Midrand - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Saturday, 10 October 2015, receive a courtesy call from Nigerian Vice President Yemi   Osinbajo at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand at 13h00.

Members of the media are invited for a photo opportunity.

Date: Saturday, 10 October 2015 (today)

Time: 13h00

Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the second Higher Education Summit at the Durban International   Convention Centre on Thursday, 15th October 2015.

The Summit will focus on, among other issues, language policy in universities or institutions of higher learning, the transformation of   institutional cultures in universities, and the decolonisation of university curricula.

The Summit is a platform for discussion among students, student formations, university management, university councils and other stakeholders on issues of concern in institutions of higher learning.

Summit resolutions will empower the Minister of Higher Education and Training and other role players in the higher education sector with information to effect radical change in institutions of higher learning.

Media are invited as follows:

Time: 09h00 (start of formal programme) 

Venue: Durban International Convention Centre

RSVP: Nangamso Gxaba – 072 321 6355

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 0829904853

Issued by the Presidency

Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday 29 January 2019, attend a meeting of the Public-Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) and address Business Unity South Africa’s (BUSA) inaugural Business Economic Indaba at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.

The Public-Private Initiative partnership was established in April 2018 with an aim to align strategic planning between government and the private sector in the interest of improving economic growth and the way government and business work together.

The meeting will be chaired by Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Automotive, Agricultural, Chemicals, Manufacturing, Tourism, Renewable Energy – Wind and Solar, Energy, Construction, Pharmaceutical, Mining,  Retail, ICT, Health and Insurance are the sectors of the economy which comprise this partnership and will present their five year , projected high level growth plans which will accelerate  economic growth and job creation. The 14 sectors in the PGI will also highlight challenges that obstruct growth and the government intervention required to resuscitate unhindered production.  

Following the meeting with the PPGI, President Ramaphosa will address Business Unity South Africa’s (BUSA) inaugural Business Economic Indaba.

Under the theme “Strategic Dialogue for a Transformed and Inclusive Economy”, the Indaba will see social compact partners in government, business and labour explore solutions that will build and sustain the economy for the benefit of all. 

President Ramaphosa has during the course of his Presidency engaged extensively with business leadership in the country and abroad, driven by the effort to secure more than US $100 billion in domestic and international investment in five years, which is critical to job creation and industrialisation in the South African economy.

The President has outlined an economic stimulus and recovery plan which entails implementing and enhancing economic reforms, reviewing public spending to support job creation, establishing an infrastructure fund, prioritising urgent matters in education and health and investing in municipal social infrastructure improvement.

Details of the President’s participation at the BUSA Economic Indaba are as follows: 
Date: 29 January 2019
Time: 16:00
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand 

Media who would like to cover the BUSA Economic Indaba are requested to liaise with Khutjo Sebata on 079 898 4621.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister of Labour, Ms Mildred Oliphant,

Deputy Minister of Labour, Inkosi Patekile Holomisa,

Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi

Members of Parliament,

Acting Chairperson of the Commission for Employment Equity, Ms Tabea Kabinde,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening. Goeie Naand. Dumelang.

It is a great pleasure to address the inaugural Employment Equity Awards.

This is a fitting platform to recognise and reward employers who excel in embodying the true spirit of transformation in the workplace.

These awards coincide with the 60 year anniversary of the Freedom Charter, in which delegates from diverse backgrounds declared that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

This was a bold statement that all South Africans have an equal right not only to citizenship, but an equal right to the wealth the country produces and the opportunities it provides.

Our task, six decades later, is to work together to have those rights realised.

The Employment Equity Act of 1998 sought to give meaning to the Constitutional imperative to achieve social justice and equality.

This Act aims to promote the constitutional right of equality through eliminating unfair discrimination in employment.

More than that, it aims to redress the effects of discrimination and achieve a diverse workforce broadly representative of our people.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Employment equity is at the centre of our journey from a reviled and discriminatory system to an inclusive society built on shared prosperity.

It is about putting mechanisms and instruments in place to ensure that we forge a society where everyone has the opportunity to embrace their full potential without the threat of unfair discrimination.

This is a necessary project to unearth our human capital by exploiting its full, diverse demographic dividend.

In a document published in 1994, Albie Sachs wrote:

“Affirmative action is a matter of doing right, but it is more than that, it is a question of survival.

