Programme Director;
Acting Premier of the North West Province, Nono Maloyi;
Deputy Ministers present;
MEC for Social Development, Lazarus Mokgosi;
All Members of the North West Executive Council present;
Acting Executive Mayor of Bojanala-Platinum District, Victoria Makhaula;
Mayors present;
Traditional Leaders present;
Chief Executive Officer of Glencore Mine, Fullard Japie;
Other private sector partners present;
Members of civil society;
Bo-mme le bo-ntate;

Dumelang!

Ke itumelela gonna teng mosong ono mo dipuisanong tse di botlhokwa thata tsa thebolelo ya ditirelo mo setshabeng. Thebolelo ya ditirelo e botlhokwa thata mo go nna ka e ama ditshwanelo tsa botho.As we mark Human Rights Month, it would be inappropriate to continue commemorating the day without recognising the importance of delivering basic services to the citizens of this country.

As one of my delegated responsibilities is to support the President in implementing the District Development Model (DDM) through effective coordination of the various spheres of Government, I am confident that 1 service delivery is an important aspect of human rights protection. 

This is because it directly affects individuals' ability to access basic necessities and services necessary for a decent standard of living. Service delivery failures can negatively affect marginalised populations, perpetuate discrimination, and hinder their participation in society. 

Therefore, effective coordination between Government spheres is essential for ensuring service delivery and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Section 10 of the Republic of South Africa's Constitution states that "everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected". Consequently, any public official or political officeholder who fails to provide services to the people neither respects nor protects their dignity. 

Jaaka mmuso o o eteletsweng pele ke ANC, re itlamile go rebola ditirelo tse di fitlhelelwang le go akaretsa botllhe. Go simolola ka 1994, re tshotse maikarabelo a bo baya kwa setlhoeng le go kaya thebolelo ya ditirelo jaaka ditshwanelo tsa botho. Re tsaya dikgato go tlosa maparego le go sa lekalekane mo go fitlheleleng ditirelo tse di botlhokwa go botlhe.

The North West Government has demonstrated our dedication to addressing service delivery challenges in this province by launching the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme in December 2021.

The programme serves as a practical response to the direct demands of communities through unlocking service delivery in municipalities, focusing on the following:

• Water provision.
• Clearing of sewage spillage.
• Removal of rubbish dumps.
• Repair of potholes.
• Addressing electricity interruptions and fixing high-mast lights.
• Addressing the issue of abandoned and blocked projects as well as disaster management interventions.
• Tackling the challenges relating to the functionality of Municipal Councils.

The Thuntsha Lerole programme is in its third phase. This phase aims to launch and hand over service delivery projects in identified communities, running from March  to May 2024.

In this regard, this morning I was pleased to officially open the Seraleng Primary School in the Seraleng Community. This school was completed in 2019 at the value of R35.6 million, and it currently accommodates 1,378 learners from Grade R to Grade 7. 

Pele go agiwa sekolo, barutwana go tswa Seraleng ba ne ba tsena dikolo mo tikologong ya Rustenburg. Kago ya sekolo sena e latela boitlamo jwa Puso ya Bokone Bophirima morago ga gore bana le 4 go tswa Seraleng, ba tlhokafale mo kotsing ya terena ba ya sekolong.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We also had the opportunity to visit the Tlhabane Community Health Centre and hand over the R2,2 million worth of modern technology X-Ray machine, which was donated to the Health Centre by Glencore Mine. The machine allows doctors and radiographers to view patient scans on displays, reducing hospital referrals and wait times. It also stores X-ray records for up to five years, enhancing patient care.

Let me express our deepest gratitude, as Government, to Glencore Mine for this donation, which will go a long way towards improving the health of our people. It is through working together as social partners that we will attain our country’s developmental aspirations and a better life for all. 

These initiatives are just part of providing solutions to the service delivery challenges faced by the North West community. We are aware that a lot still needs to be done to meet the needs of our people.

Greater and more focused endeavours are required, particularly in addressing the reversal of the governance collapse in the province. The 6th Administration of Government faced difficulties related to the stability and collapse of Administration. As a result, the President and Cabinet utilised Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in the province.

Nevertheless, I was pleased to hear Acting Premier Nono Maloyi's State of the Province Address, in which it was said that despite these difficulties, your determination remains unshaken and your commitment to serving the people of the North West has been fortified.

We applaud your ability to successfully implement a sustainable turnaround strategy in all 22 municipalities in the province, using the District Development Model (DDM). The Thuntsa Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme is in accordance with the DDM, which aims to tackle service delivery issues by facilitating collaboration and coordination among all levels of Government, from local municipalities to the national Government.

In this regard, we support your Early Warning System in the form of an Electronic Dashboard that will monitor municipal performance and reporting in a more coordinated manner. The “Thuntsha-Lerole Mobile App”, which has now gone live, will provide an interactive communication platform to connect the Government with you as citizens, allowing you to report service delivery challenges in real time in your localities.

Through this app, communities will have the ability to promptly escalate service delivery issues to the appropriate department and municipal officials. This will enable speedy responses to challenges such as water disruptions, sewer spillages, electricity outages, and more.

Given the high cost of data in our country and the prevalence of poverty in our society, we anticipate that the application will soon become accessible without requiring data, hence enhancing access for individuals, especially those residing in rural areas and townships.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In addition, I am here alongside provincial leadership to offer feedback on service delivery interventions and plans that align with the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery approach, while also being cognisant of the obstacles faced by your areas.

Furthermore, our purpose in being here is to assess the quality of service provision in comparison to when we assumed power in 1994. In line with this, let me rewind a bit and explain the African National Congress's (ANC) service delivery commitments and the steps that we have taken so far to fulfil them.

We have made progress in the province regarding the water issue. Over eighty percent of households in the province have access to piped water inside their dwellings, yards, or community stands, as compared to only twenty percent in 1996. 

In November 2023, the provincial government, in cooperation with Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, launched the R106 million Dinokana Water Supply Intervention Project. Furthermore, construction of the R36 million bulk water sewer pipeline at Agisanang township in the Tswaing Local Municipality is due for completion this year.

Regarding access to education, a total of ten newly built schools will be handed over to communities this year with a combined cost of over R700 million, including Mphebana High School here in Bojanala District, Tlaakgameng Primary School in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, and Dirang ka Natla Primary School in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

As the ANC-led Government, we are guided by the principles of “Batho Pele", putting people first, in our efforts to provide quality services to the citizens of our country. This principle entails that all citizens should have equal access to the services of Government to which they are legitimately entitled.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to note that we have made significant strides in certain areas of service delivery. However, the overall delivery and implementation of these promises have fallen short of expectations, with lingering challenges that need urgent attention. 

The Government recognises that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience; it is also about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services.

Improving the delivery of basic services in South Africa is more than just a question of duty; it is also about social fairness, equality, and dignity. By ensuring that everyone has access to essential services, we can empower people, strengthen communities, and create a more successful and inclusive country.

Our Government will continue to provide basic services to our people and ensure that all South Africans have equal rights, as outlined in the Freedom Charter. 

Thank you!

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday, 16 March 2024, officiate at the 110th Commemoration of King Dinuzulu ka Cetshwayo in KwaZulu-Natal province. 

The President will commence the Commemoration by paying respects at the King Dinuzulu Memorial in Emakhosini, where the honours of a wreath laying ceremony will proceed.

King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo ruled the Zulu Nation from youthful age during a difficult period. The Zulu Nation was under siege from colonial rule. The effort to divide the Zulu Nation was at its prime, and the colonial support came from the total onslaught of the Zulu Kingdom. 

Recognising King Dinuzulu's valiant fight against colonialism, wherein he defended the land with his life, the Government expresses deep gratitude to the Zulu Royal Family for their guidance during ongoing consultations on matters of national and international significance.

In a collaboration  with the Royal Household, academics, historians, and cultural groups, various activities are underway, among them the King Dinuzulu Commemorative Conference, choral music festival, research and publication on the role of King Dinuzulu and notable Traditional Leaders in influencing South Africa's trajectory towards democracy.  

This commemoration serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of King Dinuzulu and the continued importance of acknowledging shared history.

The commemoration event will take place at KwaCeza, a venue of historical significance where King Dinuzulu launched a decisive attack against colonial forces, emerging victorious in the eastern parts of the town of Nongoma.

President Ramaphosa's participation at the 110th Commemoration of  King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo will take place on Saturday, 16 March 2024, as follows: 

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Time: 09h00
Venue: King Dinuzulu Memorial, Emakhosini

Address at the 110th Commemoration of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Time: 11h00 
Venue: KwaCeza Sports Field, Zululand District Municipality

Members of the media interested in covering the Commemoration should send RSVPs to Joseph Cubai on +27 60 534 4187.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, deliver the keynote address at the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

President Ramaphosa participated in the inaugural Conference in 2022.

The current event aims to acknowledge the contributions by black industrialists to the economy while reflecting on progress made in advancing redress and transforming a skewed racialised economy.

The event also presents an opportunity to discuss further initiatives to strengthen economic transformation in support of greater diversity in ownership in the economy.

The objective of the black industrialists programme is to increase participation of black South Africans in the ownership and control of productive enterprises in key sectors and the entire value chain of the country’s economy.

More than 600 firms supported by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the Dtic) showed a turnover of about R80 billion during the 2023/24 financial year, illustrating the tangible results of drawing more black entrepreneurs into the industrial economy.

Wednesday’s event will feature an exhibition that will showcase proudly South African products manufactured by black industrialists and an awards ceremony that will recognise and reward industrialists who have contributed significantly to industrialisation, job creation, poverty alleviation, innovation, and transformation efforts.

Details of the event are as follows:
 
Date: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Time: 07h00 (members of the media to arrive at 06h30)
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
 
Members of the media who are interested in covering the event are requested to RSVP to Mamosa Dikeledi via email at MDikeledi@thedtic.gov.za or WhatsApp on 066 301 9875, on or before Saturday, 16 March 2024. Ms Dikeledi would then advise those who have RSVPed on the collection of accreditation in this regard. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Good afternoon and a great pleasure to welcome media representatives who have joined us here in Pretoria and via online platforms.

We are going to look at the public engagement programme of the President for the period up to 31 March.

The President’s public engagement programme takes place during an important calendar month as we mark the national Human Rights Day in South Africa.  

As you would all know that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has remained unwavering and committed to advancing the rights of all vulnerable groups in society!

The President is pleased on the journey we have travelled to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in all facets of our society, particularly for the women, the elderly and children.

We mark this Human Rights Day under the recurring and persistent scourge of attacks on the basic rights of the vulnerable groups in society.  

Hence the President reiterates his call for society to frown upon the scourge of violent crimes committed against women and children which is a direct onslaught and threat to the progress we have made in the adherence of human rights.  

The President believes that everyone must enjoy their constitutional given rights freely as the inherent basic principles of freedom and democracy.

President Ramaphosa remains committed on the protection of rights not only for this month of March, but as a continuous daily practice in South Africa.

We look forward to the President delivering the key note address during the national Human Rights commemoration on 21 March, which marks more than six decades under freedom and democracy.  

The Constitution enshrines the rights of all citizens and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom, irrespective of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

We urge all South Africans to commemorate and remember all those gallant men and women to whom today’s freedom is written in their blood.  

We are united in the progress we have made and unified in the work we need to do to address the lingering socio-economic challenges.

Government continues to intensify the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which the President has described as the country’s ‘second pandemic’.

As part of the intervention, Government has introduced new laws to protect women and children in South Africa from abuse and violence.  

We are implementing new legislation which has strengthened the criminal justice system, put more effective deterrents in place to promote accountability, and enabled better protection and support for survivors.

These includes the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act which amongst others regulates the reporting obligation on people who are aware that sexual offences have been committed against persons who are vulnerable.  

The Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act is vital as it introduces mandatory DNA collection for certain crimes.

Domestic Violence Amendment Act and Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act are further interventions that will help in protecting vulnerable groups in South Africa.  

King Dinuzulu KaCetshwayo 110th Anniversary Commemoration, 16 March 2024

President Ramaphosa will join His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini who will be leading the Royal family and amabutho at the 110th anniversary commemoration of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo at KwaCeza, Zululand on 16 March 2024.  

King Dinuzulu was a symbol of resistance against colonialism as he confronted various onslaught which included imprisonment from colonial government which disregarded the institutions of traditional authority. He succeeded his father King Cetshwayo as king of the Zulu nation. The commemoration is a stark reminder of the untold sufferings and humiliation in the struggle journey which our forebears confronted that led to the freedom and democracy we enjoy today.  

The President will commence the commemoration by paying respects at the King Dinuzulu Memorial at Ebukhosini , where he will lay a wreath in honour of the late Ingonyama.  

In a collaboration with the Royal Household, academics, historians, and cultural groups, various activities are underway, among them the King Dinuzulu Commemorative Conference, Choral Music festival, research and publication on the role of King Dinuzulu and notable Traditional leaders in influencing South Africa's trajectory towards democracy.  

This commemoration serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of King Dinuzulu and the continued importance of acknowledging shared history.

The commemoration event will take place at KwaCeza, a venue of historical significance where King Dinuzulu launched a decisive attack against colonial forces, emerging victorious in the eastern parts of the town of Nongoma.

DCJS State of Human Rights in SA Conference, 18 March 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 18 March 2024, address the National Conference on the State of Human Rights Conference marking the 30th anniversary of constitutional democracy and human rights in South Africa.

The conference will be hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development from 18-20 March 2024 at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg under the theme “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.  

The Conference is premised on the Department’s mandate which is the custodian of the Constitution and effective administration of the law. The Conference will also assess the institutions that are meant to uphold Constitutional democracy in South Africa. The outcome of this Conference is envisaged to be the baseline for benchmarking Government’s implementation of the social contract.

Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), 19 March 2024

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will on 19 March host the third instalment of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa. The Symposium will provide visibility of the infrastructure project pipeline and focus on closing the infrastructure investment gap. It will be a platform where the public sector will engage with the private sector.

Amongst the issues that will be unveiled is the new pipeline of economic infrastructure project that will receive projects preparations from infrastructure South Africa. There will also be the launch of the inaugural 2024/25 construction book. There will be about 22 Ministers that deal with infrastructures in their respective countries across the African continent.

Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly, 19 March 2024

The President will on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 officially attend to the call by the National Assemble to respond to Questions for Oral Reply. The President’s appearance in the National Assembly will complete the Fourth Term Parliamentary Programme cycle.

This is in accordance with the President’s obligation in terms of the Rules of the National

Assembly. The President will reflect on questions ranging from the land reform programme in the agricultural sector, lifestyle audits will be done starting with Members of the Executive and Presidential Employment Stimulus amongst the some of the questions.  

Black Industrialists Summit, 20 March 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, deliver the keynote address at the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters conference in Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. President Ramaphosa participated in the inaugural Conference in 2022.

The President will acknowledge the contribution made by Black Industrialists to the South African economy, while reflecting on the progress made in advancing redress and transforming a skewed racialised economy while discussing further initiatives to strengthen economic transformation in support of greater diversity in the ownership of the economy. The intended second Black Industrialist Conference will among others celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, of 2003. It will further showcase the success of transformation policies including BBBEE and the Black Industrialist programme.

More than 600 firms supported by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the DTIC) showed a turnover of about R80 billion during the 2023/24 financial year, illustrating the tangible results of drawing more black entrepreneurs into the industrial economy.

Human Rights Day, 21 March 2024

As I stated in my introduction, the President will address this year Human Rights commemoration which coincides with significant milestones of the 30 year anniversary of freedom and democracy. This year’s official commemoration will take place in Sharpeville in the Gauteng province, under the theme “Three decades of respect for and promotion of Human Rights”. This day remains a fundamental landmark in our history and the reminder of those who fought against apartheid and colonialism. The United Nations has also declared March 21 to be the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Inaugural Biodiversity Indaba and Investment Summit, 26 March 2024

Lastly on 26 March, the President will address the Inaugural Biodiversity Indaba and Investment Summit. The gathering will bring together stakeholders ranging from all spheres of Government, Traditional Leaders, Traditional Health Practitioners, Communities, people and parks, Youth, Wildlife Economy, Bioprospecting and Ecotourism Industries, Investors, Business Sector and Academia.  

CONCLUSION

This brings us to the end of the program. If we encounter any changes made to the program, you will be the first to know.

Thank you for your attention. I now welcome questions.

Thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in accordance with section 4(1) (a) read with section 5 (1) (a) of the South African Reserve Bank Act of 1989, and after consultations with the Minister of Finance and the board of directors of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), reappointed Mr Elias Lesetja Kganyago as Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 9 November 2024. The re-appointment of Governor Kganyago will ensure continuity and institutional stability at the Reserve Bank.

Furthermore, the President has re-appointed Ms Nomfundo Tshazibana and Dr Rashad Ismail Cassim as Deputy Governors of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 1 August 2024.

Following the end of term of office for former Deputy Governor Kuben Naidoo in 2023, President Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Mampho Modise as the new Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 1 April 2024. The President has expressed his gratitude to former Deputy Governor Naidoo for his contribution to the Reserve Bank and wishes Dr Modise well in her new role.

Dr Modise is currently the Deputy Director-General for Public Finance division in the National Treasury. She started her career as an intern at the South African Reserve Bank in 2004 and progressed to role of economist at the bank. Dr Modise left the SARB in 2009 to join the National Treasury, where she started as a senior economist in the Economic Policy division.

She was soon promoted to Director: Fiscal Policy, then to the Chief Director: Strategy and Risk Management in the Asset and Liability Management division of the National Treasury. In 2017, she was promoted to the position of Deputy Director-General. Dr Modise completed her tertiary education at the University of Pretoria, obtaining her BCom Economics, BCom Honours Econometrics, MCom Econometrics (cum laude) and a PhD in Economics.

The South African Reserve Bank Act of 1989 provides for the President to appoint the Governor along with three Deputy Governors and four Directors of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Section 4 (1) (a) states that: “The Bank shall have a board of fifteen directors, consisting of a Governor and three Deputy Governors (of whom one shall be designated by the President of the Republic as Senior Deputy Governor) who shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, after consultation with the Minister and the Board, as well as four other directors appointed by the President, after consultation with the Minister.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, will tomorrow host a media briefing to update the public on the President’s public programme.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Friday, 15 March 2024
Time: 12:30 
Venue: Union Buildings, Room 159
 
RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend the media briefing in person are requested to submit their details to patience@presidency.gov.za 

Media following remotely can text their questions to 083 376 9468. The media briefing will be streamed live and the link will be shared prior. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will brief members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 13 March 2024.  

The media briefing will take place as follows:  

Date: Thursday, 14 March 2024
Time: 10h00
Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, Parliament, Cape Town.  

Live Streaming details:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA 

Media enquiries: Nomonde Mnukwa, Acting Government Spokesperson, on 083 653 7485

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System
Pretoria

President Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 14 March 2024, address the opening of the 2024 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla Conference taking place at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg.

Taking place under the theme "Equipping learners with knowledge and skills for a changing world," the 2024 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla aims to deepen the understanding of advancements made within the sector with a special focus on developments achieved over the last decade.

The Lekgotla seeks to highlight the sectors advancements across critical learning areas such as Early Childhood Development and foundational learning that are critical pillars for building a strong educational foundation. 

Details of the President's address are as follows:

Date: Thursday 14 March 2024
Time: 09h00 (Virtual)
Venue: Birchwood Conference Centre, 44 Viewpoint Street, Boksburg

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director;
Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams;
Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Heads of Delegation Present, including Representatives from the AU and AfCFTA;
Premiers, MECs, Members of Parliament, and Provincial Legislatures present;
Mayors and Councillors;
President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Mr. Jonathan Ortmans,
The CEO of 22ON-SLOANE, Mr. Kizito Okechukwu;
Ambassadors, Representatives from Multi-laterals, and Development Partners Present;
Director General of Small Business Development, Ms Thulisile Manzini;
and Government Representatives and Officials;
Members of the Global and Continental Investment Community;
Business Leaders and Representatives from Entrepreneurship Support Organisations as we as sponsors;
And most importantly, the Entrepreneurs themselves;

Good Morning, Molweni, Dumelang!  
 
Programme Director,

It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa - a gathering where entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, and many other role-players explore, engage and inform perspectives that will help us collectively drive economic growth in the continent.

You are most welcome to our beautiful nation, nam’kelekile eMzansi Afrika!

If I recall accurately, at the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Johannesburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the then Deputy President, challenged President Jonathan Ortmans to organise an African version of that event.

We are proud that this moment, which is a defining moment for entrepreneurship in Africa, has come.

I would like to thank everyone involved in organising this congress, especially Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams of the Department of Small Business Development and the Global Entrepreneurship Network led by Jonathan Ortmans and Kizito Okechukwu. 

This GEC+ Africa Congress is timely and extremely important given the current global economic situation, especially the African continent's continued efforts to reinvent itself as a more influential actor in shaping the global agenda.

Africa is a continent overflowing with untapped potential, a hub of innovation and invention waiting to be re-awakened. The Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa thus allows us to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another to achieve greatness.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Africa however still plays a subordinate role in Global Value Chains, and is confronted by deeply established structural constraints that stem from our previous position as an exporter of unprocessed raw commodities. 

We do not yet have a sufficiently diversified export basket due to industrialisation. We remain vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of global commodity cycles and have been slow in transitioning toward higher-productivity economic activities.

As a continent, we need to rise to a level where we have well-integrated production networks, are equally participating in global trade, and are rapidly improving our export mix.

Cognisant that approximately 24 countries in Africa will in 2024 be conducting General Elections, the question of regional integration and growing the continents economy is critical.

I am proud to say that the political party I represent, the African National Congress, has through its election manifesto prioritised the use of mineral resources for industrialisation, and regional integration as central to the economic development programme of both our country and the continent.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Like the rest of the continent, South Africa needs to be strategic in its goals and actions to increase its competitiveness in higher-productivity trade-able commodities and services, as well as in becoming ready for a digital and environmentally friendly future.

We must recognise that there is a link between the environment, economy, and agriculture. All economic activities either affect or are affected by natural and environmental resources.

Whereas economic development is a process of structural transformation, agriculture is the essential engine to jumpstart the process.

The agricultural sector is made up almost entirely of single-person businesses involved in low-value, low-productivity farming. This keeps us dependent as a net food importer, which has become more problematic with rising fuel and food prices. 

As a result, we need innovation and entrepreneurship, which can be game-changers for us. I believe that precision farming and agri-tech will unleash what the African Development Bank estimates could be a 1 trillion USD economy for the continent by 2030. 

Farmers must therefore, adapt to current farming methods that increase production efficiency. African innovators and entrepreneurs have the power to transform our economy, which will eventually allow us to participate in the global economy as players with equal status.

As policymakers, we have to create an enabling environment for our entrepreneurs.

First, we must ensure that the core foundations of the digital economy are in place, including digital infrastructure, digital skills, cybersecurity capabilities, and affordable and accessible data.

We need to do more to implement the African Union’s Digital Transformation Agenda, adopted at its Summit of Heads of State in February 2019.

We must ensure that by 2030, every individual, business, and government on the continent will be digitally enabled and ready to support a growing digital economy.

Second, we must eliminate red tape and make it easier for entrepreneurs to conduct business. Countries on our continent typically perform poorly in various categories related to corporate performance and competitiveness due to an unfriendly environment, particularly in terms of intra-continental trade.

Therefore, we must take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which seeks to eliminate barriers to trade in Africa. The AfCFTA will significantly boost intra-African trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa's economy.

Third, we must improve our governance systems! This includes tackling corruption, improving our macro-economic management, and settling disputes through negotiations rather than violent conflict. We must do more to shift the narrative that Africa is a difficult place to do business. 

Fourth, we must address the SMME and start-up credit gap. Africa has 18% of the world’s population but attracts only 2% of global capital, and even less global venture capital for start-ups.

In South Africa, Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams has proposed an SMME and cooperative Funding Policy, which was recently gazetted for public comment. The Policy requires that the Business Development Service providers in South Africa institutionalise the practice of assisting SMMEs and cooperatives with pre-funding support. Without funding, our best start-ups are leaving for tech hubs abroad.

As Africa, we also need to find ways of keeping skilled professionals’ within the borders of our continent. The loss of skilled professionals, also known as ‘brain-drain’ is one of the major reasons for the unsteady growth in our respective countries.

To prevent this, we need to make it easier for skills to move across the continent and increase the number of people who can learn new skills, especially in areas that are important to the digital economy.

South Africa is making inroads in reforming visa requirements, which allows high-tech expertise to work in the country and develop our economy. This move is supported by the underpinning principles of the AfCFTA, and propels us towards the integrated Africa that we want.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is critical that as policymakers, we create a more supportive policy environment. Many African countries have developed start-up legislation, and we are looking to this congress to guide us on policy best practice.

I am pleased that you have included a Ministerial Round-table and a dedicated policy workshop featuring thought leaders from around the world in your programme for this occasion.

We should not let this Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa be like another ordinary gathering of brilliant minds for networking without results.

This event should serve as a call to action for this generation of African leaders to do the work and leave a lasting legacy of economic growth, regional integration and overall African prosperity.  

Guided by the AU Agenda 2063 objective, we must cooperate to create a strong, united, resilient, and peaceful Africa that is a major partner and global actor in international affairs.

As a continent, we need to work together to achieve socio-economic transformation that benefits everyone. One way to start is by assisting small businesses.

In this regard, Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams has informed me that under Minister Yacine Oualid's direction, the African Start-up Conference in Algiers over the past two years has made steady progress toward developing an African Start-Up Roadmap.

Together, this and the AfCFTA are important steps towards the AFRICA WE WANT. I am confident that this inaugural GEC+ Africa Congress will provide the appropriate policy advice and partnerships to take us there.

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams, well done on launching this important platform, and I look forward to the Exhibition and interacting with some of the  entrepreneurs in the Exhibition Hall.

Thank you.

Honourable Chairperson,

Prior to responding to questions by Members of this House, let me wish all those celebrating a Happy and Blessed month of Ramadan. May it be a turning point for the people of Palestine, and the oppressed nations of the world.

On High unemployment rate among youth

Honourable Chairperson,

In October 2020, Cabinet approved the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2030, which is a cross-sectoral policy intended to redress the injustices of the past and deal decisively with new challenges affecting the youth.

As part of our commitment to reduce youth unemployment, the Minister of Finance has announced an amount of R7.4 billion set aside for the Presidential Employment Initiative for the 2024/25 financial year. 

Thus far, the Presidential Employment Initiative has assisted over 1.7 million people through a combination of job creation, job retention and income and skills support interventions.

Honourable Chairperson,

In addition, the South African Employment Services System, which serves over 7 million job seekers, provides nationwide platforms for youth to register for employment, match with employment opportunities, and receive placement counselling. 

Through public-private partnerships, government supports various internship, learnerships, and apprenticeship programmes across various government departments to provide experiential learning and facilitate entry into the labour market for young people.

By supporting the growth of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), government is playing a critical role in addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Government is also implementing the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act to promote SMMEs that are key to job creation, and economic growth.

We must continue to strengthen multi sectoral partnerships to increase opportunities that promote youth empowerment and participation in the labour market. Together, we can contribute to national efforts to create employment and get South Africans working.

I thank you.

On addressing skills shortage

Honourable Chairperson,
 
After the Fourth Human Resource Development Council Summit that was held in 2021, partners who are represented in the Council, comprising government, business sector, organised labour and civil society, signed three social compacts.

The compacts are aimed at strengthening relationships and positively impacting the human development value chain in our country.

The first social compact focuses on building the foundation for a transformed economy and society. The second compact focuses on skills for a transformed economy and society, and the third one relates to the building of a capable state, and professionalisation of the public service. 

The signing of these compacts demonstrates government and social partner collaboration to address skills shortages in critical economic sectors. 

The social compacts prioritise digital skills for the 21^st century, aligning them with global demands of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions.

Honourable Chairperson, 

The Department of Higher Education and Training established a National Skills Fund that prioritises employment creation interventions through the rollout of work-integrated learning programmes designed to facilitate the transition of graduates and technical vocational education and training college students into the labour market.

This year, R800 million has been set aside for the National Skills Fund to develop skills in the digital and technology sector through an innovative model that links payment for training to employment outcomes. 

Moreover, the Human Resource Development Strategy: Towards 2030 recognises that education and skills in South Africa constitute the nerve-centre of the country’s economic growth and the national transformation goals set out in the National Development Plan’s vision for 2030.

The country’s re-conceptualised Human Resource Development Strategy and Master Skills Plan, which is currently being developed, will give further impetus to our efforts of addressing skills shortages across all sectors of our economy.

Last week, on Friday 8 March 2024, we held a Human Resource Development Council meeting, which took the form of a retreat where we reflected on both achievements and challenges relating to the shortage of skills in critical sectors of our economy.

One of the critical observations of the Council is that there is a need to improve the speed of policy execution across the state, the private sector and civil society to realise our global competitiveness.

I thank you. 

On resolving water crisis/disruptions

Honourable Chairperson,

Government is implementing improvement plans as part of its rapid response interventions to resolve the water crisis and electricity disruptions in various municipalities in the country.

Through the Service Delivery War Room, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as the coordinating department, has developed a number of improvements plans to implement rapid response interventions that include the following:

• The establishment of the Results Management Office.
• The introduction of reforms in the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to fund repairs, refurbishment and renewal of their infrastructure.
• Continued deployment of technical professionals through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent.

As part of the Results Management Office's responsibility, the Working Group on Energy assists municipalities in advancing demand side management measures and providing alternate energy supplies. These initiatives are aimed at reducing the impact of load shedding, and its effect on substations and transformers.

Honourable Chairperson,

Last week, together with the Deputy Ministers of CoGTA and Water and Sanitation, we visited Knysna Municipality to find solutions to some of the challenges the municipality is facing. We are happy to report that with the support of Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), the pump station that had been vandalised in the Hornlee area has been repaired, and water supply has been restored to the community. As this government, we are committed to working within the Inter-Governmental Relations Framework to ensure that we assist Municipalities in delivering services to our people. 

The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, continues to engage the private sector to fund bulk-water infrastructure projects. Two examples of these private sector engagements include Sishen Mine in the Northern Cape Province and the Anglo Platinum Mine in Limpopo Province. These private sector entities have stepped up to fund wastewater treatment works upgrades in the Northern Cape and Limpopo Provinces, respectively.

Furthermore, Eskom has initiated the Active Partnering Programme, which provides technical support to Municipalities through targeted interventions based on each municipality’s needs, and to strengthen the capacity of municipalities to address the high failure rate of mini sub-stations and transformers.

Parliament is currently processing the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill to establish the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency as a state-owned company, and a major public entity. The Agency will enable South Africa to expand our bulk water infrastructure and improve the management of existing water assets to ensure water security over the next decade.

As the government of the African National Congress, we will continue to work tirelessly to assist municipalities who are Water Services Authorities to meet their constitutional obligation to provide reliable water and sanitation services to all South African citizens.
 
I thank you.

On the District Development Model

Honourable Chairperson,

The District Development Model (DDM) is in operation across the three spheres of government. Since assuming my responsibilities as the Deputy President of the Republic in March 2023, I have been on the ground conducting several DDM-linked outreach visits to provinces, specifically to troubleshoot service delivery hotspots at the municipal level, and implement intervention measures that are in line with the District Development Model. 

To this end, I have conducted outreach programmes to different sites in the North West, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces. These included interactions with stakeholders that are seized with the implementation of the DDM in their localities, including; traditional leaders, government, business and community organisations.  

Honourable Chairperson,

On Thursday, 07 March 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa led Government’s interaction in the form of a District Development Model Presidential Imbizo with communities and stakeholders in the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga.

This 12^th Imbizo was part of the ongoing interactions with communities and stakeholders, aimed at enabling successful implementation of the “One District, One Plan” District Development Model. In line with the theme of, “Leaving No One Behind”, residents, Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Business Formations, Organised Labour, Faith- and Community-Based Organisations work with government across all phases of planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Our interactions with these partners have assisted in identifying areas of best practice and those that need strengthening in the implementation of the One Plans of municipalities. 

In particular, collaborating with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, we are looking into ensuring that implementation of the DDM leads to strengthening partnerships with development partners and investors underpinned by a longer term DDM Vision and One Plans.  

Through the implementation of the District Development Model, the African National Congress-led government will continue to invest in our people by ensuring that local governments deliver and provide basic services to all communities. 

I thank you.

On the transfer of agricultural land

Honourable Chairperson,

Government is accelerating land redistribution through a variety of instruments, such as land restitution and expropriation of land, in order to boost agricultural output. 

To this end, in his 2023 budget vote speech, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure announced that 221 land parcels measuring 148 796 hectares have been released from the Department property portfolio to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development for transfer to the approved land claimants. Approximately 1 576 hectares of land is earmarked to be released before the end of this financial year.

To further address the skewed patterns of land ownership, 125 land parcels, measuring 25 549 hectares of agricultural land was released to support subsistence farming and food security. This is in keeping with what we have been doing over the last 30 years.

Furthermore, the government is in the process of transferring State Agricultural Land, through which is known as FALA (Financial Assistance Land) properties, where there has been compliance with the rent-to-buy agreements. 

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is developing criteria for category 3 and commercial farmers as part of the rollout plan for the release of state land. Category 3 includes medium to large-scale commercial farmers who have already been, or intend to farm commercially at various scales, but are disadvantaged by location, size of land, and other resource constraints that are limiting their growth.

Under the land reform programme, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, as the custodian of national state-owned land, receives requests from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to release land to settle land claims for restitution, and for agricultural purposes.

As a government, we will prioritize providing extension and technical support in order to ensure that we distribute properties that are productive and contribute to South Africa’s food security. 

I thank you.

On the genocide case against Israel

Honourable Chairperson,

As South Africa we have no regrets about becoming the first country to file the lawsuit against the State of Israeli at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, to compel her government to end the deadly and relentless genocidal bombardment of Gaza.  

The UN Humanitarian Agency estimates that more than 30,000 Palestinians, including over 10,000 children, have been killed. Over 70,000 have been injured while 10,000 are missing under rubble. This brings the number of civilian casualties to about 110,000, amounting to roughly 5% of Gaza's 2.3 million population. We will not condone genocide. 

Similarly, I must reiterate South Africa’s condemnation of Hamas for the indiscriminate and wanton violence meted against Israeli civilians.
 
Honourable Chairperson,

We are mindful that not every citizen supports our government’s decision to refer the Gaza bombardment to the ICJ. We are also aware that some, here at home and abroad, started off by opposing our position. However, they have revised their view, taking into consideration the number of deaths and sheer scale of human suffering. 

We also know that there are some for whom support for the State of Israel is an ideological and, in some instances, a religious matter. They will never be swayed no matter the facts and however persuasive the argument. There are, frankly speaking, some whose idea of human pain is informed by the pigmentation of the perpetrator and the victim. Others do not so much as care about anything that happens beyond our borders and would rather that we become an insular society even as the world shrinks into a village. 

However the ANC led government will continue to engage every sector of our society especially on matters contentious. 

Honourable Chairperson,

Our country is committed to the promotion of social cohesion, which does not mean the absence of difference, but the promotion of consensus and evolution of a practical programme of action for progressive social change.

It is in the context of Ubuntu and the building a better Africa and the world that we remain committed to promoting the Bill of Rights, which enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.

We will continue to pledge of our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle to end all acts of the apartheid system by Israeli government, and the genocide emanating from that evil system, and supporting their collective right to self-determination. As President Nelson Mandela emphasised that: "Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." Indeed: If I am only for myself, what am I?

I thank you.