the bill of rights, which had no legal standing at the time, took place just a decade after the Native Land Act had resulted in the mass dispossession of Africans of their land.

It took place 13 years after the Union of South Africa confirmed that black South Africans would have no say in the running of their country.

Today, as we mark Human Rights Day, we pay tribute to those men and women who had the foresight to proclaim that all people in this country have inalienable human rights.

The theme for Human Rights Day this year is: ‘Consolidating and Sustaining Human Rights Culture into the Future.’
As we look to the future, let us reflect on the past.

As we learn the lessons of the past, let us work together confront its devastating legacy.

One of the defining features of the Bill of Rights contained in our Constitution is the inclusion of social and economic rights.

In addition to the right to life, equality and human dignity, our Constitution also says that everyone has the right to housing, health care, food, water, social security and education.

The Constitution says that the state must take reasonable measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.

The Bill of Rights also guarantees the right to property and says the state must work to ensure that citizens have equitable access to land. This property clause makes provision for land reform, restitution and security of tenure to redress the results of past racial discrimination.

This clause would no doubt be welcome by the people who drafted the 1923 Bill of Rights, who declared: “That all Africans have, as the sons of this soil, the God-given right to unrestricted ownership of the land in this, the land of their birth.”

Since the advent of democracy, successive administrations have done much to ensure the progressive realisation of these rights for all South Africans.

The expanding provision of basic services to households has been one of the most important interventions to improve the lives of all South Africans.

According to Statistics South Africa, access to water and sanitation, electricity, housing and other services like waste removal has increased steadily over the last three decades.

Around two million indigent households receive free basic water, free basic electricity and free solid waste removal.

Yet, despite this progress, there are still many people who do not have access to all of these services. Many people live in informal settlements without adequate housing, water or sanitation.

In some municipalities, the provision of these services is unreliable. There are times when water is not provided or is of poor quality, or where refuse is not collected.

The failure to provide adequate services consistently is a human rights issue.

That is why we are working to improve the functioning of local government, which carries the greatest responsibility for the provision of these services.

Through changes to legislation and support programmes, we are working to improve the capacity of public representatives and officials and direct more resources towards maintaining and upgrading local infrastructure.

Government recently re-introduced what are known as the ‘Green Drop’ and ‘Blue Drop’ reports, which detail the state of water provision in municipalities throughout the country. On the basis of these reports, we are undertaking interventions to fix the problems.

There are also a number of water infrastructure projects underway to improve the security of supply of water to key areas across the country.

Another significant intervention against poverty is the provision of social grants, which are the main source of income for about a quarter of households.

Just over 2.5 million people were receiving social grants in 1999. Today, over 18 million people are receiving these grants.

To relieve the pressure on poor households during COVID-19, government introduced the special R350 SRD grant. While this grant has been extended to the end of March 2024, work is underway to provide basic income support for the most vulnerable within the country’s fiscal constraints.

The Bill of Rights says that everyone has the right to a basic education and to further education, which the state must make progressively available and accessible.

Over the last three decades, important progress has been made in access to education.

To ensure every child gets a solid foundation for social and educational development, government has prioritised early childhood development.

The Department of Basic Education, which is now responsible for ECD, is streamlining the requirements for ECD centres to access support and enable thousands more to receive subsidies from government.

South Africa has a significantly high level of enrolment in basic education. In 2019, 96% of six-year-old children attended an education institution.

However, the dropout rate from school is unacceptably high, with the result that less than half of children who start school get a grade 12 pass. This is a problem that the education authorities, school leadership, educators and parents need to work together to address.

An important intervention to improve school attendance and alleviate poverty was the introduction of no-fee schools in poor communities.

We have seen the results of our investment in education in the steady improvement in overall matric pass rate since 1994. From the late 1990s, where the pass rate stood at around 50%, the matric pass rate last year was 80%.

Learners from no-fee schools are steadily performing better in matric, achieving a greater number of bachelor passes.

As part of a commitment to expand access to higher education for students from poor and working class backgrounds the number of students funded by NSFAS increased from 580,000 in 2018 to 770,000 in 2021.

Despite this, as we saw in the last few weeks, many students are still experiencing difficulties in funding their studies, accommodation and living expenses. This year, government plans to finalise the Comprehensive Student Funding Model for higher education. Among other things, this aims to reach those who don’t meet the NSFAS criteria but are still unable to afford tertiary education.

The Bill of Rights says that everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care.

Since the advent of democracy, starting with the provision of free health care to children under 5 years of age and pregnant women, government has made substantial progress in the provision of quality health care, especially to the poor.

However, there is still significant inequality in access to health care.

The National Health Insurance Bill, which is currently before Parliament, is meant to correct this state of affairs. The introduction of the National Health Insurance – or NHI – will enable every South African to receive quality health care regardless of their ability to pay.

We are preparing for the implementation of the NHI through the national quality improvement plan and putting in place the necessary staff and funding. We are improving the quality of care in our clinics through the Ideal Clinic programme. Using the experience of the COVID vaccination record system, we will introduce an electronic solution to improve management of health records.

If we are to advance and secure these social and economic rights into the future then we need to tackle poverty and inequality. We need to create employment and economic opportunity.

To achieve this, to give us the means to enable the progressive realisation of all these rights, we need to grow our economy and achieve far greater levels of investment.

The work that is being undertaken to increase investment in both economic and social infrastructure is a vital part of the effort to improve the provision of services to all South Africans. This includes investment in roads and rural bridges, in new housing settlements, in water schemes and in expanding our electricity network.

By the same measure, the work we are doing to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of our telecommunications industry, electricity system, and ports and railways contributes to increasing investment and employment.

Here in the Northern Cape there are several areas that are attracting new investment, mainly due to the province’s natural resources.

The province’s mining industry continues to grow, while there are new opportunities opening up in new fields such as solar energy and green hydrogen. We welcome the province’s effort to ensure that these projects create further work opportunities by investing in industrial parks and special economic zones.

Government has introduced programmes like the Presidential Employment Stimulus to create public and social employment opportunities for young people in particular. This is happening alongside projects with the private sector to provide work experience for young people and funding to small businesses.

The Bill of Rights guarantees the rights of all people to life, human dignity, freedom and security.

The high levels of violent crime, including crime against women and children, are a direct and brutal violation of these fundamental rights.

Society has come together in different ways to respond to violent crime.

Communities have been working with police through Community Policing Forums. Civil society organisations are working with government to implement the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. Business is working with law enforcement agencies and state-owned companies to tackle damage to economic infrastructure.

As we increase the presence and the visibility of police, as we strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority and improve the operation of our courts, we need to mobilise everyone in society as part of a national effort to end violent crime.

These are among the most important issues that we need to attend to as a nation if we are to sustain our human rights culture into the future.

We cannot claim to be a country that respects human rights if we do not do everything in our power and within our resources to ensure that all South Africans have access to land, housing, food, water, health care and education.

We cannot claim to respect human rights if we do not do everything we can to ensure all people have access to work and economic opportunity, and to live lives that are comfortable, safe and secure.

There can be no doubt that we have achieved much in securing the rights of all South Africans. But we know from daily experience that we need to do much more.

On this Human Rights Day, let us affirm our determination to realise the rights of all the people who live in this country.

In doing so, we will give effect to the promise of our democratic Constitution, and we will be paying the greatest tribute to the visionary leaders who wrote the first South African bill of rights one hundred years ago.

I wish every South African a happy Human Rights Day.

I thank you.

Your Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania,

High Commissioners of South Africa and Tanzania,

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, Mr Ebrahim Patel,

Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Tanzania, Hon Dr Ashatu Kijaji,

Ministers and Deputy Ministers,

Representatives of business from Tanzania and South Africa,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It my great pleasure to welcome President Hassan, her delegation and the business delegation from Tanzania to our beautiful country.

Over the past three days, government representatives at senior official and ministerial level have held discussions on political, diplomatic, defence and security matters, social and cultural affairs, as well as economic matters.

Earlier today, President Hassan and I co-chaired the 2nd Bi-National Commission between our two countries.

We found common ground on practical measures we need to take to forge a new partnership aimed at enhancing and increasing our bilateral trade and investment relations.

This partnership is founded on a friendship that stretches back many decades, when the people of Tanzania stood alongside the people of South Africa in our struggle to end apartheid and establish a democratic society.

The ties between our countries are firm and enduring.  

Since our two countries established diplomatic relations in 1994 and we established the Bi-National Commission in 2011, bilateral trade and investment between our two countries has continued to grow.

If one excludes gold, exports from South Africa to Tanzania increased from $177 million in 1995 to $459 million in 2021.

And Tanzania’s exports to South Africa increased from $4.5 million in 1995 to $30 million in 2021.

Alongside this trade is a significant value chain through which Tanzanian gold is refined in South Africa for sale to central banks and other customers around the world.

This gold trade alone was worth around $880 million in 2021.

South Africa is a major investor in Tanzania.

Between 1997 and 2022, South African companies have invested in a total of 250 projects, valued at US$ 1 billion, which have created more than 18,000 jobs in Tanzania.

The projects cover sectors like agriculture, construction and real estate, telecommunications, financial services, transportation, manufacturing, mining and petroleum, tourism, energy infrastructure, services and broadcasting.

There is still much scope for South Africa and Tanzania to strengthen cooperation in these sectors and to expand into other sectors, such as minerals beneficiation, health care and pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure development.

South Africa and Tanzania are both State Parties to the SADC Free Trade Agreement, which governs trade relations between our two countries.

It is crucial that we leverage the SADC Free Trade Agreement to increase mutually beneficial trade flows.

To achieve this goal, we need deeper and more meaningful dialogue between our respective private sectors.

We have convened this Business Forum to encourage the private sector to make practical suggestions about the basket of products that should be targeted for trade under preferential terms.

We need to transform the structure of trade relations with each other and with the rest of the world.

For example, between 2019 and 2021, South Africa imported $68 million worth of certain significant categories of goods from Tanzania, while it imported $4.8 billion of the same set of products from the rest of the world.

During the same period, Tanzania imported $1 billion worth of certain significant categories of goods from South Africa, while importing $14 billion of the same set of products from the rest of the world.

We are buying goods from other countries that we could be buying from each other.

We are creating jobs in other countries that we could be creating in South Africa and Tanzania.

We must therefore make a concerted effort to increase the supply of ‘Made in South Africa’ and ‘Made in Tanzania’ goods into each other’s markets.

I look forward to today’s deliberations.

It is our desire to build on the solid relations between our two countries and to harness our collective capabilities to forge a new deal for the mutual benefit of all our people.

Asante sana.

I thank you.