“If our country and every region and city in it is divided into manifestly rich and flagrantly poor areas, there will never be social peace…

“We have to free the capacities of millions of people who have never had a real chance to show their mettle.

“Widening the pool of candidates for any post should lead to greater competence, not less.”

Distinguished Guests,

These awards reinforce the notion that we must all take employment equity seriously and not reduce it to meeting compliance targets.

We must approach it with an understanding that employment equity is really about maximising the human potential of all South Africans.

Diversity in the workplace is critical for nation building and social cohesion.

It contributes to the development of a country that is based on inclusion, not exclusion; on dignity, not dehumanisation; on opportunity, not marginalisation.

Without equity, our workplaces will never truly be South African.

Without equity, prejudice and ignorance thrive.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Discrimination takes many forms and affects different groups of people.

Much of the work we are doing focuses on righting the injustices suffered by the majority – black people and women.

But we should be careful not to neglect other groups of people who are also exposed to discrimination and marginalisation.

People with disability may constitute only a small section of our population, but their exclusion is no less painful.

The lack of opportunity is, for them, no less devastating.

Their rights are no less important.

And because they are in a minority, their cause is much less prominent.

Not only do they experience discrimination in the workplace, they also experience discrimination at school, in communities, in broader society.

Affirming people with disability requires not only a more deliberate approach to recruitment, employment and promotion.

It also requires that we confront the notion that a disability renders a person incapable.

It requires that, as employers, we recognise the impediments that people with disability face and take active measures to remove them.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Women in the workforce also face impediments.

Many experience discriminatory practices such as pay inequality, sexual harassment, and intimidation.

It is a cause for concern that despite improvements in educational qualifications, women occupy few senior positions in government and even fewer in the private sector.

The National Development Plan argues that “the transformation of the economy should involve the active participation and empowerment of women.”

Preference for males over females in most of the sectors of our economy continues.

More women are employed in low-skilled jobs that attract low pay.

Yet to advance the position of women in the workplace, we need to recognise that many of the impediments are rooted in social norms and practices.

We need to address social expectations about the role of women in the family – and assert that men are parents too.

Company policies, practices and attitudes need to accommodate the possibility of shared parenting.

Corporate culture often inhibits the advancement of women.

Where women are in the minority, their concerns and interests are often not reflected in company practices and they are often excluded from social interactions and informal networks.

Education is central to the empowerment of women.

Every effort needs to be made to keep female students in school and tertiary institutions.

Women are most successful in countries where there is high female enrolment in schools and universities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we transform the workplace, we must transform society.

We must ensure that all our people share in the wealth of this country.

That means, among other things, that we must affirm blacks in general and Africans in particular in all institutions and in all places of work.

The Act also requires that employers take measures to progressively reduce disproportionate levels of pay between different categories of employees.

This seeks to address the broader challenge of wage inequality, which diminishes the quality of life of many working people.

It recognises that in a great many companies, most of the low-paying positions are occupied by black people and most of the senior positions by white people.

There is a responsibility on employers to take active measures to address these disparaties.

We urge them to follow the example of the cement company PPC, which took a decision in 2013 to cut the pay of its CEO by R1 million and freeze the pay of its top 60 managers to improve the wages of its 1,200 lowest earners.

We must craft an approach that affirms all those who suffered discrimination and exclusion in a manner that promotes cohesion and unity.

We recognise that, in practice, this is not always straightforward.

If not managed properly, it can establish new forms of marginalisation and lead to resentment.

We therefore appreciate and applaud those employers that are being honoured here this evening.

They have grappled with these challenges and they have succeeded.

For them, transformation has become an essential part of their being.

They are not implementing it begrudgingly or half-heartedly.

These are companies that are discovering and embracing the benefits of bringing South Africans together to share values and create shared value.

They understand that compliance is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end.

They seek a diverse, representative workplace that secures inclusive growth and shared success.

I hope that the organisations we are celebrating today will be an example to others.

We would like to see them leading workshops on employment equity best practice.

Employment equity is truly about socio-economic development.

It makes business sense to those companies that seek growth.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners tonight.

Your exemplary conduct must encourage the critics of employment equity to realise that there is value in actively empowering those that were denied opportunities in the past.

It is in our hands to make South Africa a home where blacks and whites, men and women, the young and the elderly, and those living with disability feel and experience that they truly belong.

I thank you.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 15 October 2015, deliver the keynote address at the first Employment Equity Awards Gala Dinner hosted by the Department of Labour and the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE).

