President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of Mr Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada and Esteemed Member of the National Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

Mr Mulroney, who served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993, has passed away at the age of 84.

On behalf of Government and the nation, President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the government and people of Canada and especially Mr Mulroney’s family on the passing of a leader who holds a special place in South Africa’s history.

On Freedom Day 2015, Mr Mulroney was honoured with the National Order of the Companions of OR Tambo (Gold) “for his exceptional contribution to the liberation movement of South Africa. His steadfast support for the release of Nelson Mandela and for imposing sanctions on South Africa's apartheid regime led to a free, democratic, non-sexist and non-racial South Africa."

President Ramaphosa said: “Prime Minister Mulroney led Canada during a critical decade in which our struggle for freedom culminated in the dismantling of apartheid.

“During his term, he spoke out against apartheid, advocated the economic isolation of the regime and took a stand when many in the international community were wavering.

“For us, his passing is made profound by the fact that we have lost this friend and ally in the year in which we are marking 30 years of freedom and in which we pay tribute to all those around the world who supported our struggle for freedom and democracy. May his soul rest in peace.” 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Ms. Maropene Ramokgopa, will lead the National Planning Commission’s (NPC) Strategic Lekgotla in her capacity as the Chairperson of the NPC between 1-2 March 2024 in Johannesburg. The Lekgotla is the third strategic session of the NPC and will be convened under the theme; “National Planning Commission: Taking the NDP Forward.”

The NPC is a diverse and independent advisory body and think tank appointed by the President for five years. It is the custodian of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP): Vision 2030 and has the primary role of advising Government and society on implementing the NDP. Therefore, the foremost mandate of the third Commission is to institutionalise national development and long-term planning.

The Lekgotla takes place during an important period in our country with the approaching end of the 6th Administration, the upcoming 7th national and provincial elections, and notably, the celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy.

Equally, the Lekgotla is convened during the halfway mark since the third NPC was appointed in December 2021, and 10 years after the NDP was incorporated into the government’s plans. The strategic session therefore presents an opportunity for the NPC to engage in a robust assessment of progress with the implementation of the NDP in the first decade as well as to take stock of its performance.

The Lekgotla will also deliberate and weigh in on the advisory mandate of the NPC to the Government, to rally the nation around a common set of objectives and priorities to drive development and the implementation of the NDP towards 2030.

Media enquiries: Keitumetse Fatimama Moutloatse on 073 532 6161 or Keitumetse@dpme.gov.za

Issued by: The National Planning Commission of South Africa
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, will on Thursday, 29 February 2024 brief media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.  

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

Date: Thursday, 29th February 2024
Time: 10h00  
Venue: GCIS Ronnie Mamoepa Press Room, Tshedimosetso House, Hatfield, Pretoria

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 Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution embarked on a process of consultation with the leaders of political parties represented in Parliament and the Judicial Service Commission to convey his nomination of Judge Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
 
Judge Maya currently serves as Deputy Chief Justice and has held the postions of Deputy President and President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
 
The position of Chief Justice will become vacant on 31 August 2024 when the term of office of Justice Raymond Zondo comes to an end. The Chief Justice was appointed as a Justice of the Constitutional Court for a 12-year term with effect from 1 September 2012. The Chief Justice will therefore complete his term as a Justice of the Constitutional Court with effect from 31 August 2024.
 
President Ramaphosa has invited the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly to make submissions on the suitability or otherwise of Deputy Chief Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice.
 
The President has drawn the attention of leaders of political parties to Judge Maya’s illustrious judicial career, in which she was first appointed as a Judge of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in 2000.
 
She attained B.Proc (University of Transkei); LLB (University of Natal); and LLM (Duke University, North Carolina, United States of America) degrees as well as three LLD degrees (Honoraris) from the Universities of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela respectively.
 
President Ramaphosa has also, in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution, consulted the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, process on the President’s nomination of Justice Dumisani Hamilton Zondi as Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
 
Justice Zondi currently serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
 
The term of office of the Current Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Xola Petse, will come to an end on 10 July 2024 when he attains the age of 70 and will be automatically discharged from office.
 
Justice Zondi holds a B.Juris from the University of Fort Hare, an LLB from the University of Natal, as well as an LLM from Georgetown University in the United States of America.
 
Following a successful career in practice, Justice Zondi was appointed to the Western Cape Bench in 2007. In 2011, he became a Judge of the Competition Appeal Court. Justice Zondi was elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeal in June 2014. In 2022, he was appointed as a Chairperson of the Electoral Court.
 
President Ramaphosa has invited the Judicial Service Commission to make submissions on Justice Zondi’s suitability for the position for which he has been nominated.
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director, Dr Masuku;
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, Mr Mosotho Moepya and IEC Commissioners;
The CEO of the IEC in South Africa, Mr Simon Mamabolo;
President of the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA), The Reverend Carlos Simo Matsinhe;
Members of the AAEA Executive Committee;
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, HE Mr Alvin Botes;
Representative of the African Union Commission, led by Ambassador William Awindor-Kanyinge;
Representatives of the United Nations Agencies and other Development Partners;
Representatives of the Election Management Bodies;
Representatives of Civil Society Organisations;
Distinguished guests;
Members of the media;

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour to address you today on behalf of millions of South Africans at this historic event, which includes the launch of the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in African Elections, which were adopted by the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA) General Assembly at its 11th Meeting on 3 November 2023 in Cotonou, Benin. 

The epoch-making development and official adoption of the Principles and Guidelines by the continental EMB body has prompted Election Management Bodies (EBMs) to use digital and social media in election management.

The adoption of the Principles and Guidelines signalled a new era for EBMs in the quest to reap the benefits of digital and social media while also investigating ways to mitigate the inherent harms that could jeopardise the credibility of electoral processes.

The Principles and Guidelines are a comprehensive framework for the EMBs and electoral stakeholders on how best to interface with digital and social media before, during, and after elections.

Therefore, the development of these principles and guidelines on social media, spearheaded by the Electoral Commission of South Africa on behalf of AAEA, is ground-breaking on the African continent.

It is also among the few such endeavours globally, including the sterling work done by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in recent years.

The timing of the continent-wide socialisation programme coincides with heightened election activity around the continent, with over 20 African Union member states, including South Africa, expected to hold elections in 2024.

The socialisation programme will enhance the election preparedness of the EMBs in these nations. The programme will also educate and encourage the application of these principles and guidelines among various national stakeholders.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the fast-paced digital world of today, we must recognise the important role that social media plays in shaping people's opinions and establishing the narratives propelled during elections.

As we witness the increasing use of these platforms in political campaigns, it is imperative that we establish clear principles and guidelines to ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive electoral process.

Moreover, it is critical to utilise these social media platforms in a constructive manner to inform and disseminate positive messages regarding elections, with a particular focus on the youth of Africa, who, like elsewhere, are gaining significant traction on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others.

We should, therefore, use these principles and guidelines to emphasise the importance of promoting online integrity, safeguarding against misinformation and disinformation, protecting privacy and data security, and fostering a level playing field for all candidates and political parties.

Through adherence to these principles, we will be able to safeguard the values of democracy through free and fair elections and allow voters to make choices.

We have a significant obligation to educate our population about the risks associated with disseminating misinformation, particularly concerning elections, since false claims can erode trust in the electoral process and provoke a wave of anti-voters and instability in our countries.

Misinformation and disinformation are a threat to democracy, they undermine confidence in our elections, and have the potential to suppress voter turnout. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

The reality is that the political environment during elections is tense and volatile, and we should use social media with responsibility to ensure that the content we share is credible and accurate.

In this regard, we must adhere to the adopted guidelines to achieve the main objectives of developing these principles and guidelines, which are -

● To enhance existing continental and regional normative frameworks governing the conduct of elections by specifically incorporating issues of digital and social media in elections.

● To create awareness among EMBs and other stakeholders on the benefits and threats of digital and social media to the electoral process and integrity.

● To foster policy development on digital and social media in elections by Election Management Bodies, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States.

As the South African Government, we are glad to have contributed to the achievement of this ambitious dream, which has now become a reality. 

We are grateful for the support given to the programme by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (EAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNESCO, and all the development partners and digital companies that provided expert input in shaping the content throughout this process.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As I have previously stated, the timing of the launch of these principles and guidelines is important in the South African context for two primary reasons.

First of all, it coincides with our upcoming elections, which are set for the 29th May 2024. This provides an opportunity for fine-tuning the regulatory and operational protocols for the use of social media during these elections.

Secondly, players in the digital media industry are making efforts on a global scale to counteract the negative effects of social and digital media. An example of this is the recent signing of “A Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections” by technology companies at the Munich Security Conference on 16 February 2024.

I must mention that I am confident in our electoral processes and believe that ours is an example of what an entrenched democracy's resilience looks like.

We will therefore continue to uphold the right to free and fair elections in this election and thereafter, as we have done since 1994.

The vast majority of voters have always set the course that South Africa should take, guaranteeing that our democracy's fundamental principles are upheld.

I urge political parties that participate in robust debate on social media to uphold ethical standards and refrain from going too far in being unjust, deceptive, or hateful. We can run campaigns on social media without being malicious or degrading of both individuals and organisations.

I am encouraged to note from the programme that this is not an ordinary event but a strategic sensitisation aimed at equipping the EMBs with practical means to deal with digital and social media.

The selection of participating EMBs holding elections in 2024 and 2025 speaks to the urgency and resolve the AAEA and its partners have in harnessing the benefits of digital and social media while mitigating the inherent challenges it comes with.

In order for the efforts put into developing these Principles and Guidelines to bear fruit, I would like to encourage everyone to pay attention to the need for an inclusive approach to the domestication process. You must ensure that all stakeholders are on-board from the onset in order to avoid this process being reduced to an agenda for EMBs alone.

Ladies and gentlemen,

You have an enormous task ahead of you. Over the next three days, you will unpack the Principles and Guidelines document and identify areas for domestication depending on your peculiar circumstances.

However, considering the diverse talents gathered at this event from various corners of the world, I am confident and optimistic that you will live up to the task before you.

I would like to thank the electoral assistance Agencies and digital companies for walking this journey with the African EMBs, offering them technical expertise, and building their capacities. Your collective efforts are a huge contribution to electoral democracy on our continent.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As I conclude, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa launched.

I wish you fruitful deliberations that will encourage appropriate measures for strengthening the EMB's capacities in the use of digital and social media. 

I also take this opportunity to wish all the EMBs holding elections in 2024, including our own IEC, successful delivery of credible elections.

I thank you.

Programme Director;
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services of South Africa, Ronald Lamola;
Minister of Police, Mr. Bhekokwakhe Hamilton Cele;
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr John Jeffery;
MEC for Gauteng Community Safety, Ms Faith Mazibuko;
Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee present;
Judge Presidents, Deputy Judge Presidents, and former Judges present;
Heads of Commissions present;
National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Shamila Batohi;
National Commissioners of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Sehlahle Fanie Masemola of SAPS;
Mr Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale of the Department of Correctional Services;
National Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Dr (Adv) Lieutenant, General Godfrey Lebeya;
Senior leadership of Chapters 9 and 10 Institutions;
Traditional Leadership and Civil Society Organisations present;
Government officials and members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen,
 
I am honoured to address you today at this important conference that brings together stakeholders to contribute to the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 vision through honest review, solution-based recommendations, and a commitment to working together towards a South Africa with a strong criminal justice system, and a country where all feel safe and secure.

As we celebrate 30 Years of our Constitution with less than three months to the 2024 General Elections, this is an opportune moment for us to reflect on the criminal justice system in the context of the rights enshrined in the Constitution, and the founding provisions of human dignity and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.

I believe that the criminal justice system serves as the bedrock of every democratic society, ensuring the protection of individual rights and the maintenance of order. For many years, the integrated criminal justice system and the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977 have had a profound impact on how we handle law enforcement, prosecution, and adjudication in South Africa.

However, we must examine the current legal framework and identify areas that require transformation or amendment. Our laws must be responsive to the changing needs of society and aligned with international standards.

In this regard, our Constitution guides us on the ongoing path of transformation, which has proven to be dynamic, challenging, but also producing some positive outcomes as it relates to improving the lives of South Africans. Likewise, the criminal justice system and all its constitutive parts are on a transformative journey requiring us to assess where we come from, where we now are, and where we are headed.

Currently, our criminal justice system and democracy have been put to the test due to widespread corruption, criminality, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

Crime remains persistent despite the many strategies we have devised to fight it, such as increased police presence, community policing initiatives, and technological investments in surveillance and evidence collection.

The prosecution and judicial systems are overburdened, the correctional service is overcrowded, and the police system continues to be besieged as the state fights to prosecute and punish criminal behaviour, frequently compromising on "zero-tolerance" pledges to "punish at all costs."

Looking at these challenges, it is easy to grow despondent, but we must never be discouraged. Instead, we must double our efforts to reach our desired goal.

The legal system in South Africa has undergone significant changes since the apartheid era, aiming to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all citizens. Post-1994, changes include a National Crime Prevention Strategy, victim empowerment programs, and a diversion program for low-impact offenses under Pillar 1, to ensure a human rights culture.

Recently, we replaced the 1996 National Crime Prevention Strategy with the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), approved in March 2022 by the Cabinet. This strategy focuses on preventing crime and violence through a 'whole of government’ and ‘whole of society’ approach.

It outlines a comprehensive collaborative framework for crime and violence prevention in the country, focusing on six interdependent and interrelated pillars, which are:

• an effective criminal justice system,
• early interventions for crime prevention,
• victim support interventions,
• effective and integrated service delivery,
• safety through environmental design, and
• active public and community participation.

I applaud the implementation of the Safer Cities Project in seven cities, which includes community participation with 58 936 Community in Blue Patrollers, and the continuation of programmes such as Traditional Policing and the NPA Community Prosecution initiative.

Furthermore, we applaud the growth of Thuthuzela Care Centres, which now have 63 locations, targeting high-crime areas, empowering Community Policing Forums, and implementing outreach projects.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We cannot overlook the issues that are endangering our economy, particularly in the construction sector. 

Murderous construction mafias have brought many companies to their knees, and we must fight back to safeguard this industry.

A concerted effort from all is necessary to unravel the complex web of construction site disruptions, which endangers lives and impedes the government's objective of transforming the nation into a massive construction site that generates employment and expands the economy.

In this regard, the Economic Infrastructure Task Teams are actively working to combat non-ferrous metal theft, essential and critical infrastructure crimes, and illegal activities in mining. They emphasise the need to enhance existing interventions to safeguard economic infrastructure, with a particular focus on Eskom, Transnet, and PRASA.

As government, we have put fighting crime and corruption as a top priority because it undermines human rights and the rule of law.

We are tackling significant commercial and serious organised crime through the developed Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Operational Committee, currently known as the National Priority Crimes Operational Committee (NPCOC) under the South African Police Service Act.

Through the Integrated Task Force, we are coordinating the implementation of 205 recommendations for criminal investigations made by the Zondo State Capture Commission. As it stands, three convictions secured and 11 cases are currently before court relating to 36 recommendations. The remaining recommendations are still under investigation.

Despite these crime intervention strategies and other initiatives, it is concerning the most recent Statistics South Africa Victims of Crime Survey indicates that confidence in our criminal justice system is declining.

In other words, our people do not feel safe and secure.

As a result, over the next few months, the JCPS cluster is strategically planning key interventions from multiple departments to address the prevailing crime situation. 

These efforts will notably focus on combating violent and organised crime, with a dedicated emphasis on addressing corruption, and among other things:

• Maintaining targeted efforts to address Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and its impact on individuals and communities.
• Establishing an independent entity called the Investigating Directorate against Corruption within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
• Enhancing the effectiveness of the Whistle-Blowers Act.
• Finalising revisions to the Criminal Procedure Act to bolster efforts to combat both crime and corruption.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Given the drastic impact that arrests can have on the fundamental rights of individuals and the potential harm to those arrested unlawfully, it is imperative to reduce the instances of unnecessary arrests that may lead to unlawful arrests and detention.

Promoting alternative methods of ensuring a suspect's court attendance, such as summons and written notices, is crucial to reduce costly civil claims against the state and address pressing needs. 

Ensuring these methods are more accessible to police officials, and considering greater judicial oversight over arrest is also necessary to reduce unnecessary arrests.

This will indeed help the strain on the fiscus and improve the overall justice system.

A couple of years ago, in response to the incessant outcry by our people that bail is readily granted to accused persons, the Government undertook to review bail laws to make it more difficult for accused persons to be released on bail.

Consequently, the Minister of Justice has initiated a review process to strengthen bail laws, ensure national security, and address some of the concerns of victims and communities as it pertains to our processes. 

This review is a central part of ongoing work by the Department of Justice and the SA Law Reform Commission.

We believe that the outcome of this review will make sure that bail decisions are based on the needs of victims and complainants, improve the effectiveness of our efforts to fight crime and address the problem of overcrowding in our prisons and remand detention centres.

Regarding Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, we have developed the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan (GBVF-NSP) to enhance a unified national response to the issue.

In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the courts have shown a 27.9% increase in life imprisonment sentences for GBVF at Thuthuzela Care Centres, indicating the courts' robust approach to combating GBVF. Most significantly, the National Assembly approved the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill, which is currently under the National Council of Provinces review.

The Government is responding swiftly to the GBVF epidemic by putting an emphasis on robust institutions and solid evidence. In late 2020, the Department of Justice introduced three amendment bills including the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 12 of 2021, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2021, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2021. The latter Act established an electronic repository for domestic violence protection orders, which became operational on April 14, 2023.

These laws significantly changed the legislative framework for Gender-Based Violence, emphasising the need for an effective and efficient criminal justice system to fight GBVF.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Regarding immigration, South Africa has various pieces of legislation that address citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection, including the Citizenship Act, Immigration Act, and Refugees Act, as amended.

There is some misalignment in these pieces of legislation, we thus need to evaluate existing laws and create new laws that will assist in dealing with the crisis of illegal immigration in our country.

I am confident that the recently approved Cabinet White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection will provide a framework for granting residency and citizenship to foreign nationals, and protecting refugees and asylum seekers while keeping the Republic's national security interests in mind, and following international migration agreements and protocols to which South Africa is a party.

Minister Lamola, and all the highly esteemed participants,

Let me conclude by highlighting that the formation of independent judicial institutions devoid of political influence has been one of the most significant achievements of the democratic South African justice system. This has guaranteed that the court can carry out its role in an unbiased and fair manner, protecting the rights of every person.

The judicial system has also played an important role in resolving historical injustices, through mechanisms such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These activities have served to promote healing and reconciliation among South Africans, opening the path for a more cohesive and inclusive society.

As we look towards the future, let us commit to further enhancing and protecting this crucial institution to ensure a just and fair society for all South Africans.

I am optimistic about the potential outcomes that will emerge from the conference’s discussions, which will ultimately shape the ongoing evolution of the criminal justice system.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the term of office for the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Edward Kieswetter, to two years.

The decision follows the agreement between the President and Mr Kieswetter, to extend the tenure of the Commissioner to enable an orderly leadership transition in the organisation.

In March 2019, President Ramaphosa appointed Commissioner Kieswetter in terms of Section 6 of the South African Revenue Service Act, for a five-year term that started on 1 May 2019. 

Mr Kieswetter will continue leading the execution of the current strategic direction of the revenue service while ensuring a smooth leadership transition.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will tomorrow, 27 February 2024 address the Free State Investment Conference at the University of the Free State. 

The conference seeks to promote the province as an investment destination and showcase strategic investment projects across different municipalities.

Minister Ramokgopa’s address will provide a progress update on the Energy Action Plan during a session on addressing infrastructure challenges to enable investments. 

On the sidelines of the conference the Minister, joined by the Premier of the Province, Mr Mxolisi Dukwana, will also visit Letsatsi Solar Power Plant. 

Members of the media are invited to cover the site visit as follows: 

Date: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Time: 12h00
Venue: Letsatsi Solar Power Plant

Media enquires: 

Tsakane Khambane, Ministry of Electricity, on 082 084 5566 / tsakane@presidency.gov.za

Sello Dithebe, Spokesperson to the Premier of Free State, on 060 834 4042 / sello.dithebe@fspremier.gov.za

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency responsible for Electricity
Pretoria

Minister of Basic Education in the Republic of South Africa, Mrs Angie Matsie Motshekga;
Deputy Minister of Basic Education in the Republic of South Africa, Dr Reginah Makgabo Mhaule;
UNESCO Assistant Director General, Ms Stefania Giannini;
Deputy Minister of Education from Ghana, Mr John Ntin Fordjour;
Deputy Minister of Education from Ecuador, Ms Nancy Lorena Morocho Quimbiulco;
African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Mohammed Belhocine;
Ambassador of Finland to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and Mauritius, Ms Anne Lammila;
Vice President of Education International Africa Region, Mr Mugwena Maluleka;
Director General of Basic Education in the Republic of South Africa, Mr Mathanzima Mweli;
Leaders of various teacher unions and all education stakeholders;
Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning to all esteemed guests and participants of the 14th policy dialogue forum of the International Task Force of Teachers for Education 2030, who have travelled from every corner of the globe to be here today.

Welcome to South Africa! We invite you to explore and savour the wonders of Gauteng, a province renowned for its rich political heritage and adorned with gold.

Let me start by taking you back. Some of you might recall that in September 2022, our Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga, was requested to serve on a high-level panel convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Gutterres, on the recommendation of the International Teacher Task Force for Education 2030.

In June 2023, the UN Secretary-General established the High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession (HLP) as a follow-up to the 2022 Transforming Education Summit (TES).

Little did we know that the 14th International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 (TTF) Policy Dialogue Forum will be hosted by South Africa in 2024 under the theme “Addressing global teacher shortages: dignifying, diversifying, and valorizing the profession.”

Let me thank the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 for recognising South Africa as a key player in the journey to achieving quality education for all by the year 2030.

As South Africa, we feel privileged to have been afforded the opportunity to co-chair the steering committee of the Teacher Task Force in collaboration with Germany.

Furthermore, the dedication of the Teacher Task Force to raising awareness, expanding knowledge, and supporting countries on the questions and themes raised in Target 4.c of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).

South Africa welcomes the theme of this policy dialogue and is hoping to learn from the good practices that will be shared at this forum. As we gather here today, we are faced with a stark reality: a shortage of qualified and motivated teachers across the globe.

This shortage not only jeopardises the quality of education but also undermines our collective efforts to achieve the SDG4 goal of inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Instead of disregarding the situation and continuing as if everything is going according to plan, we need to acknowledge the problem and devise a solution that is both effective and efficient.

We need to acknowledge the inherent worth of teachers and the crucial role they play in shaping the future of our nations. Beside teaching and imparting knowledge to the future generation, teachers play a crucial role in nurturing, fostering critical thinking, inspiring dreams, and pushing the limits of human potential.

We thus owe it to these titans of our society to recognise, honour, empower, and value them as well as the job that they do. Most importantly, significant consideration must be made on how we should improve their working conditions and remuneration as a way of appreciating their hard work, so that they can be able to fulfil their important task without getting discouraged.

Additionally, it is critical that we never lose sight of the fact that we are currently living in a digital age, and we must also ensure that our educators can effectively utilise new technologies to remain relevant and efficient in the current digital age.

Ladies and gentlemen,

To increase participation in this profession, we should provide competitive compensation and recognise teachers' achievements. This may be achieved by creating a culture that promotes excellence and creativity, as well as cultivating a sense of pride and purpose among educators.

We have to do whatever it takes to attract young people with bright minds to this profession and address the issue of teacher shortages. As we gather here at this conference, we anticipate that the six outcomes of the 2024 Policy Dialogue Forum will present opportunities for improvement, develop insights and policy recommendations, and strengthen methods of addressing teacher shortages.

We also welcome the High Level Panel Report as well as the launch of the Global Report on teacher shortages. South Africa is optimistic that this Policy Dialogue Forum will untangle solutions for addressing the contents of the report.

In the context of South Africa, which is not unique to other countries, this is instigated by a mismatch between the demands for critical subjects as opposed to the university's supply. More teachers are produced for the Further Education and Training (FET) Band than for the General Education and Training Band.

This situation has necessitated the FET Band teachers to migrate to the Senior Phase and teach Grades 7 and 8 classes. Hence, we have teachers who are teaching out of phase or grades.

Such challenges, as well coined by the intended outcome, “Identify and diagnose some of the major issues and challenges that lead to teacher shortages, to include perspectives from countries from different regions and with different income levels, as well as providing a focus on equity and emergencies or crises”.

To achieve the above, the following measures have been put in place by education planners:

a) Development and use of tools such as an Education Management Information System (EMIS) to help planners better understand issues of supply and demand for teachers;

b) Development of strategies to attract more teachers into the profession; In this regard, in South Africa we have the Fundza-Lushaka Bursary Scheme to attract young teachers into the teaching profession based on the needs identified in terms of the EMIS system.

c) Improve teacher salaries and working conditions;

d) Use contracted teachers to deal with immediate needs, although a longer-term approach is necessary to address shortages. South Africa has enacted laws such as the Labour Relations Act that guarantee employee rights and privileges as accorded in the constitution. These enable teachers to belong to trade unions and have access to organisational rights. The law also makes provision for the creation of structures such as bargaining councils, where teachers are engaged on an ongoing basis through their unions on how to improve their salaries and working conditions.

We must also improve teacher professionalism by expanding opportunities for teachers professional development, and the use of more collaborative approaches, such as peer mentoring and support.

We have established a Professional Council for Teachers (SACE) and enacted it in legislation. The Council has a legislative responsibility to keep a register of all aspiring and practising teachers, to manage a system of continuing teacher professional development, as well as to develop and manage a code of professional ethics.

SACE is therefore leading the professionalisation agenda in collaboration with the Ministry and other key stakeholders.

It is also important to include teachers in decision-making across all levels of the system. Giving teachers more voice will improve their confidence and motivation, which will in turn improve their performance.

Expanding opportunities for teacher upward mobility and career-pathing, and ensuring a more equitable distribution of teachers, taking into account rural and urban disparities, different socio-economic backgrounds, and gender disparities is essential.

For example, we are prioritising new graduates from the Fundza Lushaka Bursary Scheme to deploy them in vacancies across the country. Areas struggling to recruit qualified teachers benefit from these newly qualified teachers, thereby addressing issues of equity. Incentives are also implemented to retain these teachers in hard-to-teach areas.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

South Africa is dedicated to the UNESCO programme and the African Union Agenda 2063 by prioritising quality training over addressing quantitative shortages for prospective teachers. This is achieved through the efforts of the 24 public universities and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

To tackle the worldwide shortage of teachers, a comprehensive strategy is needed that focuses on improving, diversifying, and embracing the teaching profession.

Let us commit to working together to create a safe and inclusive learning environment for young children, while also recognising the important role played by our teachers.

As policymakers and leaders, it is our responsibility to attract and retain exceptional educators. I also believe that a key component of any effective educational system is the ability to recruit and maintain a workforce of highly qualified teachers.

Again, let me reiterate my gratitude to the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 through UNESCO for co-hosting the 14 Policy Dialogue Forum.

As the public sector, we are looking forward to the discussions on investigating common challenges leading to teacher shortages; tackling shortages with strategic policies related to recruitment, training, and retention; and exploring future transformative strategies to validate and reinforce teaching as a profession to reduce global teacher shortages.

I have high hopes that by the time this conference is over, we will have developed a more effective method and strategy that will get us closer to achieving our Sustainable Development Goal 4 of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

I thank you.

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, attend and deliver a keynote address at the official opening of the National Conference on the implementation of the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS) programme and the review of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 on Tuesday, 27 February 2024.

The ICJS Conference, which is scheduled for the 27 - 29 February 2024, is organised by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development under theme, “Strengthening the criminal justice system to keep our people safe and secure”.
 
The objective of the conference is to take stock of, and critically reflect on the progress achieved in the implementation of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) 7-Point Plan which is aimed at promoting an integrated and modernised Criminal Justice System. This conference will provide a platform for robust engagements on the criminal justice system and the review of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
 
As Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS), the Deputy President joins delegates from all elements of the social fabric such as; the public sector, organised business, community, civil society, judiciary and legal sector, who will critically engage the preliminary findings and the proposals of the Criminal Procedure Reform Project,  and propose recommendations to address the identified gaps and challenges.

Deputy President Mashatile will be supported by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services as well as senior Government officials.

The Deputy President will attend the conference as follows:

Date​:​ Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Time​:​ 08h30
Venue: ​Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng Province
 
For media accreditation please contact Mr Victor Mateane Phala on Vphala@justice.gov.za or 084 888 5162.

For more information please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Chrispin Phiri on 081 781 2261

Media enquiries: Spokesperson of the Deputy President, Mr. Keith Khoza, on +27 66 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria