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Deputy President Mashatile undertakes an oversight visit to Bethlehem and Qwaqwa in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District in the Free State Province
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Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture, will on Friday, 22 March 2024, conduct an oversight visit to Bethlehem in Dihlabeng Local Municipality, and QwaQwa in Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality, respectively, in Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Free State Province.

In Bethlehem, the Deputy President will visit the Apple Production and Agro-processing project which aims to drive transformation in the apple industry based in the Eastern Free State Province. 

South Africa is a net importer of Apple Juice Concentrate (AJC), having imported about 70 million kilograms with a value of R1,3 billion in 2022. The demand for AJC world-wide, presents various opportunities for localisation, creation of employment opportunities and broadening of industry value chains.

The Deputy President will receive updates on plans by the province to establish the eastern Free State as one of the apple production hubs in the country, including the promotion of downstream agro-processing activities linked to apple production.

Deputy President Mashatile will then proceed to QwaQwa to witness the handover of cattle donation by the Free State to Traditional Leaders in the area, as part of the programme to support farming and food production. This is in line with Deputy President Mashatile’s delegated responsibility as Chair of the IMC on Land Reform and Agriculture. 

Government is committed to continue implementing land reform programmes and interventions across the country to create the much needed jobs, stimulate economic growth and investment facilitation in the province and the country.

Deputy President Mashatile will be supported by the Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Saki Mokoena, Members of the Executive Council and senior government officials.

Members of the media are invited to cover the visit by Deputy President Mashatile as follows:

Part A: Stead Farm Fruit Growers, Bethlehem, Thabo Mofutsanyana District
Date:
Friday, 22 March 2024
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)

Part B: Namahadi and Tsheseng, QwaQwa
Date:
Friday, 22 March 2024
Time: 11h30

For more information and accreditation please contact: Mr Pontsho Mantlhakga on 081 589 4369


Media enquiries: Mr. Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 066 195 8840 and Ms Zimasa Mbewu, Head: Strategic Communications, Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 060 976 8683 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Human Rights Day, George Thabe Stadium, Sharpeville
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Programme Directors,
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa,
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Justices of the Constitutional Court and other courts,
Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Mr Chris Nissen,
Heads and members of constitutional bodies,
Mayors and Councillors,
Leaders of political formations,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Leaders of civil society formations,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans,

Sixty-four years have passed since the ground on which we gather here in Sharpeville bore witness to one of the worst atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against the South African people.

And although many decades have passed, we still remember with great sorrow and pain the 69 people who were killed and the many more who were maimed as they protested in peace against the grave injustices imposed upon them.

We still recall how every black South African – African, coloured and Indian – was denied the basic human rights to which they were entitled.

We recall how many generations of black South Africans were denied the right to life and dignity, the right to equal treatment, the right to vote and to be heard, the right to live where they want, to work in the trade of their choice, the right to education and health care, the right to the protection of the law.

We gather here in Sharpeville on this day so that we may pay tribute to those who fought for the rights that we today hold so dear, so that we may remember the severe hardships they endured and the great sacrifices that they made.

We gather here so that we may trace our journey as a nation over the last 64 years, from a state of discrimination and repression to a land of democracy and freedom.

Ours was a journey of relentless struggle. 

It was a difficult and dangerous journey travelled by community activists and union organisers, by traditional leaders and religious groupings, by freedom fighters and underground operatives, by political prisoners and exiles, and by friends and supporters across the world.

It was a struggle that sought above all else to achieve a South Africa which belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

It was a struggle to realise the rights contained in the Bill of Rights adopted in 1923 by the African National Congress, which called for equal treatment of all people, equal access to land, direct representation and voting rights.

It was a struggle to give effect to the demands of the Africans’ Claims of 1943 for the granting of full citizenship rights and justice for all.

Ours was a struggle to realise the vision of the Freedom Charter, adopted by the Congress of People in 1955, of a South Africa that is prosperous and free and in which all enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

It was these principles and these ideals, these struggles and these sacrifices, that enabled the achievement of our democracy and the adoption of the Bill of Rights that is at the centre of our democratic Constitution.

It was therefore fitting that it was here in Sharpeville that President Nelson Mandela signed our new Constitution into law on the 10th of December 1996.

This year we celebrate 30 years of freedom.

And as we celebrate this milestone, we will reflect on the journey we have taken towards the full realisation of the fundamental freedoms contained in our Bill of Rights.

We will count the elections that we have held every five years since 1994, elections that have been peaceful, free and fair and that have reflected the will of the people.

We will assess the institutions that make our laws, that both represent the views and regularly seek the counsel of the South Africans people.

We will point to the independence of our judiciary, the vibrancy of our civil society, the activism of our trade unions and the freedom of our media.

We will list the discriminatory and oppressive laws that we scrapped, and the progressive legislation that we introduced to transform our society.

As we celebrate 30 years of Freedom, we will reflect on the progress we have made in progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution.

We have much to celebrate.

Millions of South Africans have been lifted out of dire poverty.

Eight out of every 10 households have proper housing. 

Nine out of every 10 homes have electricity and access to cleaning drinking water.

South Africans are living longer. Far fewer women are dying in child birth and far fewer children are dying in infancy.

More children from poor families are completing school, passing matric and going on to study at universities and colleges.

This has been made possible because we have, as a country, focused on correcting the injustices of the past and meeting the needs of the poor and excluded.

Working together, we have returned nearly 4 million of hectares of land to people who had been dispossessed of their land and acquired over 5 million hectares of land for redistribution and to provide security of tenure for labour tenants and other farm dwellers.

We have provided social grants for children, the elderly and people with disability, and have recently introduced a special social relief of distress grant for unemployed people.

Government provides free daily meals to millions of school children, has expanded the number of fee-free schools and has massively increased funding for students from poor and working-class families to attend universities and colleges.

As our economy has changed, more and more people have been able to exercise the right to freely choose their trade, occupation or profession.

Our economy has tripled in size since 1994.

While unemployment still remains unacceptably high, the number of South Africans in employment has more than doubled in the last 30 years.

The proportion of executive management positions held by black people increased almost five-fold between 1996 and 2016.

Fellow South Africans,

While our journey over the 64 years since the Sharpeville Massacre has been remarkable – while our 30 years of democracy have seen great changes in the lives of South Africans – our journey is far from complete.

The rights for which the residents of Sharpeville fought, the rights that are now enshrined in our Constitution, have not yet been fully realised for all South Africans.

And so, as we continue our journey towards a new society – one that is united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist – we are guided by our Bill of Rights.

As we begin the next decade of freedom, we must strive together not only to safeguard the rights of everyone in our country, but to ensure that all may enjoy the equal protection and the equal benefit of these rights.

We must strive together for a society of equals, where none may claim dominance over another, where there is neither privilege nor disadvantage.

We must strive for a society where neither race nor gender, nor age, nor religion, nor disability, nor marital status, nor sexual orientation, determines the circumstances in which a person lives or the opportunities that they have.

We must continue our work to redress the injustices of the past, affirming those who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.

We must transform our economy so that all people may participate and so that all may benefit, so that all may share in the country’s wealth.

This means that we must continue to implement policies of broad-based black economic empowerment, to support small businesses and black industrialists, to promote employment equity, and to use public and private procurement to empower black- and women-owned suppliers.

It means that we must accelerate land reform and provide emerging farmers with the resources and support they need to be productive and sustainable.

If we are to build a more equal society, all people of working age must have an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood. 

We must therefore create jobs on a far greater scale and at a much faster pace.

We must provide support to those who want to run their own businesses and remove the many obstacles that they face.

And as we work together to grow an inclusive economy that provides more jobs and greater economic opportunities, we must continue to provide work opportunities to unemployed people through public and social employment programmes.

In building a society of equals, there can be no instrument more powerful than education.

We have enormous strides in securing the right of everyone to a basic education and the progressive achievement of access to further education.

We have achieved almost universal access to basic education and we have massively increased access to higher education and training.

But there is much more that we must do to keep young people in school until matric, and improve the quality and the relevance of what they learn.

We must continue to focus on expanding access to early childhood development and improving early grade reading.

All children need this solid foundation to succeed at school and in life.

If we are to build a society of equals, we need to bridge the divide between men and women.

Already we have made important progress.

In South Africa today, girls learn alongside boys in primary and secondary schools and receive equal education. Last year, more females passed the matric exams and got more distinctions than their male counterparts. 

There are currently more female students enrolled at institutions of higher learning than males. 

Close to half of our Members of Parliament, judges and magistrates are women. More than 60 per cent of public servants are women.

And yet, three-quarters of female-headed households live in poverty. 

Women are more likely to be unemployed than men, and, on average, women earn less than men. Women do not get paid for caring for the elderly, children and other family members.

In what has become a pandemic in this country, women are vulnerable to violence and abuse at the hands of men.

These are the challenges that we need to overcome, by ensuring that girls and young women are able to complete their education and pursue their chosen careers, by changing attitudes of men towards women, and by improving the economic situation of women.

There must be no position in society to which women cannot aspire and attain.

A society of equals means that we must eliminate all forms of discrimination and disadvantage.

We must ensure that persons with disability are free and able to participate in every part of social and economic life. 

We must confront prejudice and ignorance, providing appropriate education and ensure equal access for persons with disabilities to economic opportunities.

The adoption of South African Sign Language as the twelfth official language reflects both our commitment and our ambition as a society to improve the circumstances and prospects of persons with disability.

If we are to build a society of equals, a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, we must end the discrimination and intolerance directed at people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

We must resist the efforts of those who want to take us backwards, who express reactionary and hateful views directed at members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Rather, we must foster a culture of understanding and acceptance, of support and empowerment.

In just over two months from now, South Africans will go to the polls to vote in the 7th democratic election for national and provincial government.

They will be exercising one of the defining rights of our democracy, the right to freely and in secret choose the people who will represent them in Parliament and the provincial legislatures.

The regularity, the peacefulness, the fairness and the integrity of our elections are achievements that we must dutifully protect. 

We must not tolerate the threats, intimidation and undemocratic actions of those who want to undermine our electoral process.

But we must go beyond the right to vote. We must create more space and open up more opportunities for all citizens to have a say in the decisions that affect them.

We must do so by strengthening the processes of consultation in government, in Parliament, in legislatures and in municipalities, making them more meaningful and inclusive.

At the same time, we must work together to build people’s power at the grassroots.

We must support community-based organisations and initiatives, religious formations, women’s organisations and youth bodies. 

We must encourage parents to participate in school governing bodies and community members to get involved in community policing forums.

Democracy thrives when we have an active citizenry – when people are fully exercising their rights to freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom to demonstrate, picket and petition.

Democracy thrives when people use the rights guaranteed to them to determine their own future.

This means, among other things, that people must be able to enforce their rights. They must have access to justice and to be sure that they will be treated fairly and impartially.

No-one seeking access to the courts should be denied justice because of long distances or cost or language.

Our struggle for justice is not limited to the courts.

It also a struggle for social and economic justice.

It is about recognising the right of every person to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing. It is about the sustainable management of our natural resources and the conservation of our environment and biodiversity for future generations.

We must therefore act with great purpose and urgency to respond to the devastation of climate change, which poses a grave threat to humanity.

It is critical that we reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that we emit into the atmosphere, particularly in the production of electricity.

We have determined that this transition to a low-carbon society must be both just and inclusive. The communities, workers and businesses that would be most affected by this transition must be an integral part of the process, and steps must be taken to protect their rights and their livelihoods.

The just transition is an opportunity to grow our economy and create employment in new industries, to take advantage of new technologies to transform and diversify our economies.

Fellow South Africans,

As we look back on 30 years of freedom, as we look back on decades of struggle for basic human rights, we must acknowlege the great strides that we have made.

Working together, as a nation united, we have built a democracy that recognises the equal worth of every person.

We have built a society in which everyone has an equal expectation that their rights will be respected and upheld.

We have travelled this long journey together. 

But we still have further to travel and much more to do before everyone can equally exercise the fundamental freedoms that are rightfully theirs.

On this Human Rights Day, let us pledge to ourselves and each other that we will travel that road together.

I thank you.

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President Ramaphosa congratulates President Putin on his re-election
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His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, congratulated the President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Vladimir Putin, for his re-election to the position of President of the Russian Federation. 

President Ramaphosa further recalled the commitment of South Africa and the Russian Federation to mutual cooperation at the multilateral level, including the two countries’ common membership of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS and other multilateral bodies. 

President Ramaphosa concluded by indicating South Africa’s strong belief in the maintenance of international peace and security and that South Africa will continue to engage both the Russian Federation and Republic of Ukraine in search of lasting peace between the two neighbouring countries.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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President to address Inaugural Biodiversity Economy and Investment Indaba
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President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, address the Inaugural Biodiversity Economy and Investment Indaba at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng.

Hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Indaba will take place from 25-27 March 2024 and bring together stakeholders in the biodiversity sector including government officials, traditional leaders and healers, academia, business, communities and youth structures.

The theme for the indaba is “Collective Action for Thriving Nature and People”.

The objectives of the Indaba include mainstreaming the Biodiversity Economy imperatives across all four goals of the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity.The goals are Conservation, Sustainable Use, Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits and Transformation.  

Delegates will discuss the biodiversity sector’s contribution to the alleviation of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The event will mobilise investment for the biodiversity sector and associated value-chains and showcase market-ready biodiversity products and services from across the biodiversity economy value chains through exhibitions for business-to-business trading, networking and sustainable partnerships.  

The indaba will be a blend of a conference format, networking session and exhibitions.

Cabinet recently noted the review of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES), which will be at the centre of discussions at the Indaba.

The NBES aims to leverage the biodiversity economy to promote conservation, and species and ecosystems management. This strategy will also promote growth and transformation in the biodiversity sector.

The opening session will take place on Monday, 25 March, and will be addressed by Minister Creecy.  

President Ramaphosa will also be conducted on a walk-about of the biodiversity exhibitions showcased at the Indaba.

The exhibitions include biotrade/bioprospecting, wildlife economy, eco-tourism, forestry, fisheries, ocean and coast and marine tourism.

Members of the media are invited as follows: 

Date: Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Time: 09h30
Venue: Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng Province

Members of the media intending to attend the events are required to send their details including ID / passport numbers to Peter Mbelengwa - pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za / 082 611 8197 or Patience Mtshali - patience@presidency.gov.za / 083 376 9468 on or before Friday 22 March 2024 by 12h00  

NB: Members of the media will be required to present valid press cards at the point of entry to access the venue. 

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

 

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Closing Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2nd Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
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Programme Director,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MECs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today has truly been a celebration of black excellence. 

As we draw the curtain on the formal part of this 2nd Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, I am filled with a deep sense of optimism and determination. 

Over the course of the day, we have heard from the pioneers of black businesses that are a cornerstone of our economy.

They are creating jobs, exporting goods, earning foreign exchange, and helping to lift communities out of poverty.

We know that the playing field for black business in South Africa is still not level.

Yet there has been significant progress over the 30 years of freedom.

In the last five years alone, we have strengthened our institutions to deal with economic concentration, deliver more industrial funding and cut red tape across the economy.

We have been working to strengthen the link between the skills that we develop and the skills the workplace needs.

What we have heard today is that market access, finance and increased platforms of collaboration are critical to the continued growth and development of black industrialists. 

Events like this one provide us with such a platform, where government, private sector partners and civil society come together to advance a common agenda.

The pledges we have just heard provide evidence of this collaboration across the business community, a collaboration which can support greater growth and participation of black businesses in the economy.

More than R261 billion has been committed here for procurement from 239 black industrialists.

These commitments are promoting black businesses across the economy, from agro-processing to auto and rail; from industrial equipment to clothing and footwear; from retail to pharmaceuticals; from infrastructure to financial services.

When established businesses support black industrialists, they help to build an eco-system of suppliers, creating more dynamism in the market.

It is significant that it is not only established businesses that have taken up this challenge. 

Some 18 black industrialists have made commitments to bring another 55 of their fellow black-owned and -managed businesses into their supply chains, with a substantial combined commitment.  

We are now at the point where black industrialists can be the capital that can fund and support growth in the next generation. 

It is a sign that we are making our way towards a time when black business emerges as the driving force of growth. 

The R79 billion that has been committed for procurement in the retail sector will see more local products – made by black industrialists – in the hands of South African consumers.

The R52 billion in procurement commitments in infrastructure will see more black-owned and -managed businesses contributing to the expansion and improvement of our ports, energy infrastructure and logistics networks.

The R27 billion committed to agriculture and agro-processing will bring more black farmers into the formal economy, readying them for the export opportunities that lie abroad.

These commitments will help to accelerate the re-industrialisation of our economy.

My challenge to the 239 black industrialists who will benefit from these procurement commitments is to return to this stage at the 3rd Black Industrialists Conference, not as beneficiaries of procurement but as drivers of investment in the next generation of black entrepreneurs.

As we celebrate the achievements of black industrialists, we must look to the future. 

Our businesses must not only thrive locally but also compete on the global stage. 

Through technology adoption, market diversification and strategic partnerships, black industrialists are positioning themselves as leaders in their respective industries and ambassadors of African excellence worldwide.

As we continue to support, invest and collaborate, we will unlock even greater potential and prosperity for our nation. 

Let us stand united in our commitment to building a more inclusive, dynamic and prosperous economy — one where every entrepreneur, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.

I congratulate all the black industrialists being honoured today for their outstanding contributions to our economy and society. 

Your resilience, innovation and vision inspire us all to reach greater heights and build a brighter future for generations to come.

I thank you.

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Keynote address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2nd Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
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Programme Director,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Ebrahim Patel,
Minister, Deputy Ministers and MECs,
Leaders from the Black Business Council and Business Unity South Africa,
CEOs of state-owned companies,
Commissioners from the Competition Commission and the BEE Commission,
Industrialists, entrepreneurs and business leaders,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
I am delighted to join you at this showcase of black industrial excellence, the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference.
 
This Conference coincides with the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act. 
 
This Conference also takes place as we approach the 30th anniversary of our democracy. 
 
It is therefore a good moment to reflect on our empowerment journey, which is a central part of the changes that have taken place in our country over the last three decades. 
 
We have about 1,000 black industrialists present here today. This is a living testimony to the changes that have taken place in the past 30 years, and indeed, over the past five years. 
 
Empowerment is a historical imperative, to provide redress to black South Africans, who were discriminated against and excluded under apartheid.
 
Even after the advent of democracy, and the removal of discriminatory laws, the racial features of privilege and disadvantage remained.
 
Unlike many of their white compatriots, most black people did not have access to the capital accumulated in families or the networks acquired at school and university, on the golf course or in social circles.
 
The inequality went deeper. Underdevelopment in townships and bantustans limited access to economic opportunities. Bantu Education left several generations without the skills needed to improve their economic situation.
 
Much has changed in our country, but this iniquitous inheritance continues to diminish the economic prospects of many black and women South Africans.
 
It is this inheritance that we are determined to overcome.
 
In this, we are guided by the Bill of Rights contained in our Constitution, which says:
 
“Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.”
 
Let us take a moment to reflect on the historical journey of black industrialists in South Africa. 
 
For far too long, our country's economic landscape was marked by inequality, exclusion and systemic barriers that hindered the progress of aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from black communities.
 
However, despite facing immense challenges, black industrialists have persevered, defying odds and breaking barriers to create thriving businesses and contribute significantly to our nation's economic development.
 
Today, we celebrate the power of empowerment. Empowerment that has not been handed out as charity but earned through hard work, resilience and unwavering determination. 
 
Black industrialists are not just job creators and wealth generators; they are agents of change, driving social and economic transformation in our communities.
 
At the heart of every successful industrialist lies a spirit of innovation and creativity. 
 
Whether it is in technology, manufacturing, agriculture or services, they have shown that excellence knows no bounds and that Africa is a continent brimming with untapped potential and ingenuity.
 
None of this progress would have been possible without the spirit of collaboration and partnership. 
 
Government, private sector stakeholders and civil society have come together to create an enabling environment for black industrialists to thrive. 
 
By working hand in hand, we have been able to dismantle barriers, foster mentorship, and provide access to markets, funding and resources essential for business growth and sustainability.
 
The journey of black industrialists is part of the broader journey of social and economic transformation in our country.
 
This is evident in the fact that South Africans are living longer than ever before. 
 
Life expectancy has increased from 54 years in 2003 to 65 years in 2023. Maternal and infant deaths have declined dramatically.
 
Households that resided in formal dwellings increased sharply from 65 percent in 1996 to more than 88 percent in 2022. 
 
Access to electricity for lighting has increased from 58 percent of households in 1996 to nearly 95 percent in 2022. 
 
At the end of apartheid, only six out of 10 people had access to clean drinking water. Today, that figure has increased to nearly nine out of 10 South Africans.
 
The percentage of persons aged 20 years and older who completed secondary education more than doubled from 16 percent in 1996 to more than 37 percent in 2022.
 
Our economy has tripled in size since 1994, and while unemployment still remains high, the number of South Africans in employment increased from eight million in 1994 to over 16.7 million now.
 
The proportion of jobs in executive management held by black people increased almost five-fold between 1996 and 2016. 
 
All of this progress points to the work we have undertaken as a society to give effect to the constitutional injunction to promote the achievement of equality.
 
It is this injunction that led to the enactment of the Broad-Based Black economic Empowerment Act 20 years ago. 
 
And to give effect to the core goals of that legislation, government formally launched the black industrialist programme in 2016. 
 
This programme is part of the broader effort to expand South Africa’s industrial base, especially in new and growth industries.
 
While affirmative action in the economy aims to redress the damage of the past, it is also sound economics. 
 
It broadens the base of entrepreneurship, it opens the economy to more talents and capabilities, it encourages innovation and expands the economy. 
 
This Conference showcases the results of this investment. 
 
It shows the impact of the black industrialists programme, not only in the wares on display, but also in the data that will be presented here.
 
The impact of this investment is clear from more than R100 billion in turnover generated by these businesses each year and by more than 100,000 direct jobs sustained in their factories, mines and farms. 
 
This Conference tells the stories of the industrialists of freedom, who built their businesses through hard work and ingenuity, propelled along by the tailwinds of democracy and opportunity. 
 
Over the course of the last five years, we have worked to deepen these efforts.
 
At the start of this administration in 2019, we began to develop master plans in different sectors of the economy, ranging from clothing to sugar, from autos and steel to poultry. 
 
These masterplans have specific and dedicated sections dealing with the promotion of black industrialists. 
 
In the auto sector, clear targets have been set for the promotion of black industrialists as component manufacturers. In the clothing industry, government set up a fund to support SMMEs. 
 
In the sugar industry, an industrial fund of R1 billion over 5 years has been put in place, and small-scale black farmers receive about R200 million in support annually. 
 
We also ramped up the black industrialist programme’s funding. In the past five years, some R24 billion has been committed for black industrialists. 
 
Through institutions like the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Empowerment Fund, we have provided funding to several black-owned companies in emerging high-tech industries, from pharmaceuticals to renewable energy to chemical production.
 
Alongside the provision of funding and other forms of support to black- and women-owned companies, we have taken steps to improve the operating environment for these businesses.
 
We introduced new legislation that increased the powers of the competition authorities to act against abuse of dominance or commercial practices by large firms that keep small businesses and black South Africans out of markets. 
 
Among other things, this has resulted in the reduction of data costs and an agreement to end long exclusive leases that big supermarkets had in place with shopping malls. 
 
It ended the practice where insurance companies kept smaller township-based or black-owned panel-beaters off their insurance-approved lists. 
 
It prohibited practices that kept small township delivery services from being able to contract with franchisees of large fast-food companies. 
 
Through measures taken during mergers and other investigations by the competition commission, several large companies have made around R2.4 billion in funding available for supplier development. These include companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Heineken, Shoprite-Checkers, Astron and Massmart. 
 
Google has made R330 million available for young app developers in South Africa. 
 
In the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme, over the past five years large car-makers and companies such as Amazon, JP Morgan and Citibank have committed support for black industrialists to a total value of R7.2 billion. 
 
In January this year, we began the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which brings together a vast market on the continent. 
 
The African Continental Free Trade Area is an opportunity for black industrialists to enter markets across the continent, to partner with firms in Ghana, Kenya, Algeria, Angola and 40 more countries to penetrate those markets. 
 
The Black Exporters Network that we launched at the previous conference enables black industrialists to share experiences and provide support to each other as they move into other markets. 
 
In addition to the huge opportunities on the African continent, there are businesses here today that are successfully exporting to the United States, the European Union the United Kingdom, China, India and the Middle East. 
 
These businesses are being supported by government’s robust efforts to expand access for South African products into significant export markets. 
 
What all these examples show is the scope and extent of support that is now being given and how we are energising the black industrialist and export programmes. 
 
In spite of the electricity and freight logistics challenges, we are making progress. 
 
Through an intense focus on implementing the Energy Action Plan, there has been a steady decline in the severity of load shedding over the last half year.
 
Through regulatory changes and other measures, we are seeing massive new investment in energy generation and in the installation of rooftop solar.
 
Government, Transnet, industry and other social partners are working closely to relieve congestion at our ports and increase the volumes of freight being carried on our key rail corridors.
 
The R1.3 billion Energy Resilience Fund put in place to support SMMEs and other firms affected by the energy challenges is fully subscribed. 
 
When the Black Industrialist Programme was initiated in 2016, it set a target of 100 black industrialists.
 
During this administration, we have taken it well beyond 1,000 black industrialists that are supported through the range of government activities. 
 
In addition to what we have done through partnerships and the work within the trade, industry and competition portfolio, there are several other measures that we have undertaken to promote economic inclusion. 
 
Through state procurement, many additional billions of rands of support has been provided to black-owned businesses to supply the state. 
 
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, together with entities such as the Land Bank, provide further support to black farmers. 
 
Then there is the support given through the Department of Tourism to emerging tourism businesses, and the infrastructure spending by state-owned companies who use black suppliers to manufacture key inputs and provide key services. 
 
The Department of Small Business Development has supported large numbers of micro and small businesses, adding to the numbers we can celebrate.
 
The black industrialist programme itself has also gone a long way in promoting meaningful participation in the economy by women, youth and persons with disabilities. 
 
Looking forward, we need to set ambitious targets for the next five years.
 
First, we need to scale up the number of black industrialists that are supported directly by government through various forms of support, including finance, regulatory measures and partnership arrangements through masterplans. 
 
These businesses will be drawn from manufacturing, green technologies, the digital economy, mining, agriculture, construction and tourism.
 
Second, we need to scale up the level of financial support we make available through the public sector and partner funding. 
 
A particular focus will also be on support for small businesses and those owned by women and youth.
 
Third, we need to open up the economy and make it more inclusive. This means addressing features of the market structure that inhibit the participation of black industrialists in the economy.
 
To facilitate this, we will be setting a target that the Competition Commission should undertake a set number of market inquiries in strategic sectors in the coming five years, aimed at addressing high levels of economic concentration and low participation by small businesses. 
 
Fourth, we need to export more of our processed products, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area. 
 
This can be done through partnerships with existing exporters, financing of exhibitions, assistance with credit risk and other means.
 
To facilitate this, we will set a target of the number of black industrialists be supported and assisted through the Black Exporters Network to get into export markets over the next five years. 
 
These targets will guide the work of economic regulators, development finance institutions and government departments across the three spheres, with fiscal support focused on achieving these targets. 
 
We will also work to unlock funds within the private sector, through supplier development funds, local procurement commitments and public interest conditions that are made when licenses are issued or regulatory approvals are obtained.
 
The whole economy benefits from the growth of black-owned businesses. 
 
Through partnerships with established businesses, we can leverage more procurement, technical support and financial backing to black industrial suppliers. 
 
Joint-ventures can help to expand the footprint of small and large businesses in global markets. 
 
I want to thank the CEOs of various established enterprises that have committed to procure services from black industrialists. 
 
During this conference, a number of firms will make further pledges that cover the next five years, in an event that we hope to repeat again at the next Conference, pledging billions of rands of procurement. 
 
This will go a long way in fostering economic inclusion and transformation of our economy. 
 
This conference is not only an opportunity to showcase, celebrate and acknowledge the strides that black businesses continue to make within the South African economic landscape. It is also an opportunity for the businesses to network and explore opportunities for collaboration. 
 
As I close, I invite you to join us tonight at the Awards Evening and Gala Dinner where we will celebrate black industrial excellence.
 
Through all these efforts, through the many successful businesses that we are here to celebrate, we are together transforming our economy and changing lives. 
 
I thank you.
 

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Minister of Electricity to answer Questions in the National Assembly
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Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will today, 20 March 2024, be in the National Assembly (NA) to respond to Questions for Oral Reply.  
 
The Minister will answer questions from members of Parliament on a range of issues pertaining to the implementation of the Energy Action Plan and the short to medium term interventions to end load shedding. 
 
Parliamentary question and answer sessions are one of the methods in which Parliament, as specified in section 92(2) of the Constitution, holds the Executive to account. 
 
The details are as follows:
Date: 20 March 2024
Time: 15h00
 
Livestream link to be shared by Parliament.
 
 
Media enquires: Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity on 082 084 5566 / tsakane@presidency.gov.za
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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