The event at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg, will recognise the achievements of employers in furthering the objectives of the Employment Equity Act and embracing the true spirit of transformation.

The Department of Labour and the CEE will use this opportunity to highlight the excellent role played by employers in developing and implementing strategies for:

· Promoting equal opportunity, diversity and fair treatment in employment and for the elimination of unfair discrimination;

· Implementing affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups (i.e. black people, women and people with disabilities);

· Ensuring that suitable qualified people from designated groups have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in all occupational levels in the workplace; and,

· Transforming the workplace to achieve employment equity and diversity.

In this regard, the EE Awards will be conferred in categories such as state-owned enterprises, educational institutions, non-profit organisations, national, provincial and local government, and the private sector.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported by the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant and senior government officials.

Media are invited as follows:

Date: Thursday, 15 October 2015

Venue: Ballroom, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg

Time: 18h30

For enquiries please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 7 February 2019, deliver the last State of the Nation Address for the fifth and current Parliament.
 
In terms of Section 42 of the Constitution, the President may summon Parliament to an extraordinary sitting at any time to conduct special business.
 
 Since the advent of democracy in 1994, the President of the Republic has annually called for a joint sitting of the National Assembly and National   Council of Provinces, to provide an overview of current developments in the country and to set out government’s key plans for the year ahead.
 
At 19h00 on February 7, President Ramaphosa will deliver his second State of the Nation Address following his election in February 2018. This State of  the Nation Address will also signify South Africa’s marking of 25 years of freedom and democracy.
 
The 2019 occasion will focus the nation’s attention on the symbolism and ceremonial content of South Africa’s democracy, as well as on the substance of renewal and growth at a time when South Africans wish to see and experience inclusive and sustainable growth that creates jobs and sustains communities.
 
The State of the Nation Address is an opportunity for the President to take stock of challenges faced by the nation but also of progress made.
 
The ceremonial content of the day will again highlight the mutual regard and partnership among the three arms of the state, in line with the Constitutional vision.
 
The Address embraces all South Africans and all sectors of society, and reflects the lived experience of all South Africans, regardless of background or political orientation.
 
It also focuses the minds and energies of all South Africans on the values that bind the nation together and on the actions needed to build and sustain our shared future.
 
In addition, the State of the Nation Address is followed closely by international stakeholders who use the Address as a yearly point of reference for their engagement with government, business and the people of South Africa.
 
President Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to take an active interest in the State of the Nation Address so that they can play their part in helping South Africa grow.
 
The President has emphasised that the Address reflects the role played by all sectors of society in shaping a better future and responding to challenges. It is therefore an inclusive account of a nation working together to secure and maintain renewal and growth.
 
Before, during and after the February 7 State of the Nation Address, public engagement on this important national event is invited on #SONA2019.
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Stockholm - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected in Sweden, on Sunday 18 October 2015 to attend and co-chair the 8th session   of the South Africa-Sweden Bi-National Commission scheduled for Stockholm from 18-21 October 2015. The visit is part of a three-nation visit   including Cuba and Mexico.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported during this visit by Minister  Nomvula Mokonyane, Deputy Ministers Nomaindia Mfeketo,   Mduduzi Manana, Mzwandile Masina and Hlengiwe Mkhize, and advisors Steyn Speed and Dr. Gerhard Koornhof.

The visit to Sweden is aimed at consolidating political and economic bilateral relations between the two countries in the areas of trade and industry, science and technology, higher education, environment, water and sanitation, telecommunications and co-operative governance. The Bi-National Commission, which will be co-chaired with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Asa Romson, will witness the launch of the environment, energy and water sub-committee which will add to existing committees on political affairs, economic affairs, science and technology and a forum on human rights.

While in Sweden, Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to pay a courtesy call on Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven as part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations while deepening co-operation at a multilateral level to transform the global political and economic governance including the reform of the UN system as well as the UN Security Council.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will also lay a wreath at the graveside of the late former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme who played a pivotal role during the anti-apartheid struggle in pursuit of peace, freedom and justice in South Africa.

At an investor level, Deputy President Ramaphosa will address the Swedish Business Forum and interact with a select group of senior executives of Swedish companies as part of efforts to encourage more trade and foreign direct investment into South Africa. This will happen within the overall  thrust of the National Development Plan to grow our economy with a view to addressing our domestic  triple challenges of unemployment, inequality  and poverty.

In this regard, Sweden ranks among South Africa’s major trading partners within the EU. The overall trade between the two countries, despite fluctuations, grew from R13.1 billion in 2010 to R13.6 billion in 2014.

South African exports increased from R2.3 billion to R2.4 billion between 2013 and 2014 due to an increase in demand for agro-processed products and advanced manufactured goods such as grape wines, beverage spirits, vinegar, iron and steel. Imports from Sweden on the other hand grew by 14% between 2010 and 2012 to R12 billion. More can still be done to increase the volume of value-added products from South Africa to Sweden particularly in medium to high technology manufacturing.

This year’s Bi-National Commission session will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between South African Medical Research Council and the Swedish Research Council to advance co-operation in the area of health research.

Similarly, Letters of Intent on Water Research and Water Resource Management  will be signed to advance co-operation in water research and management. A Letter of Intent will also be signed on Environmental Protection and Climate Change. The South African delegation will also explore initiatives to implement ICT SMME development, digital opportunities programme under SA Connect through skills development for communities, e-skills development programme and the research, development and innovation.

The delegation will also seek co-operation to expand twinning partnerships between South African and Swedish municipalities to support training and capacity building in infrastructure planning, improvement of public participation, municipal governance through exchanges.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

The Presidency

Pretoria

Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today, Saturday 17 October 2015, depart South Africa for Sweden where he is expected to attend and co-chair the 8th session of the South Africa-Sweden Binational Commission scheduled for Stockholm from 18-21   October 2015. The visit is part of a three-nation visit including Cuba and Mexico.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported during this visit by Ministers Nomvula Mokonyane, Edna Molewa and Deputy Ministers Nomaindia Mfeketo, Mduduzi Manana, Mzwandile Masina and Hlengiwe Mkhize, and advisors Dr. Nono Simelela and Dr. Gerhard Koornhof.

The visit to Sweden is aimed at consolidating political and economic bilateral relations between the two countries in the areas of trade and industry, science and technology, higher education, environment, water and sanitation, telecommunications and co-operative governance. The Binational Commission, which will be co-chaired with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Asa Romson, will witness the launch of the environment, energy and water sub-committee which will add to existing committees on political affairs, economic affairs, science and technology and a forum on human rights.

While in Sweden Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to pay a courtesy call on Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven as part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations while deepening co-operation at a multilateral level to transform the global political and economic governance including the reform of the UN system as well as the UN Security Council. 

Deputy President Ramaphosa will also lay a wreath at the graveside of the late former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme who played a pivotal role during the anti-apartheid struggle in pursuit of peace, freedom and justice in South Africa.

At an investor level, Deputy President Ramaphosa will address the Swedish Business Forum and interact with a select group of senior executives of Swedish companies as part of efforts to encourage more trade and foreign direct investment into South Africa. This will happen within the overall thrust of the National Development Plan to grow our economy with a view to addressing our domestic triple challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

In this regard, Sweden ranks among South Africa’s major trading partners within the EU. The overall trade between the two countries, despite fluctuations, grew from R13.1 billion in 2010 to R13.6 billion in 2014.  South African exports increased from R2. 3 billion to R2. 4 billion between 2013 and 2014 due to an increase in demand for agro-processed products and advanced manufactured goods such as grape wines, beverage spirits, vinegar, iron and steel.  Imports from Sweden on the other hand grew by 14% between 2010 and 2012 to R12 billion. More can still be done to increase the volume of value-added products from South Africa to Sweden particularly in medium to high technology manufacturing.

This year’s Binational Commission session will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between South African Medical Research Council and the Swedish Research Council to advance co-operation in the area of health research. Similarly Letters of Intent on Water Research and Water Resource Management will be signed to advance co-operation in water research and management.  A Letter of Intent will also be signed on Environmental Protection and Climate Change.

The South African delegation will also explore initiatives to implement ICT SMME development, digital opportunities programme under SA Connect through skills development for communities, e-skills development programme and the research, development and innovation.

The delegation will also seek co-operation to expand twinning partnerships between South African and Swedish municipalities to support training and capacity building in infrastructure planning, improvement of public participation, municipal governance through exchanges. 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged government to prioritise actions that accelerate inclusive economic growth and has called for a public service that is more responsive and delivers services of quality to citizens.

The President issued this call to Cabinet as he opened the final Cabinet Lekgotla of the current administration in Pretoria today, Thursday, 31 January 2019. The Lekgotla, which the President is co-chairing with Deputy President David Mabuza, is an extended Cabinet meeting in which   Deputy Ministers and Directors-General participate.

The Lekgotla is a critical component for the preparation of the State of the Nation Address which the President will deliver to a joint sitting of Parliament  at 19h00 on Thursday, 7 February, 2019.

President Ramaphosa called for the creation of an economy that will create opportunities for women, young people and millions of unemployed South Africans who should be productive participants in the economy.

The President said that at a time when the global economic outlook was gloomy, South Africa presented significant opportunity which, if squandered, would perpetuate low growth, unemployment and severe inequality.

President Ramaphosa called for the strengthening of the capacity of the state and the entrenchment of clean governance.

He said the public service should, as agents of change and agents for building a better society, be more responsive and deliver quality services to the nation.

The President reiterated government’s prioritisation of education and health and said the education system should enable learners to take advantage of opportunities in digital transformation.

The President identified the disastrous effects of substance abuse and gangsterism on communities and the negative impact of crime on the economy as challenges on which government should work more closely with communities and civil society, including religious leaders, to achieve meaningful impact.

Turning to international relations and cooperation, President Ramaphosa committed that government would work through regional, continental and multilateral forums to bring about a more just and humane world.

Tomorrow, Friday 1 February 2019, President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Mabuza will co-chair a session of the President’s Coordinating Council, in which Cabinet will be joined by Premiers, members of provincial executive councils (MECs) and the leadership of the South African Local Government Association.

These deliberations will ensure that the outlook and programme of action adopted by the Cabinet Lekgotla is internalised and implemented across all spheres of government.

 
Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707   
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Stockholm - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Stockholm, Sweden today, Sunday 18 October 2015, ahead of the 9th session  of the South Africa-Sweden Binational Commission scheduled for 19-20 October 2015. The visit is part of a three-nation visit including Cuba   and Mexico.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is supported during this visit by Ministers Nomvula Mokonyane, Pravin Gordhan and Deputy Ministers Nomaindiya   Mfeketo, Mduduzi Manana, Mzwandile Masina and Hlengiwe Mkhize, and advisors Dr. Nono Simelela and Dr. Gerhard Koornhof.

The visit to Sweden is aimed at consolidating political and economic bilateral relations between the two countries in the areas of trade and industry, science and technology, higher education, environment, water and sanitation, telecommunications and co-operative governance. The Binational Commission, which will be co-chaired with Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson, will witness the launch of the environment, energy and water sub-committee which will add to existing committees on political affairs, economic affairs, science and technology and a forum on human rights.

While in Sweden Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to pay a courtesy call on Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven as part of efforts to consolidate bilateral relations while deepening co-operation at a multilateral level to transform the global political and economic governance system including the reform of the UN system as well as the UN Security Council. 

Deputy President Ramaphosa will also lay a wreath at the graveside of the late former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme who played a pivotal role during the anti-apartheid struggle in pursuit of peace, freedom and justice in South Africa.

At an investor level, Deputy President Ramaphosa will address the Swedish Business Forum and interact with a select group of senior executives of Swedish companies as part of efforts to encourage more trade and foreign direct investment into South Africa. This will happen within the overall thrust of the National Development Plan to grow our economy with a view to addressing our domestic triple challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

In this regard, Sweden ranks among South Africa’s major trading partners within the EU. The overall trade between the two countries, despite fluctuations, grew from R13.1 billion in 2010 to R13.6 billion in 2014.  South African exports increased from R2. 3 billion to R2. 4 billion between 2013 and 2014 due to an increase in demand for agro-processed products and advanced manufactured goods such as grape wines, beverage spirits, vinegar, iron and steel.  Imports from Sweden on the other hand grew by 14% between 2010 and 2012 to R12 billion. More can still be done to increase the volume of value-added products from South Africa to Sweden particularly in medium to high technology manufacturing.

This year’s Binational Commission session will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Water Resources Management and a Letter of Intent on Environmental Protection and Climate Change.

The South African delegation will also explore initiatives to implement ICT SMME development, digital opportunities programme under SA Connect through skills development for communities, e-skills development programme and research, development and innovation.

The delegation will also seek co-operation to expand twinning partnerships between South African and Swedish municipalities to support training and capacity building in infrastructure planning, improvement of public participation and municipal governance through exchanges. 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria