Acting President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour former Minister of Labour and High Commissioner to Canada, Mr Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdladlana.

Acting President Mashatile offers his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Mdladlana who has passed away at the age of 72.

A teacher by training and a former school principal, Mr Mdladlana became a member of South Africa’s first democratic Parliament in 1994.

Four years later, he was appointed Minister of Labour by President Nelson Mandela and was retained in this role by Presidents Mbeki, Motlanthe and Zuma.

The Special Official Funeral Category 2 designated by the Acting President will entail ceremonial elements presented by the South African Police Service.

The occasion will take place in Cape Town on Saturday, 26 October 2024. Further details will be communicated in due course.

Acting President Mashatile has declared that the National Flag be flown at half mast around the country from tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 23 October 2024, until the evening of the funeral on 26 October 2024.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning, Tuesday, 22 October 2024, arrived in Kazan in the Russian Federation to lead South Africa’s participation in the XVI BRICS Summit.

The summit is held from 22 to 24 October 2024 under the theme: "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security."

President Ramaphosa will commence his programme this afternoon, 22 October 2024, with a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation.

The meeting will present an opportunity for President Ramaphosa to communicate priorities of the seventh administration, highlight the strategic importance of the Russian Federation to South Africa, and to exchange views with the Host President on issues of mutual interest.

President Ramaphosa will also hold several bilateral meetings with Leaders attending the BRICS Summit to strengthen political and economic relations in line with South Africa's national interests and foreign policy priorities.

In the evening, President Ramaphosa will attend the Welcome Cultural Ceremony for BRICS Leaders hosted by the Chair of BRICS 2024 President Putin.

On Wednesday, 23 October 2024, the President will deliver the country statement during the BRICS Plenary session themed Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security."

He will also attend the Welcoming Ceremony for Heads of Delegations of BRICS States, Invited Countries and International Organizations.

President Ramaphosa will deliver the second country statement on 24 October 2024 during the BRICS Summit Outreach/BRICS Plus session held under the theme “BRICS and Global South: building a better world together”. The aim of the dialogue is to enhance BRICS ties with leading developing economies.

BRICS plays an important role in a multipolar world, championing multilateralism, mutually beneficial cooperation and sustainable development.

A founding value of BRICS is the shared vision of the urgent need to restructure global political, economic and financial governance to be more fair, just and representative. The expanded BRICS now covers 43% of the world's population, 32% of the world's land area, around 35% of global GDP and 20% of world exports and provides opportunities to develop mutually beneficial cooperation that contributes to the sustainable growth and development of South Africa.

The Leaders of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will meet for the first time since new members were invited to join BRICS during the Johannesburg II BRICS Summit of 23 August 2023.

During the XVI BRICS Summit, BRICS Leaders will reflect on the status of mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation, regional and global economic and political developments as well as global governance reform.

They will consider reports requested during the Johannesburg II BRICS Summit, including a report by BRICS Foreign Ministers on the further development of the BRICS Partner Country model and prospective candidates and a report by BRICS Finance Ministers on the consideration of local currencies, payment instruments and platforms. The Summit will also hear reports from the New Development Bank, BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.

President Ramaphosa is supported by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga; Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Your Excellency, President Vladimir Putin,
Fellow BRICS Leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
It is a great honour to address the BRICS Business Forum as it meets to expand and diversify trade and investment between our countries.
 
As a formation, BRICS has an important role in the world. It has the potential to drive significant change in the global economy and international relations.
 
The historic expansion of BRICS creates further opportunities to foster robust trade and development cooperation. The expanded BRICS group now covers 43 percent of the world's population.
 
The group together accounts for 27 percent of global GDP and a fifth of world exports. The opportunities for cooperation and economic progress are immense. 
 
The BRICS Business Council has a crucial role in expanding trade between BRICS countries.
 
As governments, we are committed to support the work of business.
 
We look forward to the report of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to the BRICS Summit on the strengthening of correspondent banking networks between BRICS countries and enabling settlements in local currencies.
 
As the global economy undergoes far-reaching technological change, BRICS countries must create a collaborative environment for the advancement of digital technology.
 
E-commerce in particular has great potential to enhance market access and economic growth.
 
We support the call for international rules and standards on issues such as cross-border taxation and data privacy.
 
South Africa is ready to play its part in realising the economic potential of BRICS. 
 
In the midst of an improved economic outlook for South Africa, growth forecasts for the next two years have been revised upwards. 
 
Our newly-elected Government of National Unity has prioritised structural economic reform, massive investment in infrastructure and improving the business operating environment.
 
South Africa has a diverse economic base with developed industries in areas such as manufacturing and services. 
 
We have sophisticated financial services, world class infrastructure and abundant natural resources.
 
We call on fellow BRICS countries to participate in the growth of South Africa and indeed the rest of the African continent.
 
The African Continental Free Trade Area is unlocking massive opportunities for trade, investment and industrial growth.
 
The African continent is looking for partnerships that will unlock the dynamism and potential of its 1.3 billion people.
 
Africa is home to a population that is young, digitally connected and increasingly urbanised.
 
Investment in skills development is growing a workforce that will make the African continent an engine of production and growth well into the future.
 
The success of the African Continental Free Trade Area requires a substantial investment in infrastructure.
 
We therefore call on fellow BRICS countries to partner with us to build the roads, ports for imports and exports, rail, energy and telecommunications networks that will enable Africa to industrialise and trade with other countries across the world.
 
To ensure that the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area are spread across African societies, we need to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises and women-owned businesses receive focused support and financing. 
 
I commend the BRICS Business Council, the respective Ministers who have worked very hard and their respective officials and all the business leaders for the excellent work to build an effective and dynamic economic network.
 
To all the delegates, I am certain that your participation in this BRICS Business Forum will in the end produce great results so that you will be able to move from contact to contract.
 
I am certain that this Business Forum will help catapult BRICS economies towards a much higher level of more equitable and accelerated growth.
 
And that it will further increase the standing of BRICS countries in the world’s economy. 
 
I wish you all the best with your deliberations.
 
I thank you.

Link: Video message by President Ramaphosa during the 2024 BRICS Business Forum, Kazan - https://we.tl/t-gU7H8XNDJg

President Cyril Ramaphosa wishes the Matric Class of 2024 well for the National Senior Certificate examinations that begin tomorrow, Monday, 21 October 2024.

President Ramaphosa said: “As your parents, teachers, siblings, friends and neighbours, we are proud of all learners who have reached and are ready for this milestone.

“You started out as the Grade 1 Class of 2012 and have succeeded to this point with the help of so many people around you who are supporting and applauding the work you have put in up to this point.

“You are ready now to play back the knowledge you have acquired during these important years of your life.

“Be confident in what you know, believe in yourself and know that you are meant to succeed.

“These examinations are not an obstacle; they’re a gateway to your continued success and a new phase of your life in which the adventure of learning and the ability to share your knowledge with others never stops.

“As you continue to prepare for your exams, there will be moments of difficulty. When these come, ask for help from everyone around you and they will support you.

“Motivate yourself and give encouragement to your classmates who, like you, are a generation whose skills and interests will take our country forward.

“You’ve got this.”

Link to video message: President Ramaphosa wishes matric class of 2024 well for National Senior Certificate examination - https://we.tl/t-KyfRQiiYsu

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has learned with sadness of the passing of former Minister of Labour and High Commissioner to Canada, Membathisi Mphumzi Shepherd Mdadlana.

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family and friends of Mr Mdladlana who has passed away at the age of 72.

A teacher by training and a former school principal, Mr Mdladlana became a member of South Africa’s first democratic Parliament in 1994.

Four years later, he was appointed Minister of Labour by President Nelson Mandela and was retained in this role by Presidents Mbeki, Motlanthe and Zuma.

Mr Mdladlana’s predecessor was Dr Tito Mboweni. Dr Mboweni passed away a week ago and will be honoured tomorrow, Saturday, 19 October 2024, with a Special Official Funeral Category 2.

President Ramaphosa said: “Membathisi Mdladlana’s passing is a loss to his family and friends as much as it is to the nation.

“While we may try to prepare ourselves for the inevitability of such a loss, bereavement is never easy.

“We have recently been visited by a succession of departures of veterans of our liberation struggle and pioneers of the dawn of our democracy.

“Membathisi Mdladlana was one such pioneer who was a first-generation Member of Parliament who had been prepared for this role during an extended period of leadership in the South Western African Teachers Association), the Peninsula African Teachers Association and the Cape African Teachers Union before becoming a founding member and Chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union.

“He provided leadership in this strategic sector of our struggle at a time of great repression by the state and growing resistance by the people.

“In the year in which we are marking 30 years of freedom and democracy, Shepherd Mdladlana’s passing and that of other leaders takes us back in time to the sacrifices and struggles of our past, the hope with which we embarked on building a new society and the hard work it has taken since then to secure the gains we have made.

“Shepherd Mdladlana will live on in our hearts and our history. May his soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Prof Wim de Villiers – Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch,
Prof Thuli Madonsela- the Director of the Centre for Social Justice of the University of Stellenbosch, 
Deputy Minister Hon. Samantha Graham,
Dr Babagana Ahmadu of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization,

Ladies and gentlemen, and esteemed guests,

It is my great honour to be invited as we gather to discuss a matter of profound importance—the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger in South Africa. This goal is not merely a statistic; it represents the hope, dignity, and future of millions of our fellow citizens. Zero Hunger is also a pressing global challenge as governments and civil society alike are confronted with the need to ensure sustainable food security for all.

As our populations grow and climate change intensifies, the urgency of food security cannot be overstated. Sustainable food security is not just about having enough food; it is about access, quality, and the ability to produce food without compromising future generations.

Equally, hunger is a multifaceted challenge that affects our economy, health, and social fabric. In a nation as rich in resources as ours, it is unacceptable that millions of South Africans still face food insecurity. Another paradox we face is that South Africa is a food-producing nation, where millions still experience hunger, leading to malnutrition, stunting, and diet-related diseases such as obesity.

Therefore, we must pursue food security with urgency and determination.

To achieve Zero Hunger, we must first enhance agricultural productivity and ensure equitable access to nutritious food. This involves investing in sustainable farming practices, empowering smallholder farmers, and promoting local food systems. By supporting our farmers, we can boost food production and create jobs, fostering both economic growth and community resilience.

We must promote sustainable farming methods that enhance productivity while protecting our natural resources. Practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming can increase resilience against climate change and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. Supporting smallholder farmers through training and access to technology can empower communities and boost local food production. 

It is therefore important and significant that universities like Stellenbosch are deeply involved in this initiative. It would be important for us in government to explore opportunities to partner with institutions of higher learning on this initiative, in order to extend the awareness to communities in the rural areas of our country that are daily confronted food insecurity.

This week at one of the meetings, we were confronted with a submission that brought to reality the potential extent of our food insecurity challenge, and that if factors impacting on food security are left unattended, food insecurity in South Africa will worsen despite current Government interventions such as the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), which provides daily meals to over 9.6 million learners across 21,000 public schools, and the Child Support Grant, which has lifted around 2 million children out of poverty and reduced stunting and malnutrition-related health issues. 

Imagine learning that 91% of South Africa is dryland or that it will be dryland in not so distant future. One then understands the underlying cause of a swift change to drought with a mere experience of rain shortfalls. This must make us understand the urgency to develop sound drought resilience and water conservation plans.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In 2014, the Government introduced the National Policy on Food and Nutrition Security, followed by the National Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Plan (2018-2023) whose implementation involved multiple Government departments and entities with support of various interventions receive support of local and international development partners.

We are now in the process of developing the NFNSIP (2024 -2030) as we chase the NDPs Vision 2030 goals. We are not only calling for a partnership in its development but with its implementation as our country focuses on achieving the overdue SDG on Zero Hunger. 

Our policy approach to Zero Hunger acknowledges the lingering consequences of apartheid, which has left deep-rooted inequalities in access to land, income, and employment and other economic opportunities. (I must immediately clarify that South Africa is on course to achieve its set target on land redistribution by 2030 and the project to ensure productive use of all redistributed land is underway).

Newer challenges such as population growth, rising cost of basic food and essentials, and climate change are exacerbating the challenge of food insecurity. Thus, addressing hunger demands systemic interventions that go beyond merely providing food. 

It requires education to be positioned to play a crucial role in addressing food insecurity for both the immediate needs and for future generations.

We must educate our communities about land conservation, and strengthening local food systems. Communities should be encouraged to support local farmers’ markets and food cooperatives. Localised food systems can be more responsive to the needs of communities and provide fresh, nutritious food to those who need it most. This will also foster economic resilience and food sovereignty. 

Collaboration is also key if South Africa is to attain the goal of Zero Hunger. We must forge partnerships across government, private sector, and civil society including academia to create comprehensive strategies that tackle food insecurity. Innovative solutions, such as urban farming and food waste reduction initiatives, can provide immediate relief while contributing to long-term sustainability.

We must all collaborate to address the systemic inequalities that exacerbate hunger. This means prioritising marginalised communities and ensuring that everyone has access to resources and opportunities. Food security cannot be achieved without addressing poverty and inequality.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Another systematic intervention must be the coordination of invest in research and innovation and this is one area that universities can play a crucial role more so when R&D budgets continue dwindle. I have since learnt that it institutions of higher learning are more cost effective as research centres than those Government initiated research initiatives outside academia.

I have equally learnt that research outputs that are delinked from policy formulation and theatres of implementation are not meaningful contributors to the body of knowledge. This re-emphasises the need for a strengthened partnership between the University of Stellenbosch and Government and not just one Government department.

Honestly, universities are better placed to lead research on sustainable agricultural technologies, such as drought-resistant crops and precision farming techniques, can help us adapt to changing conditions, and public and private sectors must collaborate to ensure that these innovations are accessible to all, particularly in the most rural of our Provinces.

Examples of targeted social protection programmes include The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, introduced during COVID-19, which has now been extended to mitigate ongoing vulnerabilities, including hunger. Further details will be provided by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Social Development (DSD). 

As we move forward, let us remember that achieving Zero Hunger is also about fostering a society where everyone has the means to thrive and that achieving sustainable food security requires a multifaceted approach.

Remember, we can build a South Africa where every child goes to bed nourished and every family has access to healthy, affordable food, and a South Africa that contributes to the protection of the planet for generations to come.

Thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Saturday, 19 October 2024, deliver the eulogy at the Special Official Funeral of the late former Minister of Finance, Dr Tito Mboweni.

The official funeral will take place at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province.

President Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of Dr Mboweni who passed away on Saturday, 12 October 2024, at the age of 65.

Dr Mboweni was the democratic South Africa’s first Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 in the Cabinet of Founding President Nelson Mandela.

He served as Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a decade from 1999. Dr Mboweni also served as Minister of Finance in the administration led by President Ramaphosa from 2018 to 2021.

His funeral will feature ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers present,
Premiers and MECs,
President of the NAAMSA, Mr Billy Tom,
CEO of NAAMSA, Mr Mike Mabasa,
Representatives of industry,
Representatives of labour,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Thank you for the opportunity to give this keynote address.

This SA Auto Week is taking place at a time when business confidence is on the rise. 

There has been a marked improvement in investment sentiment in recent months.

This is apparent among both local and international investors.

Over the past month, Deputy President Paul Mashatile and I have had opportunity to engage with business leaders in Beijing, New York and London.

Our experience confirms a greater interest in South Africa’s prospects. 

The auto sector continues to be one of the star performers of our economy.

It makes a significant contribution to our GDP. 

Last year, around a fifth of value addition within local manufacturing came from vehicle and automotive component manufacturing. 

The South African auto industry accounts for around 15 percent of total exports.

It continues to blaze a trail in strategic economic markets in the European Union, Africa and North America. 

The automotive industry is a major employer. 

In 2023, there were approximately 116,000 people employed in vehicle and component manufacturing. 

Close to 400,000 people work on the retail side in dealerships and repair shops. 

The sector continues to actively support transformation. 

Since it was established in 2021, the Automotive Transformation Fund has supported more than 60 beneficiaries. 

It has facilitated market access for black-owned firms to the value of R4 billion and supported approximately 2,400 jobs across the industry value chain. 

This year marks a hundred years of vehicle manufacturing in South Africa. 

Since the first Model T Ford rolled off the assembly line in the Ford plant in Port Elizabeth in 1924, South Africa’s automotive manufacturing footprint has expanded considerably. 

International auto companies are major investors in the South African economy.

They have consistently featured prominently at the annual South Africa Investment Conference, which we inaugurated in 2018. 

Over the past few years, these companies have invested an average of R8 billion a year. 

Component suppliers have invested R4 billion on average a year. 

Industry giants like Ford, VW, BMW, Toyota and others continue to demonstrate confidence in our economy through by expanding and upgrading existing operations. 

From humble beginnings a century ago, this industry has shown remarkable resilience. 

The success of the automotive sector since the advent of democracy is testament to the success of transformative industrial policy. 

We have pursued an industrial policy underpinned by increased value-addition. 

Through our support programmes and master plan, we have strived to ensure that the automotive sector is stronger, globally competitive and transformed. 

Through the automotive master plan we aim to increasing the industry’s contribution to global production and increase local content to 60 percent.

We aim to bring new companies into the value chain and increasing value addition. 

Yet, even as we can celebrate the achievements of the last 100 years, the industry still faces considerable headwinds. 

Like all manufacturing, the auto industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global tensions and international conflict have disrupted supply chains. 

The global transition towards decarbonisation presents a fundamental challenge to the industry. 

The transition towards cleaner and more sustainable fuels – together with stringent regulations in key markets – puts a number of automotive firms and sub-industries in a vulnerable position. 

Even as the journey to net zero poses a challenge for the auto industry, there is at the same time immense opportunity. 

The local automotive sector needs to position itself to take advantage of the demand for electric vehicles, new energy vehicles and sustainable fuels. 

The transition to cleaner, more sustainable practices in the automotive industry is a priority for our government. 

The automotive industry has a critical role to play in achieving South Africa’s climate targets. 

We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the private sector to promote the production of New Energy Vehicles and the development of the necessary infrastructure to support them. 
 
In the Opening of Parliament Address in July this year, I said that South Africa will look to beneficiate more of our critical minerals instead of them leaving our country in raw form. 

It is therefore encouraging that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, together with National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources are in conversation about implementing the Electric Vehicle White Paper. 

This work includes the beneficiation of our critical minerals for the production of new energy vehicles and their associated value chains.

It also includes the production of batteries for battery electric vehicles and the development of value chains in the green hydrogen fuel cell market.

We are working to finalise comprehensive NEV policy guidelines that do not exclude alternative technologies such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids. 

Consideration must be given to incentives for manufacturers as well as tax rebates or subsidies for consumers to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. 

This is not just about creating a greener future but also about ensuring South Africa remains competitive in the global market. 

As many of our major trading partners rapidly shift towards EVs, it is imperative that we remain part of this global supply chain.

This is a major industrialisation opportunity for South Africa and the region, particularly within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

This will position South Africa as a forward-thinking, green economy.

It will advance our aspirations to be a global automotive hub. 

As government, we remain firmly committed to the work already underway to improve the operational performance of our energy, freight and logistics sectors – all of which directly impacts the automotive industry. 

Transnet continues with its work to revitalise the Port of Durban.

It is also proceeding with the upgrade of the Gauteng-Eastern Cape railway line as part of Project Ukuvuselela. 

As the Government of National Unity, we have prioritised inclusive economic growth and job creation. 

We look forward to deepening our collaboration as government, industry and labour to achieve both these objectives. 

There may be headwinds. But in challenges lie opportunities. 

It is up to us to harness these opportunities to grow, to expand and to transform. 

I wish you well in your deliberations and look forward to the productive outcomes of SA Auto Week. 

I thank you.
 

The inaugural meeting of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Clearing House Mechanism, which was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month for the purposes of resolving policy disagreements within the 10-member Government of National Unity (GNU), got off to a good start.

Convened by Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as Leader of Government Business in Parliament, the virtual meeting took place on the evening of 16 October 2024. It was attended by Minister Maropene Ramakgopa and ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli from the African National Congress; Minister Dean Mcpherson from the Democratic Alliance; Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa from Inkatha Freedom Party; Mr Brett Herron from GOOD Party; Mr Apa Pooe from Pan Africanist Congress; Dr Corne Mulder from Freedom Front Plus; Mr Kenny Kunene from Patriotic Alliance; Mr Kabelo Gwamanda from Al Jama-Ah; Mr Makashule Gana from Rise Mzansi, and apologies noted from Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa from United Democratic Movement.

The Office of the Deputy President will serve as the Secretariat of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism and the meeting welcomed the draft Terms of Reference and agreed that these be finalised in the next meeting to be held in Parliament on Thursday, 24 October 2024 from 09h00 to 13h00.

The meeting will receive reports on:

• preparations for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 meeting to be hosted in the country next year; 
• preparations for the National Dialogue; 
• policy challenges such as the BELA Act. specifically on the two clauses that the President has asked that they form part of the engagement with relevant parties.

The meeting will also deal with challenges at Provincial and Local Government level and it was appreciated that contradictions are inevitable in coalition governments and that learning from countries who have such coalitions is the best mechanism to employ towards achieving the goals set out in the Statement of Intent, and achieving the three strategic priorities of the GNU, namely, to drive inclusive growth and job creation; to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state.

Enquiries related to the GNU Clearing House Mechanism: Mr Mduduzi Mbada, Head of Office in the Office of the Deputy President on 082 900 1893. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The South African Government Cabinet endorsed the candidacy of Ms. Swazi Tshabalala for the Presidency of the African Development Bank on 07 August 2024. However, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) decided on the contrary. Therefore, South Africa abides by the collective decision of the community. 

South Africa further recognisies that the ultimate decision rests with the Bank's shareholders. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria