President Ramaphosa leads government response and interventions to the issues raised by communities during the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo

President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the South Africa's 2nd Generation Country Review Report

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