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Deputy President to attend the memorialisation and honouring of 21 former MK freedom fighters
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Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 23 May 2024 attend and deliver a keynote address at the official handing over of headstones to 21 affected families of fallen former MK operatives in Soweto, Johannesburg. 

The Deputy President’s address will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony at five cemeteries, including: Ga-Rankuwa (1 headstone); Avalon (7 headstones); Emfihlweni, Tembisa (4 headstones);  Westpark, Johannesburg (8 headstones); and Crystal Park, Benoni (2 headstones) from 07h00 until 09h30.

The wreath laying ceremonies will be conducted simultaneously by respective families, military veterans, and Government representatives at the above stated cemeteries in the Gauteng Province.

During the period 1986 until 1989, these 21 former MK operatives were brutally murdered and some abducted by apartheid security forces throughout the country, for advancing the struggle to bring about democracy, peace, and social justice.

The fallen freedom fighters were ambushed by the notorious regime, which worked tirelessly to preserve a system of apartheid that sought to sustain national oppression and suppress the struggle for freedom. The then apartheid state buried the freedom fighters in unmarked graves and others in bushes.

Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) processes, the National Prosecutions Agency (NPA)'s Missing Person Task Team retraced the remains in unmarked graves, conducted DNA analysis, exhumed, and reburied the remains of the ex-combatants in different gravesites, as guided by their respective families.

In accordance with the Preamble of our Constitution, the Republic is obliged to honour those that suffered for justice and freedom. In addition, the Military Veterans Act mandates the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) to "honour, commemorate and memorialise the armed struggle against apartheid injustices”. 

As a result, the DMV has undertaken to continue to honour and memorialise the lives and sacrifices of our fallen heroes and heroines under the theme; “Lest we forget. Freedom was never free. Remembering the lives and sacrifices of our fallen heroes and heroines”.

The Deputy President will be supported by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise and Mr. Thabang Makwetla, respectively, as well as Gauteng Provincial Government senior representatives.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Time: 11h00 (media to arrive at 10h00)
Venue: Orlando Community Hall, Soweto

Media wishing to cover this event are requested to confirm attendance with Ms Lebogang Mothapa on 076 865 7188.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Remarks by Director-General in The Presidency at the Launch of the Operation Vulindlela Progress Report
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We are today releasing a detailed progress report on the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela, which reflects on the progress which has been achieved across government during this administration.

Operation Vulindlela is a Government-wide initiative, coordinated by The Presidency and National Treasury, which focuses on accelerating the implementation of structural reforms with a high impact on economic growth and job creation.

As the report demonstrates, significant progress has been made in reforming our economy since the President announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela in October 2023.

In the energy sector, regulatory changes have resulted in a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation, with a pipeline of more than 22 500 MW of confirmed projects in development. The reform of the energy system is now far advanced, with the passage of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill and the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa, among other key milestones.

We are already seeing the impact of these reforms in reduced load shedding, and in the proliferation of new energy projects across the country.

In the logistics sector, greater private sector participation in port terminal operations has been enabled and the freight rail network is being opened to competition. These reforms will allow more volumes to be transported via rail and support export growth, while making our logistics system more efficient and competitive.

The Freight Logistics Roadmap, which was adopted by Cabinet in December last year, continues to guide the implementation of these reforms.

In the telecommunications sector, one of the earliest milestones in the economic reform programme was the completion of the spectrum auction, ending a more than ten-year delay and contributing to reduced data costs and improved network quality and reach.

In the water sector, the backlog of water use licenses, which once stood at well over 1000, was cleared and the license application system improved to reduce processing times. Concrete steps have been taken to strengthen institutions in the water system, improve regulation, and invest in infrastructure.

Finally, reforms have been implemented in the visa system to encourage the growth of tourism and enable the economy to attract the skills that it needs to grow. The eVisa system is now available in 34 countries, while visas are waived for visitors from 135 countries. The recommendations of the work visa review, which was completed last year, are now being implemented, including the establishment of a Trusted Employer Scheme and a points-based system for work visas.

Our economic challenges are complex and deep-rooted. However, the progress that we have made in implementing economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela gives us confidence that they will be overcome.

While the impact of these reforms may not be immediate, it will be significant. 

Perhaps the most important lesson of Operation Vulindlela is that we can achieve significant progress by enabling collaboration across Government, by putting in place clear, time-bound plans, and by establishing systems to support delivery and ensure accountability. 

More than 15 Government departments and entities have contributed to the implementation of these reforms, through new ways of working and a singular focus on implementation and results.

Above all, this report demonstrates that Government is fully committed to staying the course on the reform agenda, and removing the constraints on growth.

Thank you.

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President Ramaphosa to undertake public signing of laws advancing the fight against gender-based violence and corruption
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President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 24 May 2024, sign into law the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill in a ceremony at the Union Buildings.
 
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill lays the foundation for a multi-sectoral approach to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.
 
This landmark legislation is a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and security of women from all walks of life.
 
The establishment of a council dedicated to drive a whole-of-society approach to combat this scourge is fundamental.
 
The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
 
The National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill amends the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998 to, among other measures, provide for the establishment of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption.
 
The Directorate, which will over time incorporate the existing Investigating Directorate, will have investigative capacity with priority given to particularly serious criminal or unlawful conduct committed in serious, high-profile or complex corruption, commercial or financial crime.
 
The legislation directs that the Directorate be given the infrastructure and resources needed to perform its functions.
 
The signing ceremony at the Union Buildings will take place at 10h30 on Friday, 24 May 2024.
 
Media wishing to cover the occasion are invited to rsvp to Khutjo Sebata on Khutjo@presidency.gov.za / 079 898 4621 by 12h00 tomorrow, Thursday, 23 May 2024. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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President Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at the funeral of Justice Mokgoro
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President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 23 May 2024, deliver a eulogy at the Special Official Funeral of the late retired Constitutional Justice Yvonne Mokgoro. 

Justice Mokgoro, one of the first Justices to be appointed to the Constitutional Court when it was established in 1994, and also the first black woman judge of the apex court, passed away on 09 May 2024 at the age of 73.

She was also an Esteemed Member of the Order of the Baobab. 

The President has honoured Justice Mokgoro with Special Official Funeral Category 1.

A Special Official Funeral Category 1 includes ceremonial elements by the South African National Defence Force.

Justice Mokgoro, during her legal career, taught a number of law courses at universities in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

She was a member of the International Women's Association (Washington DC), the International Association of Women Judges, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the South African Women Lawyers Association. In 2006, she was selected as an icon of the history of Women Lawyers in South Africa.

The Special Official Funeral will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Time: 10h00 
Venue: Bryanston Catholic Church, Johannesburg 

Media accreditation collection details:

Date: 22 May 2024 (11h00 to 18h00) / 23 May 2024 (07h30 to 10h00)
Venue: Sandton Fire Station, Cnr. Linden and Grayson Drive, Sandton

Media accreditation enquiries should be directed to Mr Ishmael Selemale (GCIS) on 073 163 1123 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Media briefing on progress in the implementation of Operation Vulindlela
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The Presidency and the National Treasury will on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 host a joint media briefing to provide an update on progress in the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela. 

Operation Vulindlela is a Government-wide initiative to accelerate the implementation of structural reform and achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth. It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and telecommunications.

The progress report will cover new developments in the past quarter, as well as a review of what has been achieved in advancing economic reform since Operation Vulindlela was initiated in October 2020, and the next steps in the reform programme.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media briefing as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Time: 10h30
Venue: Room 159, Union Buildings

Media RSVPs should be directed to Patience Mtshali at patience@presidency.gov.za cc Hlobisile Nkosi at Hlobisile@presidency.gov.za 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Media briefing on progress in the implementation of Operation Vulindlela
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The Presidency and the National Treasury will on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 host a joint media briefing to provide an update on progress in the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela. 

Operation Vulindlela is a government-wide initiative to accelerate the implementation of structural reform and achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth. It aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and telecommunications.

The progress report will cover new developments in the past quarter, as well as a review of what has been achieved in advancing economic reform since Operation Vulindlela was initiated in October 2020 and the next steps in the reform programme.

Members of the media are invited to attend the media briefing as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Time: 10:30
Venue: Union Buildings, Room 159

Media RSVPs should be directed to Patience Mtshali via email: patience@presidency.gov.za cc Hlobisile Nkosi Hlobisile@presidency.gov.za   


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Minister of Electricity to visit Matimba and Medupi power stations
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Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, will be visiting Medupi and Matimba Power Stations in Lephalale tomorrow, 22 May 2024.

This visit is part of his ongoing efforts to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of power station staff in improving generation performance.

This visit follows recent engagements at Megawatt Park, as well as Kusile, Kendal, Arnot, Hendrina, Duvha, Camden, Majuba, Tutuka, Lethabo, and Grootvlei Power Stations.

These visits come at a time when the country has experienced over 50 days without load shedding, with a notable increase in energy availability.

Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024

FIRST LEG

Time: 10h00 - 11h45
Venue: Medupi Power Station

SECOND LEG

Time: 12h15 - 14h35
Venue: Matimba Power Station

Media representatives interested in attending must complete the attached form (Media Desk_Request to take footage at Eskom power stations_0.pdf) and send it to Kutlwano@presidency.gov.za / mediadesk@eskom.co.za / nokwethemba.khumalo@eskom.co.za

 

Media inquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5555 or Tsakane@presidency.gov.za. 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Keynote address by Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile at the Launch of the South African National Service Institute, CSIR International Conference Centre, Pretoria
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Programme Director;
Honourable Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma;
Honourable Minister of Defence, Ms Thandi Modise;
Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande in absentia;
Senior Government officials;
Our partners from the various Government departments, the private sector, the CSIR, Chief of the South African National Defence Force;
The Defense Industry and all representatives of the SA National Defense Force;
Learners from various schools present today;
National Youth Service (NYS) participants present today;
Members of the media;
Esteemed guests, colleagues, and compatriots;

Good Morning, Sanibonani, Avuxeni!

It is indeed a great honour that I stand before you today as we launch the South African National Service Institute (SANSI). As Deputy President, I am proud to witness the establishment of an institution that seeks to implement one of the key interventions - the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)-led National Youth Service (NYS), which will be a bastion of unity, service, and progress in our nation.

Maybe I should also confess that I felt compelled to be part of this launch because it speaks directly to my delegated responsibility of leading the Human Resources DevelopmentCouncil of South Africa (HRDC), which is tasked with fostering collaboration between Government and social partners towards addressing the shortage of skills in the critical sectors of the economy.

Minister Nzimande, who helps run the HRDC, will attest that we have been interacting with diverse stakeholders in order to develop social compacts that will help create a capable and progressive state. 

As Government, we need more business and Government initiatives that provide young men and women with opportunities to learn and give them a national service identity that embodies discipline, patriotism, and the highest level of professionalism. 

We aim to ensure that young individuals are equipped with the necessary skills and qualifications to secure employment upon completing their education. Additionally, we want to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among young people, enabling them to contribute to the reduction of unemployment in our nation.

To this end, the 6th Administration identified high youth unemployment as its top priority. We have implemented numerous mass-scale employment programmes, many of which are significantly addressing the youth unemployment crisis and transforming the lives of our young people, their families, and communities.

We have introduced initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which is founded on the belief that inclusive economic growth cannot happen without social justice. As it stands, the initiative has created over 1.7 million jobs, opportunities, and more.

Despite these interventions, many of our youths remain on the margins of real economic participation. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey for instance, the official unemployment rate stands at 32,9 %, which was an increase of 0,8 of a percentage point in Q1 of 2024 compared to Q4 of 2023.

According to the survey, youth aged 15–24 years and 25–34 years continue to have the highest unemployment rates at 59.7% and 40.7%, respectively. Approximately 3,6 million (35,5%) out of 10,3 million young people aged 15–24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET).

This implies that we must double our efforts and collaborate to address this socio-economic imbalance, which disproportionately affects young men and women who wish to contribute to the growth of our society. Our efforts should focus on disrupting the structural after-lives of an economy that has consistently subjugated the marginalised for decades.

Ladies and gentlemen,

There is also no better way to confront the unemployment problem than to face it head-on. However, we must solely focus on skilling the youth in sectors with high absorption capacity, connecting them to much-needed jobs, eliminating the inequality gap, and lifting them out of poverty to achieve economic liberation.

In this regard, I am pleased that the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to the skills revolution for the unskilled.

This will have a significant impact on restoring livelihoods, creating wealth, and alleviating poverty and hunger among the marginalised. Therefore, we prioritise the SANDF-led NYS as a special project, piloting and implementing it in the country's poorest districts, where the greatest need is present.

The SANDF-led National Youth Service aims to optimise Government resources by spearheading impactful projects that assist the nation's most vulnerable citizens. This initiative provides the basis and motivation for what will be a game-changing intervention by the South African Government in advancing the well-being of the country’s marginalised population.

In a broad sense, we envisaged inviting and encouraging young people to voluntarily join the National Youth Service, beginning with a character-building programme and progressing to industry-demand-based education and training, ultimately leading to gainful employment or entrepreneurship.

The younger generation in this country is a valuable asset, and I contend that it is our duty as a society to help them realise their latent capabilities. They are also resilient; many of them have faced adversity in their lives, yet they persevere. They also have brilliant minds; to participate in the economy and sometimes all they need is recognition.

Consequently, this initiative is a step towards reinforcing our country's ongoing war on youth unemployment by massifying value-chain-driven and sector-specific skills development, enterprise development, production brigades, and infant industries to power South Africa's re-industrialisation targets.

Therefore, the SANDF-led NYS, as a nationally coordinated war on youth unemployment, represents a massive investment in the effort to get young people trained and capacitated to participate in the economy. It is also a significant milestone in our journey towards a stronger, more resilient society. It stands as a testament to our commitment to foster a culture of service and civic responsibility among our youth and citizens in general through robust implementation of the SANDF-led NYS.

Furthermore, it will serve as a hub for nurturing leadership, fostering skill development, and promoting community engagement. It will empower our young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of our country and the well-being of our communities.

As we launch SANSI today, the institution that will be responsible for implementing the National YouthService let us reaffirm our dedication to building a nation where service to others is not just a duty but a way of life. Let us embrace the values of compassion, solidarity, and inclusivity that define the essence of national service.

Compatriots,

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring SANSI to this point, both inside and outside Government.

Your unwavering commitment and forward-thinking have laid the groundwork for a more promising future that will benefit future generations.

We certainly hope that more organisations and private institutions will follow suit to benefit our youth, who are the future of our country.

Youth with skills are a greater resource for the country in terms of economic growth, fighting inequality, and poverty alleviation. They play an important role in shaping South Africa into the kind of society that we want it to be.

Let us, therefore, avoid being a stumbling block and instead serve as a stepping stone to a more promising future that offers unbounded opportunities to all individuals.

In conclusion, I would also like to urge all South Africans to support the SANDF-led National Youth Service and embrace the opportunities that the National Service Institute will offer. Provincial launches will take place throughout all nine provinces, with the project aiming to reach at least 100,000 youth participants in the current fiscal year. 

I urge all young individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the NYS to submit their applications promptly and in large quantities. The youth must also take advantage of the opportunity presented by the programme to equip themselves with the much-needed skills.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our compatriots living abroad who flocked to voting stations to cast their ballots over the weekend. I encourage all South Africans to go out in their numbers and vote on 29 May 2024.

Remember, placing your crosses on the ballot papers will fulfill a task that history has put on your shoulders. Most importantly, you will be deciding for yourselves the direction of our country and the path that we should take to get there.

It is my greatest privilege and honour to officially launch the South African National Service Institute.

I thank you.

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South Africa welcomes ICC announcement on the application for arrest warrants for the situation in the State of Palestine
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South Africa welcomes the decision by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Kahn KC, on the application for arrest warrants for the Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Israel and three leaders of Hamas for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the ICC within the context of the present conflict in Gaza.

The law must be applied equally to all in order to uphold the international rule of law, ensure accountability for those that commit heinous crimes and protect the rights of victims.   

To this end, the Rome Statute is premised on holding those most responsible for atrocity crimes accountable for their conduct.

"South Africa is committed to the international rule of law, universal respect for human rights and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation and not war, and the self-determination of all peoples, including the Palestinians," says President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

This commitment together with the paralysis experienced in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), preventing it from exercising its peace and security mandate with respect to the conflict in Gaza, resulted in South Africa in approaching the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on the basis of the Genocide Convention, with a view to restrain Israeli action and protect Palestinian civilians and non-combatants.

South Africa recalls that the widespread deprivation of food and other basic necessities and the blocking of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza resulted in unprecedented levels of food insecurity and formed the basis for its request to the Court to order additional provisional measures against Israel.

"We have also consistently held that all participants to the conflict must ensure that fighting and hostilities come to an immediate end, that all hostages must be released immediately, and that Israel immediately withdraws its military forces from Gaza. This is the only way in which the rights of the Palestinian civilian population can be protected and the basis for sustainable peace can be achieved," says the President. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Joint statement on the telephone call between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Charles Michel
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Today, HE President Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of the European Council, HE Mr Charles Michel, had a bilateral telephone conversation. The two leaders held a positive and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues that they share as strategic partners.

They reaffirmed the importance of South African and European engagement to address challenges to global peace and security as well as reaffirmed the importance of respect for international law. 

They both welcomed the recent bilateral South Africa-European Union Political and Security Dialogue Forum, and the Human Rights Dialogue held in Pretoria on 26 and 27 February 2024, and they agreed to continue stepping up cooperation to support stability and prosperity.

In this regard, both Presidents discussed the importance of upholding the UN charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity notably in Ukraine. Furthermore, both Presidents stressed the importance of addressing urgently the situation in the Middle East, notably reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance, recalling the orders of the International Court of Justice in this respect. 

They both underlined the importance of a political solution to the tensions in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo through support to ongoing peace processes and recalled their appeal to the warring parties in Sudan for an immediate and durable ceasefire. 

They also agreed to work closely in the run up to and during South Africa’s upcoming Presidency of the G20 in 2025, including on the protection and advancement of multilateral cooperation and the international rules-based order.

Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Charles Michel further discussed the strategic partnership between the European Union and South Africa, which has brought economic and social dividends to both sides since its inception. 

They welcomed recent engagements in Brussels and in Pretoria to deepen and expand the partnership to new areas of mutual interest, such as strategic value chains in the sectors of green hydrogen, critical minerals and vaccines, which will also support progress in regional integration and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Against this framework of close and regular cooperation, both Presidents agreed to hold a bilateral Summit at earliest convenience.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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