The Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will tomorrow morning, 12 December 2023, brief the media on the ministerial determination for the procurement of 2500 MW of new generation capacity from nuclear. 

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

Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Time: 07h30 for 08h00
Venue: GCIS Auditorium, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield, Pretoria

Live Streaming details:

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

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

Issued by: The Ministry in The Presidency for Electricity
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been saddened by the passing of veteran clinician, researcher and academic Prof Harry Seftel.

Johannesburg-born Prof Seftel has passed away less than a month before his 95th birthday.

The President offers his deep condolences to the Seftel family and the late Dr Seftel’s friends and associates around the country and internationally.

Prof Seftel spent more than 50 years in the Department of Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand.

President Ramaphosa said: “Prof Seftel’s passing at the end of an extended life with which he was blessed, is another instance of loss among a generation that defined the South Africa of the 20th century.

“Prof Seftel’s life journey includes his university-days friendship with Nelson Mandela.

“Harry Seftel’s journey was one of continuous curiosity and discovery with the aim of assisting individuals and entire communities to make healthy lifestyle choices and enjoy a healthy life.

“He was a relentless achiever who passionately educated generations of medical practitioners and researchers. He will be remembered for sharing his knowledge in the most accessible and entertaining ways which endeared him to his students and millions of people who learned from him via public platforms.

“Harry Seftel was a national treasure whose love for his work and for the people of South Africa must be celebrated at this time of mourning and remembrance and must live on in the ethos of all health care professionals.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency has published a detailed report on the implementation of the actions contained in the Response by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud. This response was submitted to Parliament on 22 October 2022 in fulfilment of an order by the Judiciary.

The publication of the 2023 progress report takes forward the commitment made by the President to keep the nation informed on work done by the Executive to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission.

The report provides details on each of the 60 actions in the President’s response plan, as well as cases that are now in court as a result of investigation of the commission’s recommendations.

The report can be accessed on The Presidency’s State of the Nation website: https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/state-capture-commission-recommendations or on The Presidency website.

The website also has a searchable dashboard to enable members of the public to view progress on specific actions.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
Progress Report on Implementation of President Ramaphosa’s Response to the Judicial State Capture Commission - November 2023.pdf

President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded his official visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), yesterday Saturday,  02 December 2023. 

The President is satisfied with the level of engagements at COP28, including the resulting outcome of setting up a loss and damage fund. 

"South Africa applauds the landmark decision of COP28 to operationalise the new fund on loss and damage, and welcomes the pledges that have already been made. We would like to see the fund growing along with the implementation of all other commitments that have been made thus far”, said President Cyril Ramaphosa

President Ramaphosa also presented to the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, South Africa’s Implementation Plan of the Just Energy Transition (JET) Investment Plan. The plan has also been shared with some of the JET Partners who have committed up to 8.5 billion US Dollars towards South Africa’s efforts in decarbonising the economy and mitigating the effects of climate change.

President Ramaphosa has called for more countries to participate in efforts to end the effects of climate change in developing economy countries.

"We are calling for more countries to participate, as our Just  Energy Transition Plan requires much more funding, so that we can enable a more effective and positively impactful transition, particularly with respect to communities that are going to be affected as we transit from fossil fuel sources of energy to renewables. 

As the Summit continues in the next two weeks we want to see sharper focus coming from developed economies with respect to living up to their Paris commitments. We still expect the 100 billion dollars that was promised to be made available to support countries that are least responsible for climate damage manage the effects of climate change”, said President Ramaphosa.

The President asserted the role of multilateralism and solidarity as central to global climate action and cautioned against unilateral, coercive and trade-distorting approaches, such as carbon adjustment measures that are going to be severely  detrimental to developing economies. 

The Conference underway, commenced on 30 November and will end on 12 December 2023, brings together world leaders to discuss progress and ambition across all pillars of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as adopted in the Paris Agreement in 2015. 

The Conference seeks to provide momentum and guidance for the remainder of the COP and is presided over by COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy will lead the country’s participation for the remainder of the Conference until 12 December 2023.

South Africa’s participation at the Conference is in the context of its national determination as set out in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, to significantly reduce emission in line with the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015.   

COP28 presents an opportunity to fast-track the energy transition by building the energy system of the future, while rapidly decarbonising the current energy system to keep 1.5°C target within reach.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency and affected departments note the judgement handed down by the Pretoria High Court on the matter between the UDM, others and Eskom, others. 

The Presidency is studying the judgement and will in due course pronounce on further steps on the matter.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 07 December 2023, lead Government’s interaction - in the form of a District Development Model Presidential Imbizo - with communities and stakeholders in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State.

This will be the 11th Presidential Imbizo since March 2022.

The Matjhabeng gathering will be a return visit to the province by the President following a Presidential Imbizo in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in April 2022.

During the 2022 engagement, 42 community members representing the seven regions of the Mangaung Metro voiced their concerns to the President.

The towns represented in this discussion included Van Stadensrus, Soutpan, Dewetsdorp, Wepener, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Bloemfontein. 

Under the theme “Leave No One Behind”, this week’s visit will allow the President and other leaders in government to assess progress made or to be briefed on challenges associated with the improvement of service delivery since the President’s previous engagement with communities.

The Matjhabeng municipal economy is mainly anchored on the mining of gold and uranium and it is the hub of the Free State Goldfields.

The Presidential Imbizo will take place at the Kopano Indoor Sports Centre in Thabong, Welkom, within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.

The Lejweleputsawa District Municipality consists of five local municipalities, which accounts for a third of the province which is made up of the local municipalities of Matjhabeng, Masilonyane, Nala, Tswelopele and Tokologo. 

Ahead of this week’s Imbizo, national, provincial and local government as well as state entities will embark on pre-Imbizo build-up programmes across the province. 

These activities will be undertaken to stimulate communities’ participation in the Imbizo and to assist residents with services they may require or other challenges they wish to report.

Thus, this Imbizo will also take stock of the progress made since the last Presidential Imbizo in the province.

As an interactive platform, the DDM Presidential Imbizo allows communities to engage and interact face-to-face with the President, Ministers and the provincial and local leadership face-to-face.

The District Development Model enhances integrated and sustainable service delivery through the maximisation of intergovernmental planning, budgeting and implementation towards creating inclusive economic opportunities for locals.

The DDM also aims to intensify the delivery of services, promote social cohesion and advance the developmental state agenda, in line with the National Development Plan, and Growth and Development Strategies of the province.

The participation of leadership from the national, provincial and local is directed at maintaining accountability by public office bearers and the administration and promoting collaboration.

Details of the DDM Presidential Imbizo are as follows:

COMMUNITY IMBIZO

Date: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Time: 09:00 
Venue: Kopano Indoor Sports Centre in Thabong, Welkom

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, deliver an address at the inaugural Presidential Plenary on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to be held in Pretoria.

The STI Plenary will bring together leaders in government, industry, academia and civil society, to discuss progress of the National System of Innovation (NSI) and challenges in this sector, and will explore ways for STI and skills development to impact positively on the South African economy.

In November 2022, Cabinet adopted the STI Decadal Plan to guide the first 10 years of implementing the 2019 White Paper on STI.

The White Paper introduced the concept of an Interministerial Committee (IMC) on STI and a Presidential STI Plenary as instruments to enhance STI policy coherence, as well as programme and budget coordination in the South African national system of innovation. 

In this regard, the plenary will allow all role players to reflect collaboratively on progress with STI initiatives, and jointly commit resources for recommended STI initiatives.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee on STI established in March 2021 is led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and comprises Ministers of STI-intensive government departments.

The President will also visit an exhibition of locally produced, market-ready innovations in areas such as space science, health and energy.

Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Time: 10h00 (media to arrive at 09h00)
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria

Media accreditation details:
Members of media should complete the Accreditation Template and send back to Thabang Setlhare, Department of Science and Innovation, at 072 659 9690 or Thabang.Setlhare@dst.gov.za by Thursday, 07 December 2023 at 16h00. No late submission will be accepted.

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

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, attend the 20th Anniversary celebration of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This event at the Capital On The Park Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, will also entail the launch of the South Africa Second Generation Country Review Report.

The APRM 20th Anniversary is being celebrated through a series of meetings and events from 10 to 14 December 2023 under the theme “Accelerating and Deepening Governance Reform, Measures, and Intervention.’’

The review mechanism is an institution of the African Union voluntarily acceded to by Member States.

The Mechanism serves as an African-owned and African-led platform for self-assessment, peer-learning, and experience sharing in democracy and good governance.

The APRM was established on 9 March 2003. Since its inception, the mechanism has recorded a number of achievements including deepening democracy and good governance through its unique process of peer reviews and assessments.

The review processes have strengthened the participation of citizens in governance matters and fostered peer-to-peer engagements at the level of Heads of State and Government.

In this way the Mechanism has become a means of realising the sacrosanct principle of African solutions to African problems.

The Mechanism fosters the adoption of policies, standards and practices that enable political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development and accelerated regional and continental economic integration.

This is enabled through the sharing of experiences and data.

The South African Second-Generation Country Review Report will give insights into the progress made by South Africa in various areas, highlighting its successes and identifying areas for improvement as per its recommendations.

The review process involves an in-depth analysis of a country's policies, institutions, and practices, conducted by a team of African experts.

The Mechanism promotes transparency, accountability and the sharing of best practices among African Union Member States in the following thematic areas: 
• Democratic and Political Governance.
• Economic Management and Governance.
• Corporate Governance.
• Socio-economic Development.
• State Resilience.

Tomorrow’s anniversary event includes the participation of current and former Heads of State and Government; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; high-ranking officials from the African Union Commission; representatives of APRM Governing Structures, as well as delegates of African Union organs and entities, international organisations and civil society.

Media are invited as follows:

DATE: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
TIME: 18h00
VENUE: The Capital on the Park Hotel,Sandton, Johannesburg

RSVP: makungu@presidency.gov.za / Patience Mtshali on 083 3769468 before 12h00 on 12 December 2023.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

I wish to convey my appreciation to Cuba for convening the Group of 77 and China at Summit level for the first time.

May I also take this opportunity to thank you, Mr President, for Cuba’s outstanding leadership of the Group over the past year.

Climate change is a threat whose effects are being felt across the globe with increasing intensity. 

Every region and country represented in this group is already experiencing the impact of climate change and its associated loss and damage.

This means that we need to stand together in solidarity, to support each other and to speak with one voice at COP 28. 

We need to contribute our best efforts and to act with urgency.

Transformative climate action is taking place alongside our efforts to eradicate poverty and inequality. 

We should therefore coordinate our positions on the transformation of the global financial architecture and reform of the multilateral development banks so that they can support sustainable development.

This COP28 must build on the breakthrough at the African COP in Sharm el-Sheikh last year, in which climate action was presented not only as an integral part of broader sustainable development, but also as part of a just transition. 

The vision of Sharm el-Sheikh is of a whole-of-society and all-of-economy transition to achieve more equitable and sustainable societies, within a more just world. 

Climate justice is premised on each Party having the sovereign right to choose its own developmental pathway towards shared objectives. 

This speaks to the right of developing economies to developmental space.

Since developing economy countries are the least responsible for climate change but the most affected, it is critical that the enabling means of implementation support is provided by countries with developed economies.

The G77 and China, representing the overwhelming majority of the world’s population who live in developing economies, has the opportunity to infuse this vision into the mandate and scope of the new work programme on Just Transition Pathways.

We have the opportunity at COP28 to secure a successful first Global Stock-Take under the Paris Agreement; to give an honest account of the successes and challenges experienced to date; and to provide forward-looking recommendations.

I would further suggest that the exporters of the strategic minerals and rare earths required to drive green development need to work together to ensure that the new economy is fairer, more equitable and offers equal opportunity for all. 

Our natural resources need to advance the sustainable development of our people. 

We need to address the issue of skills and technology transfer. Access to climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies should not be commercially driven but seen as a global public good.

We should forge a united platform against unilateral coercive and trade distorting measures under the guise of climate action. These include carbon border taxes that have the effect of reversing climate finance flows to the Global North.

We need to reframe the climate action narrative to better address the realities of developing economy countries, to give appropriate recognition to their rights and to acknowledge their contributions to the global fight against this existential threat. 

I thank you.

Moderators,
Excellencies,
 
Developing countries have borne the brunt of the adverse effects of climate change.
 
Yet, they have still not received anywhere near the required multilateral support to face the climate challenge, especially for building climate resilience. 
 
It is a serious concern that commitments by countries with developed economies have not been met and very little funding has been channelled through the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC, including the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. 
 
The Global Stocktake should send a clear signal that historical commitments need to be honoured and the financial mechanism we have collectively designed to address climate change should receive priority support.
 
Securing ambitious funding for the newly launched Loss and Damage Fund presents a clear opportunity for a course correction. 
 
I congratulate the COP 28 President for the adoption of the decision to operationalise the loss and damage fund and thank those countries that have already made generous donations.
 
At COP28, we need to recommit to multilateralism. 
 
It is our expectation that the Global Stocktake will signal a firm commitment to a real partnership between the global North and South that delivers concrete outcomes. 
 
The scaling of climate finance remains a critical enabler for developing countries to meet their climate commitments. 
 
While there is much focus on scaling climate funding through mobilising private sector finance, we must also ensure that public sector projects have access to the adequate levels of affordable finance. 
 
Finance flows in support of pathways towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development need to be guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. 
 
We need to avoid an untenable situation where the burden of responsibility for financing climate action is transferred to developing economies, which have contributed the least towards the global carbon stock.
 
Debt reform needs to be central in the finance discussions. 
 
We need a new partnership to substantively reform the Multilateral Development Banks, so that they can provide a significant and increased share of new investments in climate-resilient and low-emissions growth. 
 
The Global Stocktake presents an opportunity to correct the distorted narrative on technology and intellectual property. 
 
Developing countries need access to clean and green technologies at an affordable price. 
 
There needs to be financial support for technological innovation in developing economies and a willingness by investors to offer off-take agreements that will support local industrial production.
 
The Global Stocktake further needs to address the concerning trend of unilateral and coercive trade distorting measures taken in the name of implementing the Paris Agreement. 
 
Unilateral carbon border taxes that reverse financial flows from the Global South to the Global North and transfer the burden of climate action to the most vulnerable are unacceptable.
 
These measures undermine the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities and will damage developing economies, undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Finally, we need a new partnership to support the just pathways chosen by sovereign countries towards low emissions and climate resilient development. 
 
Significantly scaled-up grant-based support is needed for just transitions, recognising that there can be no one-size-fits-all formula for the transition away from fossil fuels. 
 
Workers and communities currently dependent on the fossil fuel value chain need viable alternative livelihoods. They cannot live on promises.
 
We need to provide a sustainable and just transition path for all and ensure that no-one is left behind.
 
I thank you.