President Cyril Ramaphosa has learned with sadness of the passing of Mrs Nomgcibelo Jocelyn Motsuenyane following her loss of her husband of 70 years, Dr Sam Motsuenyane.

The President offers his deep condolences to the Motsuenyane family as they prepare for Ma Motsuenyane’s funeral tomorrow, 15 May 2024.

The President said: “As South Africans, we stand by the Motsuenyanes in your moment of compounded loss.

“Sam and Jocelyn Motsuenyane are icons of their generation whose belief in education and entrepreneurship as keys to self-realisation and reliance sustained communities and contributed to the inclusive economy we continue to build today.

“May they rest together in peace at the end of a life of service and upliftment and a union they shared for 70 years.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, publicly sign into law the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill which directs the transformation of the South Africa’s health care system to achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequities of the past.
 
The signing ceremony will take place at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, at 14h00. 
 
Media wishing to cover the event are advised that the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, will conduct a question-and-answer session with media immediately after the signing.
 
For media RSVPs, kindly contact Mr Terrence Manase from The Presidency Communications on 082 338 6707 and/or Terrence@presidency.gov.za

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The South African Government has learnt with sadness of devastating floods in northern Afghanistan that have claimed more than 300 lives.

The Government and the people of South Africa stand in solidarity with those affected by this tragedy and laud the emergency rescue and medical personnel in their tireless rescue efforts.

South Africa extends heartfelt condolences to the people of Afghanistan following these flash floods and offers our deepest sympathy to those families who lost their loved ones as well as their homes. 

The thoughts of the South African people are with the people of Afghanistan. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Republic of South Africa yesterday, 10 May 2024, returned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek an urgent order from the court for the protection of the Palestinian people in Gaza from grave and irreparable violations of their rights under the Genocide Convention, as a result of Israel’s ongoing military assault on Rafah.

The urgent application follows the escalation of Israel’s assault on Rafah, which poses extreme risk to humanitarian supplies, basic services into Gaza, the survival of the Palestinian medical system, and the very survival of Palestinians in Gaza as a group. South Africa contends that the attack on Rafah further worsens the prevailing situation and causes irreparable harm to the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and that the situation has changed significantly since the Court’s Order of 28 March 2024. 

Rafah is home to 1.5 million Palestinians. It is the last refuge in Gaza for those displaced by Israeli action, and the last viable centre for public administration and the provision of basic public services, including medical care. Since the start of the military action in Rafah, Israel has seized control of both the Rafah and the Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) crossings, effectively controlling all movement in and out of Gaza and cutting off all critical humanitarian and medical supplies, goods and fuel. Israel has further prevented medical evacuations and has treated evacuation zones as extermination zones as evidenced with the destruction of hospitals in Gaza and discovery of mass graves in other major health care facilities in the Strip.

Therefore, South Africa is calling for urgent interventions and investigations of all actions that continue to cause irreparable prejudice to the rights of Palestinians, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) for targeted killings. 

South Africa has therefore requested that the Court indicate the following provisional measures:

1. The State of Israel shall immediately withdraw and cease its military offensive in the Rafah Governorate. 

2. The State of Israel shall immediately take all effective measures to ensure and facilitate the unimpeded access to Gaza of United Nations and other officials engaged in the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance to the population of Gaza, as well as fact-finding missions, internationally mandated bodies or officials, investigators, and journalists, in order to assess and record conditions on the ground in Gaza and enable the effective preservation and retention of evidence, and shall ensure that its military does not act to prevent such access, provision, preservation or retention.

 3. The State of Israel shall submit an open report to the Court: (a) on all measures taken to give effect to these provisional measures within one week as from the date of this Order; and (b) on all measures taken to give effect to all previous provisional measures indicated by the Court within one month as from the date of this Order.

South Africa further requested that the Court reaffirm and seek urgent compliance by Israel with the provisional measures ordered by the Court on 26 January and 28 March 2024. In particular, South Africa petitioned the Court to urgently reaffirm the application to the Rafah and Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) crossings of provisional measure 4 of its 26 January 2024 Order and provisional measures 2(a) and (b) of its 28 March 2024 Order. These measures will require the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the two crossings to allow for the unimpeded movement of medical personnel, including the United Nations and other humanitarian personnel and medical evacuees, as well goods and services that are vital to addressing the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

South Africa remains firmly of the view that the necessary condition for the effective implementation of the Court’s provisional measures is a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

“We call on the international community, including the allies of the State of Israel, not to turn a blind eye to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The gross human rights violations perpetuated by Israel have scaled to incomprehensible levels of cruelty, hate and extreme violent oppression. The world must do more to end the persecution of Palestinians, including that of many innocent women and children.

 In this regard, South Africa is deeply heartened by the protest actions of university students in the United States and other parts of the world. We are also greatly encouraged by the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly draft resolution that recommends to the Security Council to reconsider favourably the application by the State of Palestine for full membership of the United Nations. The support to this resolution shown by 143 countries is a further demonstration that the world is listening to the cries of the Palestinians,” says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has learned with great sadness of the passing of struggle veteran, former Robben Island prisoner and longstanding Pan Africanist Congress of Azania member, Mr Kwedi Mzingisi Zilindile Mkhalipi, who has passed away at the age of 90.
 
The President extends his deep condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Baba Mkhalipi, who was also an Esteemed Member of the Order of Luthuli in Silver and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Co-operatives Association of South Africa.
 
He was an operative in the Pan Africanist Congress’s (PAC) underground movement and took part in the 30 March 1960 march by between 30 000 and 50 000 protesters from Langa and Nyanga in Cape Town to the police headquarters in the city.
 
Mr Mkhalipi was charged with sabotage in 1965, due to his underground activities and was sentenced to 20 years on Robben Island.
 
He was released in December 1985, but immediately arrested under a state of emergency and deported to the former Transkei.
 
On his release he taught History, Business Economics and Economics at several schools around the Cape Peninsula.
 
President Ramaphosa said: “Baba Mkhalipi was a stalwart whose extended lifespan was one he dedicated to the freedom of South Africans and the betterment of our society.
 
“He made severe sacrifices as the apartheid state sought to constrain him but he was undeterred in his determination that we should be free. He had a passion for the education and economic liberation of the oppressed and stood firm in his activism, regardless of the consequences this invited from the regime.
 
“He deserves to be honoured and remembered by us while he rests in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, will be hosting a media briefing to provide updates on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan.

The media briefing will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, 13 May 2024  
Time: 09h30 (media setup from 09h00)  
Venue: Kusile Power Station

Live Streaming:
 
- Facebook: GovernmentZA  
- Twitter: GovernmentZA  
- YouTube: GovernmentZA

RSVP:  

Please RSVP by completing the attached Media Desk_Request to take footage at Eskom power stations.pdf form and sending it to:
  
- Kutlwano@presidency.gov.za
- Samboav@eskom.co.za

RSVP deadline: Sunday, 12 May 2024 at 08h30

Media enquiries: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566 / tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Ministry in the Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is saddened by the passing of retired Constitutional Court Justice and Esteemed Member of the Order of the Baobab, Yvonne Mokgoro.

Justice Mokgoro passed away on Thursday, 9 May 2024, at the age of 73, following an extended period of illness arising from a vehicle accident.

On behalf of Government, President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to Prof Job Mokgoro and the late Justice’s immediate and extended family, as well as her many associates in the legal fraternity in South Africa and abroad.

Justice Mokgoro was a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa from its inception in 1994 until the end of her 15-year term in 2009.

She obtained a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B Juris) degree at the then University of Bophuthatswana (now North-West University) in 1982, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) two years later, and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in 1987.

She also studied at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States of America, where she obtained a second LLM degree in 1990.

Throughout her legal career she taught a number of courses, including Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law Jurisprudence, History of Law, Comparative Law, Criminal Law, Private Law and Customary Law at a number of universities in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Netherlands.

She wrote and presented papers, and participated in a myriad national and international conferences, seminars and workshops in South Africa and internationally, mainly in sociological jurisprudence and particularly on human rights, customary law, focusing on the impact of law on society generally, and on women and children specifically.

In 2015 she was inducted as a Member of the Order of the Baobab in Bronze for her excellent contribution in the field of law and administration of justice in a democratic South Africa.

President Ramaphosa said: “Justice Mokgoro’s passing deprives our nation of a formidable intellect and impeccable jurist who served our democracy at its very inception and through the years that followed.

“As we recall the inauguration of our Founding President Nelson Mandela 30 years ago on this day, 10 May, we count his appointment of Justice Mokgoro to the Constitutional Court as one of the critical, transformative decisions he exercised in those early days of our liberation.

“As a black female judge, she was a pioneering embodiment of and contributor to the transformation of our country and the legal system and new jurisprudence that enabled this transformation.

“Justice Mokgoro distinguished herself as an academic, a justice of our apex court, Chairperson of the South African Law Commission and as a strategic advisor to a diversity of boards in different sectors.

“Her insightful and principled counsel lives on in the thousands of legal careers she shaped in the course of her academic endeavours.

“She has left us under very tragic circumstances, and we therefore join the family in their sadness and in their prayers that this beloved mother, patriot, leader and citizen of the globe will rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 deliver the Memorial Lecture on the life of Elijah Barayi.

The labour law lecture, organised by the Department of Labour in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg, will focus on the life and contribution of Elijah Barayi and will offer the President an opportunity to pay his special tribute.

Elijah Barayi was a trade union leader who sacrificed his life in the struggle for the dawn of peace, freedom, and the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society in South Africa.

He was one of the founding leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and rose to become the Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) President at its launch in 1985.

He had been an activist in the Mass Democratic Movement since the 1950s.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover as follows:

Date : Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Time : 10h30 – 12h30 (members of the media to arrive at 09h30)
Venue : University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus Imbizo Hall, Gauteng

NB: Admittance is granted upon receipt of a confirmed RSVP. For RSVP and media site visit and inspection, please contact Mishack Magakwe on 082 908 1828 / Mishack.Magakwe@labour.gov.za and cc hlobisile@presidency.gov.za on or before Friday, 10 May 2024 at 16h00.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to the Preventing and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill which outlaws offences of hate crimes and the offence of hate speech and the prosecution of persons who commit those offences.
 
This legislative measure gives effect to South Africa’s obligations in terms of the Constitution and international human rights instruments concerning racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in accordance with international law obligations.
 
The Constitution sets out certain basic values including human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms and non-racialism and non-sexism.
 
The Bill of Rights, in Section 9 of the Constitution, prohibits direct or indirect unfair discrimination against anyone on the grounds of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
 
The Bill of Rights gives everyone the right to dignity and gives everyone the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources.
 
The new Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act provides for the prevention of hate crimes and hate speech, effective enforcement measures and the gathering and recording of data on hate crimes and hate speech.
 
A hate crime is committed if a person commits any recognised offence under any law that is motivated by prejudice or intolerance on the basis of one or more characteristics or perceived characteristics of the victim, as listed in the legislation or a family member of the victim.
 
The definition of the crime extends to offences targeting the victim’s association with or support for a person with one or more of the listed characteristics or a group of persons who share these characteristics.
 
The offence of hate speech applies to any person who intentionally publishes, propagates, advocates, shares or communicates anything to one or more persons in a manner that could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to be harmful or to incite harm and to promote or propagate hatred based on defined grounds.
 
The law also makes it an offence when speech material is intentionally distributed or made available in electronic communication, and the said person knows that such electronic communication constitutes hate speech.
 
The law excludes from the ambit of hate speech anything done in good faith in the course of engagement, such as:
 
* artistic creativity, performance or other form of expression;
* academic or scientific inquiry;
* fair and accurate reporting or commentary in the public interest;
* interpretation and articulating or espousing of any religious conviction, tenet, belief, teaching, doctrine or writings, that does not advocate hatred or constitutes incitement to cause harm.
 
The law also contains directives on training and other measures to be undertaken by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure effective processing of the newly defined crimes.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Divorce Amendment Bill which amends the Divorce Act of 1979 to recognise Muslim marriages and safeguard the interests of Muslim women and children of Muslim marriages in the event that marriages are dissolved.

The new legislation is a response to an earlier Constitutional Court judgment which recognised the need for and importance of protecting Muslim women and children of Muslim marriages, particularly when a Muslim marriage is dissolved.

The amended legislation addresses shortcomings in the Divorce Act of 1979 which differentiated between people married in terms of the Marriage Act and people married according to Muslim rites, especially women.

Currently, Muslim couples who choose to marry according to Islamic law can only be afforded the statutory protection of the South African legal system as it pertains to civil spouses if they, in addition to their marriage under Islamic law, register a civil marriage.

The amendments enacted by the President provide for a definition of a Muslim marriage in the Divorce Act of 1979; the protection and safeguarding of the interests of dependent and minor children of a Muslim marriage; the redistribution of assets on the dissolution of a Muslim marriage; and forfeiture of patrimonial benefits of a Muslim marriage.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria