Programme Director;
Acting Premier of the Free State, Mr Ketso Makume and Members of the Executive Council
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, 
Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present
Speaker of the National Assembly Honourable Mme Mapisa Nqakula and Deputy Speaker Ntate Lechisa Tsenoli
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ntate Amos Masondo
Ms Asanda Luwaca; Chairperson of the NYDA, and the leadership of the NYDA
The Mayor of Mangaung, and Councillors present
Our Young people gathered here today as well as around the country;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps 
Director General, Senior and all officials of government 
The CEO of the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Ms Kasthuri Soni;
The CEO of the Youth Employment Service, Mr Ravi Naidoo;
Leaders of all youth formations; 
Young people of South Africa,
Dumelang! Molweni!  Avuxeni! Ndi Matsheloni!
 
It is an honour for me to speak at this National Youth Day Commemoration hosted by the Free State as we mark the 47th anniversary of the June 16th uprising.
This is a significant event in our nation's calendar because it allows us to pay tribute to the young men and women whose lives were cut short at the hands of the inhumane apartheid regime.
 
June is also International Pride Month, we want to reiterate that the Constitution of the Republic outlaws all unfair discrimination based on sex, gender or sexual orientation, whether committed by the government or by a private party. 
 
For this reason, the government strongly believes that the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) are human rights. 
 
We will continue to defend and advance the rights of the LGBTQIA+ Community including ensuring that they are part of the mainstream economy.
 
People of South Africa, the youth of 1976 laid their lives for a purpose. They were driven by a resolve to bring down apartheid in favour of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united and prosperous South Africa.
 
We stand on the shoulders of giants. Hence without fear or favour, we remain grateful to the youth of 1976 for their contribution to the social and political transformation of our nation.
 
Their undying spirit and commitment to ending apartheid helped pave the way for a more equitable education system in South Africa. 

Because of them, the youth in schools are not compelled to acquire an inferior education in the language that has been imposed upon them.
 
In honour of that generation, we have developed a system that is conducive to learning, and as a result, many students are now able to choose the career of their choice. 
 
Young people now have the prospect of going to higher education training institutions, which are also supported by the state. 
 
Moreover, the youth of 1976 fought for their political freedom; now, we must fight for economic freedom; thus, the theme for this year is "Accelerating Youth Economic Emancipation for a sustainable future."
 
We are aware that economic independence is only attainable if we work together. Today's youth must draw inspiration from the youth of the past, who also demonstrated the magnitude and power of young people when they are united to combat social injustices.
 
As Peter Abrahams once observed, “You can't walk alone…Each man is bedded in his people, their history, their culture, and their values”.
 
That is true; thus, in the Constitution, we have committed to acknowledging past injustices, honour those who have suffered for justice and freedom in our country, respect those who have worked to build and develop our country, and believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
 
Today is the day we remember where we came from as a nation and recommit ourselves to never returning to the South Africa of the past. Together with the youth of this country, we are steaming ahead to build the country of our dreams.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
As the majority of our population is comprised of youth, it is incumbent upon all sectors of society to collaborate in equipping the youth with the skills necessary for development and our collective prosperity.
 
If we fail to do so, we would have failed South Africa's future, as young people represent the future, and it is our responsibility to secure it.
 
As we work with the private sector, toward an inclusive economy that employs young people, we recognize that the path to an inclusive economy has not been simple, but like the youth of 1976, we are motivated by their undying spirit.
 
We remain focused and determined to ensure that the youth have access to socioeconomic opportunities. 
 
Minister Dlamini-Zuma briefed me about the work we are doing to invest in youth that is being exhibited at the Opportunities Expo. She informed me that we are investing in real-time education, funding and mentorship opportunities that young people are now accessing. What was impressive was that the initiatives at the expo were led by the youth. 
 
People of South Africa 
 
As a government, we have placed the education and training of our young people at the top of our agenda. We believe that education is one of the most crucial enabling factors for attaining economic emancipation.
 
Over the years, we have invested hugely toward a transformed education system. We will continue to invest in the development of an inclusive education system in which children from low-income and working-class families also have access to quality education from the foundation phase and at higher education levels. 
 
We have been investing in the modernisation of the delivery of education in our country. This includes ensuring that curriculum content is responsive to the rising demand of skilled labour, high-speed internet access, and that educational delivery methods are now innovative.
 
We have seen the educational outcomes, particularly the improvement in output demonstrated by the province of Free State, which has held the top position for the longest time in terms of matric results. 
 
Programme Director 
 
We congratulate the Free State Province and urge the remaining provinces to adopt the province's perpetual drive by investing equally in the education of our children so that our country can be globally competitive.
 
As part of exciting new disciplines in schools, the Department of Basic Education system has introduced robotics and coding subjects at the foundation phase of learning. 
 
This will improve reading for meaning and understanding of concepts at an early phase and thereby give young children a strong foundation for the future.
 
The Department of Basic Education is also introducing the Three-Stream Education system to ensure that not only academically oriented students benefit from education, but that learners can also choose the vocational or occupational stream that suits their needs. 
 
In addition to Technical Mathematics, Technical Science, and Marine Sciences, the sector is introducing 13 new vocational disciplines. This is part of the Government's aim to guarantee that schools not only encourage academic accomplishment but also vocational and occupational skills for young people.
 
Furthermore, to expedite the delivery of pertinent and acceptable skills, our Government remains committed to providing essential resources and infrastructure from the earliest levels of basic education to the tertiary level.
 
To guarantee that learners have access to the latest equipment, Government has recapitalized 540 of the potential 1 050 technical schools. 
 
These investments and curriculum revisions are bound to open new doors for the youth. We urge the youth to take advantage of these previously unavailable disciplines. 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
We remain concerned that the economy is not expanding at a rate that permits the economic development of a large number of people, especially the youth. 
 
It is for this reason that we are committing to accelerating Youth Economic Emancipation for a sustainable future.
 
In addition to existing government programmes of supporting entrepreneurs, through the NYDA Grant Programme, we are providing young entrepreneurs with access to both financial and non-financial business development support to enable them to establish or grow their businesses. 
 
The programme focuses on youth entrepreneurs who are at intentional, promising and new stages of enterprise development. 
 
For example in the recent past the programme has achieved the following:
 
·      2 320 youth and youth-owned enterprises funded through financial interventions.
·      34 209 youth-owned enterprises supported with non-financial development interventions. 
·      6 796 jobs created and sustained through supporting entrepreneurs and enterprises.
 
Together with the NYDA, we will expand our entrepreneurial support programme to reach as many young entrepreneurs as possible. 
Furthermore, under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the Government has launched several youth development and empowerment initiatives to assist young people in entering the workforce.
 
The Presidential Employment Stimulus remains a crucial Government intervention to generate employment and livelihood opportunities, particularly at a time when the economy as a whole is not producing jobs at the required rate.
 
The Presidential Employment Stimulus builds on the many years of success of public employment programmes such as the Community Works Programme and the Expanded Public Works Programme. 
 
During the prior fiscal year, the stimulus enabled the creation of nearly 650 000 new jobs and thereby creating sources of income for the youth. These opportunities were made available in numerous industries, including agriculture and across several other fields.
 
Of the people involved in the programme, 83 percent are youth. This brings the total number of participants in the Presidential Employment Stimulus since its launch in 2020 to over 1.2 million people.
 
More than 3.9 million young people have enrolled on the National Pathway Management Network, also known as SAYouth.mobi. This network provides a platform for young people to access learning and earning opportunities that are both all-inclusive and free of charge for data usage. 
 
Close to 350 000 young people have secured earning opportunities through the platform, with 68 percent of these being young women.
 
14 000 Technical and Vocational learners have secured workplace experience opportunities through the support of the Sector Education and Training Authorities in the Department of Higher Education and Training.
 
35 000 young people have secured non-financial support from the Department of Small Business Development and the National Youth Development Agency and close to 5 000 have received financial support to start and scale up their enterprises.
 
We are moving forward with this youth stimulation initiative because we are well aware that no nation can prosper if its youth are not engaged in community service activities that promote social cohesion.
 
In this regard, we have successfully revitalised the National Youth Service programme and now run one of the world's largest National Youth Service programmes with 47 000 participants working across sectors such as Early Childhood Development, Sport, Arts and Culture, Nutrition and Digital Mapping. 
 
More importantly, we are seeing 30 percent of these participants entering into longer forms of employment and enterprises.
 
The Youth Employment Service, known as YES, is one of these. It is a partnership between Government and the private sector to address high youth unemployment. 
 
To date, YES has placed over 100 000 South Africans between the ages of 18 and 29 in local businesses for a year of work experience.
 
Through YES, a total of R6 billion has been injected into the economy, enabling participants to support their families. Nearly two-thirds of participants come from households reliant on social grants, and 40 percent are employed upon completion of the programme. 
 
This is a practical example of social compacting at work to respond to youth unemployment and to give young people the necessary experience to get ahead. 
 
Our initiatives, strategies, and programmes are geared toward providing a hand-up, as opposed to a handout.
 
We believe that when we give the youth a hand-up, you enable them to see something inside themselves that they did not previously see. 
 
The goal is to make sure that young people see a chance that didn't exist before and know that they can do more than they thought they could before.
 
We believe in the youth of our country. Hence we will fight hard for the development and growth of our youth. We urge the private sector to continue to work with us in providing opportunities for the youth. 
 
If there is one thing that industry and the private sector must do, it is to hold action labs solely focused on improving the implementation of programs aimed at assisting young people.

In this sense, I mean that, of the ten growth sectors of the economy, we require the private sector to set targets for the number of employment and support for the youth, which we will measure and monitor in the action labs.
 
This work will be led together with the NYDA and the existing social and private sector partners. 
 
In the next six months, we will need regular reports on the action labs agreed on interventions so that by the time we are in 2024 we can report practical results in this regard.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
To keep young people active and engaged in our society, we must tap into their creative potential and expand the range of options accessible to them.
 
As you are all aware, young people are yearning for socioeconomic chances, and South Africa will only grow stronger if we continue to provide opportunities to our youth.
 
As I mentioned, earlier this morning, while on a walkabout at the Youth Opportunities Expo interacting with Young People, I was encouraged to see the various opportunities available to our youth.
 
In addition, we honour young people who have reached significant milestones in their respective fields through the annual Trail Blazer Programme, which was introduced in 2017 and seeks to highlight, celebrate, and profile young people who are doing extraordinary work.
 
South Africans consider this group of young people to be exemplary, and they join other Trailblazers who have been honoured in the past.
 
Alongside the measures put in place today, we are harnessing the capacity and resources of the state to respond to the immediate and future needs of young people.
 
Our country needs young people like yourselves.
 
Young people who will heed the call for betterment and development.
 
Young people who will innovate and collaborate for a better South Africa.
 
Young people who will address, without fear or favour, the challenges of gender-based violence.
 
Young people who are patriotic and are unashamed of being of service to South Africa and her people.
 
In conclusion, I would like to extend my best wishes to the South African National Netball Team, as Cape Town will host the tournament for the first time in Africa next month.
 
To the very end, we will be with you. Like the youth of 76, maintain the never die spirit and attitude and keep the trophy in our continent. This is your moment! I wish you all a happy Youth Day and a fruitful youth month.
 

Thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will tomorrow, Friday, 27 October 2023, attend the annual spring graduation ceremony of the University of South Africa at its Main Campus, Muckleneuk, in Pretoria, Gauteng Province. 
 
The Deputy President attends the ceremony at the invitation of the Principal and Vice Chancellor of University of South Africa (UNISA), Prof Puleng LenkaBula.
 
This year’s graduations coincide with the University’s 150th anniversary as a leading Comprehensive, Open Distance e-Learning institution which continues to produce quality graduates, contributing to the country’s human capital.

During the spring graduation ceremonies, UNISA is conferring honorary degrees on outstanding individuals in recognition of services rendered to their communities in particular and the country in general.
 
His Grace Bishop Dr Engenas Joseph Lekganyane, the esteemed Spiritual Leader of the St. Engenas Zion Christian Church, will become the latest eminent person to join the list of illustrious UNISA alumni, when the university confers on him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (Honoris Causa) at tomorrow’s graduation ceremony. This is in recognition of His Grace’s outstanding achievements and globally impactful societal contributions to peace, social cohesion, as well as successful and resilient African-initiated institutions in the 21st century.
 
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover are as follows:
 
Date: Friday, 27 October 2023
Time: 18h00
Venue: ZK Matthews Great Hall, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building, Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria
 
For more information and accreditation, please contact Tommy Huma, Media Relations Officer on 072 218 6197 OR Sam Bopape, The Presidency on 082 318 5251
 

Media enquiries: Mr Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 081 307 9233

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director,
Mr Hendrik Du Toit, Ninety-One CEO, 
Mr Thabo Khojane Managing Director, Ninety One SA
Ms Natalie Phillips Deputy Managing Director,
Leaders of Business and Investors on the platform,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning! Dumelang! Avuxeni! 

Let me begin by thanking you Mr Du Toit and your team for inviting us to participate in this important Global Investment Summit, under the theme "Adapting to a new reality" and a platform that seeks to propel the economy forward.

We are joining you virtually because today we are responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces, in Cape Town. 
 
We decided to join you because we regard you as a critical player and a critical partner in growing our economy. 

We are confident that many of you have joined this summit because like us you believe in South Africa and support our development agenda as outlined in the National Development Plan, NDP 2030 aimed at eliminating poverty and reducing inequality, including growing an inclusive economy among others.

Most recently in response to the impact of COVID-19, we have adopted the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to put South Africa back to the pedestal of economic growth and prosperity.

We are beginning to see the results in this regard, for example, According to the StatsSA, is that the economy after contracting by a revised 1, 1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) edged higher in the first quarter of 2023, expanding by an estimated 0, 4%. 

As you are aware the manufacturing and finance industries were the major drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy. The demand side was lifted by exports, with smaller positive contributions for household, government, and investment spending.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) projected the RSA economy to grow marginally, by 0.2% in 2023 and 1.5% in 2024, supported by growth in trade, tourism, mining, and manufacturing. 

The AfDB projects that inflation will ease to 5.9% in 2023 and decline further to 4.5% in 2024 on account of reduced fuel and food prices, subject to evolving global dynamics. 

Furthermore, the AfDB reports that the fiscal deficit is projected to increase marginally, to 6.2% of GDP in 2023 and 6.7% in 2024 due to fiscal consolidation, including higher tax revenue. The current account deficit is projected to widen to 2.2% of GDP in 2023 and 2.4% in 2024 due to an anticipated drop in commodity prices. 

Whereas the IMF looking ahead on real GDP growth indicated it is projected at 0.1 percent in 2023 with, annual growth expected at about 1½ percent over the medium term. 

While the economy is gradually returning to pre-COVID period we are aware that there is more that we can do to change the fortunes of the economy. Also because the current growth levels will not create enough jobs to absorb new labour market entrants. 

Hence we appreciate your efforts to keep the critical matter of socio-economic transformation on the national agenda by investing in global change, a crucial aspect of socio-economic transformation.

More than ever before, the Government and the business sector must work together to fund and invest in projects that can generate both income and profit and unearth investment opportunities in the country.

In this regard we urge you to work with us through Infrastructure South Africa to partner on our infrastructure portfolio. Including partner with the Department of Water to invest in water infrastructure so as to avoid another crisis in that sector. This is because through Operation Vulindlela, the Department of Water and Sanitation is working towards resolving 80% of water-use licences as requested by mining companies within 90 days. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

We must work together to build and strengthen our economy. We must find real-world solutions to the burning issues of poverty, unemployment and inequality that confront us as a people.

We are coming to this summit with an open mind to hear what you have to say, hear you out and also with the aim to go back to the drawing board on some of the issues so that our country is investor friendly.

We assure you that there are many investment prospects in South Africa. Investors may consider investing in industries such as manufacturing, agribusiness, transport and logistics, the ocean economy, the digital economy, and renewable energy. 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
As a matter of urgency, solving the energy crisis remains at the top of our agenda as Government. 
Together with business and the Government, we want to work with you to stabilise the energy supply by amongst other:
• fixing Eskom and improving the availability of existing supply;
• enabling and accelerating private investment in generation capacity;
• accelerating the procurement of new capacity from renewables, gas, and battery storage;
• unleashing businesses and households to invest in rooftop solar, and
• to fundamentally transform the electricity sector to achieve long-term energy security.
Equally, Government continues to rapidly implement the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 by procuring additional energy capacity through renewable energy procurement programmes.

In addition, the following measures have been taken and will continue to be taken:
• Release further bid windows on an accelerated basis. Bid Window 7 should be released this month for 5000 MW of solar PV and wind, further RFPs for 1200 MW of battery storage, and 3000 MW of gas, and preparatory work should be undertaken to explore a "mega bid window" or rolling bid window.
• Procured emergency power solutions. A Ministerial Determination has been issued and a procurement and funding strategy has been developed.
• Cross-border power purchases from neighbouring countries. A Ministerial Determination has also been issued to secure 1000 MW of additional power from Mozambique, which could be made available within 6 months of the PPA signature. Minister Ramokgopa has already concluded an agreement with his counterpart in Mozambique in this regard. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

Furthermore, we have developed the Just Energy Transition Plan to guide the nation's transition from fossil fuels to a sustainable and equitable energy system, without occasioning a bloodbath of job losses.

Our Just Energy Transition Investment Plan for the five years from 2022–2027 outlines the scale of need and the investments required to meet the decarbonisation commitments in our Nationally Determined Contribution, which outlines the rate at which South Africa intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and represents South Africa's fair contribution to the Paris Agreement goals.

Through the Just Energy Transition Partnership, we are demonstrating our collective dedication to easing the negative effects of the energy transition on South Africa's economy, workforce, and communities.

However, as work towards the just transition, we will not transition in darkness! 

It would be irresponsible of us, given our current energy supply challenges, to simply abandon the existing base-load energy sources with haste and no guarantees for our economy’s long-term energy security!

Ladies and Gentlemen

We are also intensifying our investment drive and eliminating the red tape across the government. We must improve the time it takes to make decisions, this include the issuing of business licences and general approvals. In this regard, The Presidency has established a 'red tape team' to facilitate business operations led by Mr Sipho Nkosi.

The government is also reducing bureaucracy through the simplification of administrative procedures. That when the private sector interacts with government agencies, businesses must navigate intricate and time-consuming administrative procedures. We must reduce unnecessary red tape. 

Distinguished Delegates 

It is important to remember that for South Africa to advance, we must adapt to a new reality. 

As a Government, we are well on track in responding to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 

In the context of the evolving 4IR, our National Digital and Future Skills Strategy provides a vital framework for inclusive collaborations between industry, labour, higher education institutions, and society to develop a new set of skills and capabilities for our nation.

Our Government is focused on implementing measures that will lead to increased productivity. This necessitates equipping Public Servants with the skills and abilities necessary to manage the new challenges competently. We want a more agile, results-oriented, efficient, and ethical public sector. 

We are also instilling the discipline of execution in the public service. This has been our biggest challenge.  

In this regard through the National School of Government, we have partnered with leading institutes such as the University College London to deliver executive education programmes for senior public officials. 

This morning together with senior public servants I joined the master class by Mariana Mazzucato, Professor of Economics, from UCL, on the entrepreneurial state and mission economy as strategies for increasing state capacity and driving inclusive growth. 

This is part of the continued commitment to ensuring that we improve the discipline of execution across the state as we seek to build a developmental and entrepreneurial state that drives development. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

We therefore urge you as investors, to continue investing in our country. 

We commend many of you for your continued investments in our country, in youth development initiatives as demonstrated through the Youth Employment Stimulus (YES) initiative as well as investment in improving access to clean, reliable water in the country. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to assure you that we remain committed to a peaceful world. In this regard, we are working together with the African Union led by President Ramaphosa to engage both President Putin and President Zelenskyy to return to the negotiating table in the interest of peace. 

We will continue to urge the rest of the world to work with us in finding a lasting solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

We are also making efforts to support peace initiatives in South Sudan and other parts of the African continent.

In conclusion, programme director, South Africa remains open for business. We want to strengthen collaboration with businesses so that we change the fortunes of our economy and more importantly ensure that the economy grows and that more people are involved in the economy. 

Regardless of the obstacles, we are committed to staying the course.

Our ultimate goal is shared growth and shared prosperity for all our people and all committed partners like yourselves.

We wish you all the best as you find ways to adapt to a new reality.

Thank you

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has arrived in the People’s Republic of China, where he is hosted by his counterpart and the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Han Zheng, for the 8th Session of the South Africa-China Bi-National Commission (BNC) taking place in Beijing on Friday, 3 November 2023. 

The Deputy President will be in China from 3 to 6 November 2023. During the second leg of his visit, the Deputy President will open the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. 

During these meetings, the Deputy President will be keen to communicate the message that South Africa is open for business, and that it is the most attractive investment destination in the African continent. 

During his visit, it is envisaged that the Deputy President will pay courtesy calls on the President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency President Xi Jinping to reaffirm the strong political ties with China, as well as on the State Council Premier Li Qiang, to exchange views on the expanding economic relations between South Africa and China. 

The Deputy President is also expected to engage a Representative of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), and the Mayors of Shanghai and Shenzhen Provinces. 

The 8th SA-China BNC occurs within the context of celebrating 25 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, while historic ties date back to the Bandung Conference of 1955. It also follows shortly after the successful 4th State Visit to South Africa by President Xi, and the recent 15th BRICS Summit and China-Africa Roundtable from 22 to 24 August 2023 in Johannesburg. 

Other high-level engagements that took place this year include: the People-to-People Exchange Mechanism (PPEM) in February 2023; the Strategic Dialogue in May 2023; and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETC) in August 2023. 

All these engagements, including the Deputy President’s visit, contribute to the strengthening and deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

South Africa and China enjoy strong and vibrant economic relations. China is South Africa’s largest global trading partner and South Africa is China’s largest trading partner in Africa. China is a significant investor in South Africa and supports the country’s proposed local infrastructure development projects such as the Small Harbour Development Project and others, while many South African firms are invested in and thriving in the Chinese market. 

Lastly, China has supported South Africa’s initiatives to find a lasting solution to the country’s energy challenges, contributing both expertise and equipment to those efforts.

The Deputy President is accompanied by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,  Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini; Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Magdeline Sotyu; Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, Ms Nokuzola Capa; Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr Buti Manamela; and the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.

Media inquiries: Mr Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on +2764 833 8080 (temporary) or vukani@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director;
Radesh Maharaj, Chairman Batseta
Delegates attending the 2023 Batseta Winter Conference
All the CEOs and Captains of Industry present here;
Distinguished Guests; 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this prestigious gathering under the auspices of the Batseta Winter Conference.

I would have liked to join you physically but as you may be aware that there are too many conflicting engagements that require our attention. 

I however told my office I would not miss the opportunity to continue to engage with you because I consider Batseta a critical stakeholder of government and a critical role player in the economy as I have done so before.

The topic given to me to focus on is “the SA blueprint for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth”.

We accepted the invitation to come and engage you because in our understanding government alone will not resolve the challenges in the economy. 

We have also joined you because we must continue to engage on the transformation agenda as well as ensuring the continued use of pension funds investment for the growth and development of our economy.

In the discussions over the next few days for the winter conference, I have observed with keen interest the topics and areas of focus, which among others include a discussion on climate change, energy and just transition and on the smart use of investment funds.

These topics demonstrate your commitment to finding lasting solutions in the economy. 

Hence, we believe that by working with you we can build an inclusive and sustainable economy that grows and much higher levels than it is now. 

As you are aware that over the past 29 years as the ANC-led government, we have adopted policies that have contributed to the transformation of the economy.

The policy interventions have resulted in the transformation of key sectors of the economy and indeed society. 

We are however concerned that the economy is not growing at the rate that results in many being absorbed by the economy. 

For example According to the StatsSA, is that the economy after contracting by a revised 1, 1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) edged higher in the first quarter of 2023 (January‒March), expanding by an estimated 0, 4%. 

The manufacturing and finance industries were the major drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy. The demand side was lifted by exports, with smaller positive contributions for household, government, and investment spending.

In the past, especially before COVID, we have had times when economic growth averaged about 3.8% for more than a decade when we experienced the fastest growth of the black middle class; and when we were able to roll out massive social security programmes to cushion the poor from poverty.

There are certain things that we are doing right and this is albeit the global economic challenges.

We must therefore focus on the things that we are doing right and be more innovative if we are to grow a sustainable and inclusive economy.

The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, announced by President Ramaphosa in October last year, remains our lodestar towards a new, inclusive economy.  

Our goal is to make a permanent and decisive break with an economic trajectory characterized by low and declining growth; the exclusion of women, young people and people with disabilities from the mainstream economy; falling per capita incomes; low investment; as well as high and deeply entrenched levels of inequality, poverty and unemployment.    
     
At the centre of our economic reconstruction and recovery efforts is the mobilization of the public and the private sector around an infrastructure-led recovery.

We are envisioning an aggressive expansion of social and economic infrastructure that meets the needs of the people of South Africa.

This includes new investments in energy, mining, water and sanitation, roads and bridges, human settlements, health and education, digital infrastructure and public transport. 

Maintenance of existing infrastructure is also an important part of our infrastructure rollout programme.

Our choice of infrastructure investment as a key driver of reconstruction and recovery is also informed by the reality that, across the government, we already have budgets approved for infrastructure.  

Our challenge remains execution. This is where cooperation with the private sector will be critical.

This does not preclude the business sector from identifying priority projects that will have a major contribution to the achievement of our shared goals.     

Equally, through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Program, many young people are being absorbed into mass employment opportunities: in education, arts and culture, global business services, early childhood development, as well as small-scale and subsistence farming.

Work is also continuing to strengthen the security of the energy supply. This includes, among other things:
•    Turning around Eskom including its unbundling;
•    Embedded electricity generation up to 100 megawatts; and
•    The implementation of a Just Transition towards a low-carbon economy  
These developments pose serious policy questions about the future of the electricity supply industry.
For instance, embedded generation suppliers will be allowed to sell to third parties. This will effectively introduce competition in the sector.

Our immediate task must be to achieve the following objectives:
•    Job creation and the reduction in unemployment;
•    Public employment programs to complement our job creation efforts;
•    Skills development to ensure that when the economy recovers we do not import skills; and
•    The provision of income support for the most vulnerable.

As part of our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, we are implementing a set of structural reforms housed under Operation Vulindlela: a joint programme between the National Treasury and the Presidency.

In addition to the Vulindlela work, we need to look at new areas of ensuring ease and reducing the cost of doing business in South Africa. 

The journey of structural reforms must touch every level of the government. For instance, are rezoning regulations conducive to a friendly investment environment?

These reforms are not only about facilitating ease of doing business. They are also about transforming how the state itself does business. 

The state must be an enabler. It must enable South Africans to go about their daily lives. The state must continue to build a better for all.

We collect taxes from South African citizens to make their lives better. We also have a duty to allocate them efficiently and spend them effectively. 

This task we are prepared and are going to undertake.  

In conclusion, we are looking forward to the outcomes of this winter conference and we will incorporate them into our plans as we seek to build a growing and inclusive economy. 

Thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will tomorrow, 9 November 2023, respond to oral questions in the National Assembly. 

The Deputy President is expected to respond to questions pertaining to his role as Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, his Chairship of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cabinet Committee, as well as the Human Resources Development Council, among others.  

Deputy President Mashatile will join the proceedings of the National Assembly virtually, via Zoom link.  

Details of the National Assembly Sitting:  
Thursday 9 November 2023, 14:00 
Parliamentary Channel 408  

Media enquiries: Vukani Mde on 081 307 9233 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Honourable Speaker,
Your Excellency, President of the Republic of South Africa, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

I am honoured to address this house on The Presidency 2023/24 Budget Vote.

I would like to reflect on the social and political context in which we are delivering this Budget Vote Speech.

Honourable House Chair,

This year marks the formation of the Union of South Africa, formed 113 years ago exactly on this day. It also marks the 110th anniversary of the 1913 Native Land Act, which displaced our people and excluded them from the economy.

We are on the cusp of 30 years of Freedom and Democracy and nearly three decades since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

During this period, we have demonstrated our commitment to the principles of the Constitution by, among others, ensuring that we hold free and fair elections, adhering to the rule of law, building credible and innovative democratic institutions and a concerted effort to change the lives of our people for the better.

As we reflect on these milestones, we should acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead, the better to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the South Africa envisaged in the Constitution.

Similarly, we acknowledge the role of heroes and heroines who contributed to our struggle for freedom and millions of ordinary men and women who continue to work tirelessly to realise the South Africa of our dreams.

In particular, we recall the role of three important generations – starting with the 1976 student uprising generation which went on to play a critical role in rendering the apartheid system ungovernable.

This generation inspired the formation of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) whose 44th anniversary we are celebrating today. COSAS would go on to play an integral role in the United Democratic Front which was founded 40 years ago in Mitchells Plain here in Cape Town.

The endurance of these generations in the face of injustice laid the foundations for democratic South Africa.

Honourable Speaker, despite the entrenched colonial and apartheid system, we have made significant gains as a nation. In this regard, I would like to report on the following areas of government responsibility: Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development and Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security. Further, the Deputy President is the Leader of Government Business in Parliament.

We will also outline a roadmap of elevated priorities for the remainder of the term of the sixth administration. Specifically in the next six to twelve months, we are going to implement rapid response interventions on service delivery and trouble-shooting in service delivery hotspots.

As the President indicated in his address, we are here to outline what we have done in realising our mandate as given by the people in 2019 to grow South Africa together in line with our long-standing commitment to building a better life for all.

Working with all spheres of government, we are continuing to strengthen the rollout of the District Development Model through effective coordination of the different spheres of government, which will improve the functioning of municipalities and address community concerns.

We have been engaged with critical stakeholders to improve coordination and mobilisation in support of service delivery measures in Municipalities and Districts. This includes consultations with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders on the implementation of Government programmes aimed at accelerating service delivery. We are also strengthening partnerships with businesses, labour and government to source the critical skills required by the economy and the state through the Human Resource Development Council.

Madam Speaker, the work done over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period will contribute towards the 30-Year Review Report of democratic governance, which will be released in 2024.

Our country has registered progress in the areas of electricity delivery, health care, infrastructure development, cushioning the indigent, the provision of free basic water, housing and improvement in literacy:

• More than 85 percent of South Africans have their homes electrified;
• Over 5.7 million people on treatment for HIV;
• 2 trillion rands invested in national infrastructure projects over ten years;
• Over 18 million South Africans benefit from social grants;
• 90 percent of South Africans have access to clean drinking water;
• Over 14 million people have benefited from the 3.2. million free houses built since 1994;
• 95 percent of South Africans can read and write.

We are aware of and working tirelessly to solve problems in electricity generation, water provision, and infrastructure, amongst others.

We will equally be engaging various sectors of society on their lived experiences and provide reflections on the Government’s performance over the last 30 years. Government accepts criticism because as a nation we are a diverse people and believe in the principle that everyone must be heard so that we can forge ahead with the nation-building project of a better South Africa as envisaged in our Constitution.

Honourable Speaker,

The State of Local Government Report of 2023 has presented a challenging picture with regard to service delivery across the country. Overall, municipalities suffer from:

• poor capacity of existing infrastructure to meet the current needs and future needs of the community;
• neglect of maintenance and/or poor operational management of existing infrastructure at the municipal level;
• lack of internal capacity in the form of technical and managerial skills to maintain the existing infrastructure or build new infrastructure;
• weak work processes and governance processes for planning, delivering, operating and maintaining infrastructure; and
• insufficient funding as well as poor financial management practices which render municipalities unsustainable.

We have not only acknowledged the challenges in local government. Central to the responsibilities of the Deputy President is to enforce One-Plan integration across Government, through the District Development Model. It is the whole of government approach, it is the maximisation of resources.

Through the District Development Model and the Service Delivery Rapid Response approach, we have been working to ensure that we have One Plan that is measurable, implementable, and citizen-focused.

Over the last two months, I have visited Gauteng, Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape to help to resolve service delivery problems. In all the six districts and metros where we undertook oversight visits, we received reports on how together, we are addressing service delivery challenges and progress made in the adoption of the One-Plans.

We are pleased that good work is being done; however, there is a need to strengthen partnerships to improve service delivery.

We are committed to building a stable democracy that works for the people.

That is why in response to the unstable coalition government especially in municipalities we have proposed to convene a dialogue on the coalition governments. The intention is to reach a consensus on the principles of coalitions and to ensure that we continue to build a strong and stable democracy in our country.

As we said before, engaging in the development of a coherent framework for coalition government is part of the nation-building project.

Honourable Speaker, our work through the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) is bearing fruit. Together as Government, civil society, private sector, labour and development partners, we are on track in mitigating the impact of the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB).

The implementation of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections 2017 - 2022 has had a positive impact on combatting HIV and AIDS in the last five years. In the latter part of 2022, 94 percent of the estimated number of people living with HIV knew their status, 76 percent of the people who knew their status were on anti-retroviral treatment, and 90 percent of those on treatment had suppressed viral loads.

A special focus has been given to accelerating prevention to reduce new HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), providing treatment to reduce illness and mortality, as well as reaching all key and vulnerable populations with interventions, and leaving no one behind.

It is for this reason that SANAC has been holding a series of engagements with civil society, interfaith leaders, traditional leaders, traditional healthcare practitioners, and the private sector on the particular subject of addressing structural barriers and social determinants of the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The new iteration of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023 to 2028, will build on the successes of the previous NSP by way of maintaining the multi-sectoral, people-centred approach to eliminate HIV, TB and STIs as public health threats by 2030.

Honourable House Chair,

Land Reform remains a key programmatic response to effecting restorative justice, and transforming the colonial and apartheid spatial planning.

We will continue to fast-track the land reform agenda, as it relates to access and the beneficial use of land. The Land Reform programme is also aimed at empowering beneficiaries including rural communities.

The success of our work depends on investing in a capable, ethical and developmental state that has the capacity to redirect capital and resources towards development and that has no tolerance for corruption.

In realising our commitment, we have embarked on a process to review career management of Directors-General and Head of Departments with a view to place emphasis on outcomes. Secondly, we are moving with speed to institutionalise the professionalization of the public service, including having ethical leadership and meritocracy as the cornerstones of this administration.

Honourable Speaker,

As Leader of Government Business in Parliament, I will continue to monitor and strengthen Executive Accountability to Parliament. Central to this responsibility is ensuring that Members of the Executive attend to their Parliamentary responsibilities, by appearing before Portfolio Committees, and responding to questions for both oral and written replies within stipulated periods.

Linked to our role in monitoring executive accountability is the development of a realistic legislative Programme with priority Bills.

In April this year, we submitted the 2023 Legislative Programme as approved by Cabinet for introduction to Parliament. Cabinet Ministers have also been requested to identify priority Bills in line with Government priorities to be introduced to Parliament before the end of this administration.

Through our continuous engagements with Presiding Officers of Parliament, we will continue to fast-track and monitor the processing of priority legislation that will improve the planning capacity of line departments to effectively deliver services to the people.

Honourable Speaker,

One of the key priorities we are ceased with is to promote social cohesion and nation-building. In this regard, as the Government we continue to conduct a series of engagements with various partners, including Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Traditional Health Practitioners, Military Veterans, Faith-based organisations, labour as well as the private sector.

We have been engaging with the National House of Traditional and KhoiSan Leaders to tackle challenges such as the safety of Traditional and KhoiSan Leaders in our country. We have also agreed to work with all Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, focusing on the following, among others:

• Uniformity and standardisation in terms of treatment and provisions to Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders across all provinces;
• Speedy finalisation of the Handbook for Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders to regulate the provision of the tools of the trade for Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, including vehicles, computers, ICT connectivity, and furniture for Traditional Councils;
• Improvement in the remuneration of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, including pension and medical aid benefits;
• Construction of Chambers for the Provincial Houses that do not have these;
• The State to release land back to the custody of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders and their communities;
• Review of Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act;

We will continue to engage and report to this House on the work of the InterMinisterial Task Team to further strengthen our partnership, and address matters of concern to the institution of Traditional Leadership.

Honourable Chair,

At this stage, we must acknowledge the role played by all social partners and individuals at different levels, in responding to various societal challenges that confront us as a country, including disaster relief and community upliftment efforts.

We have no country other than the Republic of South Africa. In our diversity, which in itself is our strength, we must continue to work towards a common goal of a non-racist, non-sexist and prosperous nation.

Our continent requires peace, growth and prosperity. It is for this reason that we will accelerate peace efforts in South Sudan, the Great Lakes, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa and the rest of the continent.

Furthermore, the socio-economic opportunities of our continent will be realised through the implementation of the African Continental Free-Trade Area Agreement (AfCTA).

Equally, we will continue to advocate for a world and a global community based on the principle that all people are created equal and deserve equal opportunities and instruments to realise their full human potential.

Here at home, we are addressing all the factors that impede implementation, including local and departmental government capacity, red tape, governance, poor contract management, long turn-around times, and corruption.

We are equally monitoring underspending, fiscal dumping, and the quality of expenditure. We have begun to implement decisions around insourcing, especially on maintenance, standardisation, the decision on manufacturing of paving bricks for roads and other options.

We are going to strengthen Good Governance by building up capacities for implementation, ensuring ethical processes and addressing the challenges of construction mafias, criminality, and corruption, which lead to nondelivery.

We are not looking back. We are steaming ahead to build a better life for all!

I thank you!

The Premier of the Province, Nomusa Dube-Ncube you have been a wonderful host, and we wish to thank you,
The Principal of Umgungundlovu TVET College, Ms Ntombi Ntshangase, and the Chairperson of the Council of the College Dr Lungile Ntombela and the members in attendance,
Ministers, Dr Nzimande, Ms Motshekga, and Ms Kieviet 
Deputy Ministers, Ms Gina, Ms Moloi
Premiers, and MECs in attendance, 
Deputy Chairpersons, Mr Ntshalintshali and Ms Mayekiso, Members of the Human Resource Development Council,
DGs and senior officials of government 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Thank you all for joining us on this first meeting of the Human Resource Development Council in 2023.  
 
We are at a historic place where President Mandela last addressed a community before he was captured in Howick in 1962. 
 
I have agreed to come back to join the walk in August and that will form part of the commitment to track the work we are doing together to change the lives of the people. 
 
I am pleased to know uMgungundlovu TVET college as an education and innovation centre. In that it has the TVET College, and the Durban University of Technology as well two high schools that are a feeder to the college and the University. I am pleased to know that we are building the imbali precinct the first in the country. 
 
We need more of such across the centre so that we can build education cities and produce skills needed by the economy and ensure that we become globally competitive. 
 
This is a special meeting for me because it is the first time that I am meeting you as Council Members since assuming the role of being the Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council, as per the responsibilities that have been delegated to me by the President.
 
It is humbling to see the level of commitment by Council Members towards making the work of this body a success, more especially in the current turbulent economic times, as we collectively seek innovative solutions to skills development for the economy, and future of work.
 
We have our work cut out as this Council, as we are meeting three days since Statistics South Africa released the quarter 1 of 2023 results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. 
 
According to these results, the official unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percent when compared to results for the fourth quarter of 2022.  One of the industries that has seen employment decrease is the construction sector.
 
Our ongoing response as Government in this regard has been the anchoring of the District Development Model on the implementation of catalytic projects. 
 
Together with Minister Nzimande and the Deputy Chairpersons of Council, we witnessed the development of a new smart city that isaimed at creating a new economic hub consisting of retail, mixed-typology residential, lifestyle and tourism-based development, new lifestyle estates, high quality office and business parks and logistics.
 
In addition to boosting the construction sector, the initiative is one of the post-apartheid cities that we are building, where people will live and socialise in the same areas that they work in. 
 
Our government supports this project and will continue to provide all necessary assistance for its advancement.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
One of the three sectors that Statistics South Africa has also noted in its recent release as having recorded the largest employment gains is the agricultural sector. 
 
Yesterday we had the opportunity of witnessing the work that the KwaZulu-Natal Province is doing, through the Cedara College of Agriculture, in growing its agricultural sector. 
 
We also recommitted our partnership as Government, with young and emerging farmers that have  engaged with yesterday. 
 
Our conversations with these farmers re-emphasised the spirit of joining efforts across society in the fight against poverty and unemployment. 
 
As this Council, we should take the conversation further, and ask ourselves how the implementation of the Human Resource Development Strategy, which is anchored on the District Development Model approach of partnership, will nurture and advance further the interests and innovative practices that are being led in such important growth sectors of our economy. 
 
We must ensure that our agenda and conversations advance our shared objective of upskilling people so that they can contribute in the economy. 
 
We are content that HRDC is at the forefront of fighting the revival of the economy from the skills and human potential aspect.
 
As a government, we will continue to work with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, members of the community, civil society, and the commercial sector to build the country’s economy while also developing the skills for ordinary people.
 
It is through the potential and creativity of our people that our country can strive. 
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
In the same spirit of collaborating around a common objective between government, organised labour, organised business, and civil society, I am pleased that today we are going to witness the signing of Social Compacts in the following areas:
 
1. Building the Foundation for Transformed Economy and Society.
2. Building the Skills for a Transformed Economy and Society.
 
The third compact will be finalised and signed in the next Council meeting, and it relates to working together to build a capable and developmental state.
 
Today’s signing ceremony is aimed at ensuring advocacy for all compacts and also highlights the commitments by each social partner who is a signatory to the compact. 
 
Our country’s foremost social compact is the National Development Plan, which provides the vision for growth and development as well as sets clear targets and timelines in this regard. 
 
Chapter 9 of the NDP acknowledges that ‘Education, training, and innovation are central to South Africa’s long-term development and lifelong learning, whereas work experience improves productivity, enabling a virtuous cycle that grows the economy.
 
The HRDC commitment to developing our people takes precedence in everything we do. 
 
The strides we have made in concluding the Social Compacts will surely guide us towards achieving the outcome of NDP vision 2030.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
To give effect to this vision, the Human Resource Development Council has developed the Human Resource Development Strategy, which focuses on building the human resources required for an improved and competitive economy.
 
As a Council, we should be focusing on programmes that will improve productivity and help people learn the skills they need for our country to become a knowledge and skill-based economy. 
 
As we deliberate issues in this meeting, we need to think critically about the role that this Council plays in skill development and consider if the work we are focusing on will provide individuals the skills they need to be adaptable to big-picture changes such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Certainly, as we adapt to a new and changing learning environment, we also must shine a spotlight on challenges that threaten our skills development agenda. 
 
Amongst others, these include the recent research findings on the concerning high levels of grade 4 learners who are said to be unable to read for meaning in any of our country’s eleven official languages. 
 
Our curriculum programmes must be responsive to these areas to ensure that we adapt to a new and changing learning environment.
 
Moreover, in order to effectively educate today's students, who will work in ten to fifteen years utilising systems that are operated and constantly growing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, teachers must be educated to utilise the most up-to-date teaching software. 
 
Additionally, it implies that workers who are currently employed should also be encouraged to advance themselves and pursue a lifetime of learning and dynamic change.
 
Lastly, in order for our kids to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be productive members of society, we need to find strategies to keep them in school.
 
We must create a conducive environment for learning and invest in education. We must let them know that education does not only open doors for being employed but that it is a personal tool for being a better citizen and human being.
 
As I conclude, we want to thank you all for taking your time to discuss this important issue of skills development. With these few words, I hope that our discussions will bear much needed  fruits. We appreciate everything that you do to help move South Africa ahead.
 
I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has arrived in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to lead the South African delegation to the 1st Saudi-Africa Summit, scheduled for this afternoon,  Friday, 10 November 2023.   

Originally scheduled for 2019, the Saudi-Africa Summit will deal in the main with development issues, key among them being education, health, humanitarian assistance and economic development.

Deputy President Mashatile’s delegation comprises Dr Naledi Pandor, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ibrahim Patel, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, and Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. 

The Deputy President will use the opportunity of his visit to hold bilateral talks with some of the leaders of the delegations, and will also pay a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Bilateral Relations between South Africa and Saudi Arabia
The bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and South Africa is cordial and has strengthened over the years, underpinned by strong political relations which also translate into strong economic engagement.  

Our bilateral relations with the Kingdom are conducted mainly through two mechanisms: the Bilateral Political Consultation (BPC) and the Joint Economic Commisssion (JEC). The inaugural session of the BPC was held in 2021, and Minister Pandor is scheduled to host and co-chair the second session of the Saudi-South Africa BPC on 29 January 2024 with her counterpart, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The 9th session of the JEC was hosted and co-chaired by Minister Patel from 3 to 4 October 2022, just prior to President Cyril Ramaphosa's State Visit to Saudi Arabia from 15 to 16 October.

On the economic front, total trade between the two countries amounted to approximately R80 billion in 2022, with the basket of traded goods consisting largely of commodities between the two countries. 

A big part of the work of our bilateral instruments is to diversify trade between our countries, and explore opportunities that exist in agriculture and agri-processing, mining and energy, tourism, health, aviation and transport, maritime industries, as well as arts and culture.

Saudi Arabia is South Africa's second largest trading partner in Middle East region, coming just behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Media enquiries: Contact Mr Vukani Mde, Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 064 833 8080 (while in the KSA)

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency, Mrs Francia Elena Márquez, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning, 

Firstly, I would like to once again extend my warm greetings to you, Your Excellency Vice President Márquez and the Distinguished Delegation you have brought from the Republic of Colombia.  

I wish to express my distinct honour and delight to welcome you to South Africa. I am confident that you will enjoy your short stay in our beautiful country – South Africa.  

We consider your visit significant in many ways, especially as we begin to reactivate our bilateral relations following the election of the administration of H. E. President Gustav Francisco Petro in Colombia in 2022.

We offer our warm congratulations and best wishes to President Petro and his government.

I am particularly pleased that my first Official Visit as the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa is with you Vice President and that in your Africa tour, you chose South Africa as the first country to visit.

Your Excellency,

Our meeting today is historical, as there has not been this kind of high-level engagement between our two countries since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. Even more so, for us, to host the first Afro-descendent and female Vice President of the Republic of Colombia.  

Indeed, we are very much honoured, Your Excellency and welcome this progress in our endeavour to have more women leaders.

This meeting also represents a significant milestone, as we meet today to lay the foundation and roadmap for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our two countries. Our countries share similar values of democracy, peaceful resolution of conflicts, sustainable development, the rule of law, and the reform of multilateral institutions.

These shared values provided a good basis for building strong, results-oriented and mutually beneficial relations that will contribute to addressing our national development priorities.

To this end, I look forward to our discussions on ways to achieve a pragmatic roadmap for bilateral cooperation in number of areas such as agribusiness; defence; environment; mining; energy; science and innovation; sports, arts and culture; trade and economic relations; tourism and transport.

Your Excellency,

It is imperative that South Africa and Colombia, as progressive countries of the South and other like-minded partners, should strengthen our resolve to advance the development agenda of the South and global governance reforms with a view of renewing and pursuing our collective global commitment to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  

I am particularly pleased with the government of Colombia’s policy to re-activate relations with the African Continent.  

South Africa further welcomes your commitment to contributing to the success of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as our Continent is advancing peace, security and development in Africa and in particular, to achieving the goal of an African continent free from war and conflict, but rather thrives and develops.   

Once more, I would like to reiterate my profound appreciation to you and your Delegation for visiting our country to map a path of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

I now invite you, Madam Vice President, to make your opening remarks.

I thank you.