Presidential Spokesperson briefing on President Ramaphosa's public programme

PUBLIC PROGRAMME OF THE PRESIDENT 

6 August 2023 - Closing Ceremony of the Netball World Cup 2023

At the invitation of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Hon. Zizi Kodwa, President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend and address the Closing Ceremony of the Netball World Cup 2023 on Sunday, 06 August 2023.

The President is particularly pleased with the gallant effort and competitive display shown by the National Netball Team, The Spar Proteas. The successful hosting of the Netball World Cup 2023 has once again affirmed South Africa’s endowment with world-class destinations that can host the world for any global showpiece.  

9 August 2023 - Women's Day Celebrations, Khayelitsha, Cape Town

As South Africa observes Women’s Month in August, President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 09 August 2023, deliver the keynote address at the Women’s Day national commemorative event to be held at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium, in the Western Cape. 

Women’s Month 2023 will be commemorated under the overarching theme: “Accelerating socio-economic opportunities for empowerment of women”. 
Every year, we observe this month to pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against Pass Laws. 

This year marks 67 years since the watershed 1956 women’s march which was one of the largest demonstrations staged in the country’s history. It was underpinned by the adoption of the Women’s Charter of 1954.

For President Ramaphosa, is it quite fitting that as we celebrate Women’s Month and are reminded of the heroics of the brave women that shaped our struggle for freedom, we are witnessing the boldness of the Women’s National Football Team, Banyana Banyana. Without a professional league and big sponsors, Banyana Banyana, have risen to conquer our continent and they are now making their mark on the world stage. The President calls on the leadership of the sport and those associated with the game to ensure that the equal pay for equal work principle is adhered to in football and in all women’s sports.   

11 August 2023 - District Development Model Presidential Imbizo, Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 11 August 2023, interact with the community of Chris Hani District in Eastern Cape Province during the 9th District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo as a continuous Government programme that seeks to ensure an integrated, district-based service delivery approach that fast tracks service delivery. 

The President will be concluding the first round of the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo in the Eastern Cape Province, after interacting with communities across all provinces since March 2022. 

The community engagement will take place at the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality (Ward 8), Tsomo Town, Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape. 

17 August 2023 - SADC Summit, Luanda, Angola

President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a working visit to Luanda in the Republic of Angola to attend the 43rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, which takes place on 17 August 2023. The Summit will take place under the theme “Human and Financial capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region”. 

This Ordinary SADC Summit will be preceded by the Organ Troika on Politics, Defense and Security Summit, for which South Africa is the outgoing chair, on 16 August 2023. 

The Troika is responsible for the promotion of peace and security in the SADC region. 

22 August 2023 - Incoming China State Visit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on 22 August 2023, welcome his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping to South Africa for a State Visit, which will be hosted at the Union Buildings. Over and above formal talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with China, there will be a number of memorandums of agreement that will be signed on the day. 

31 August 2023 - SAPS Biology Section with DNA Analysis

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on 31 August 2023 officiate the opening of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Biology Section with DNA Analysis within the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape Province.

The expansion of the laboratory will include the installation of advanced equipment to analyse DNA, which will address the backlog experienced in the analysis of DNA and the fight against crime, especially Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

President extends condlences on the passing of Former President Henri Konan Bédié of Côte d’Ivoire

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, extended condolences to the Bédié family, the Government and the people of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, following the passing of the former Ivorian President, Mr Henri Konan Bédié.

Mr Bédié served as the Ivorian President from 1993 until 1999.

A visit by former President Bédié to South Africa in September 1998 was the first by an Ivorian Head of State. Through the visit, deeper relations between the two countries were forged.

President Ramaphosa said: “We send our deepest condolences to the family of former President Bédié and to the people of Côte d’Ivoire in general. We mourn with them and share in their loss.”

The passing of former President Bédié comes at a time when the African continent is faced with great challenges which require continental cooperation and unity to advance the goals of the African Union for peace, security, and development.

It is therefore imperative that Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa work together to bring peace and stability to the continent.

Advancing South Africa's international interests - Working Visit to the Russian Federation

President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded a successful working visit to the Russian Federation where, together with Leaders of African countries, a clear call for tangible and mutually beneficial and effective cooperation between Russia and the countries of the African Continent was made, during the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, which took place in the country's cultural capital, St. Petersburg.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the Summit Declaration that included cooperation in a number of strategic areas, including Science and Technology, Energy, Trade and Investments, and Defense and Security Cooperation. The President highlighted the importance of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that will assess the level and pace of implementation of the Summit commitments. 

President Ramaphosa concluded his working visit to Russia with a meeting at the Konstantinovsky Palace where the two Presidents discussed South Africa and Russia’s bilateral relationship, which is built on strategic partnerships in several areas of cooperation, including energy, industry, and agriculture. 

The discussions further sought to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation in the areas of education, science and technology, with a particular focus on space and satellite technology development. 

Joint Statement issued following the engagement between the Leaders of the African Peace Initiative and the President of the Russian Federation

On 28 July 2023, in Saint-Petersburg, the leaders of the seven countries leading the African Peace Initiative and the President of the Russian Federation continued their discussion on the African Peace Initiative, which they started on 17 June 2023.

African Leaders attending the meeting on 28 July 2023 were:

- President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros in his capacity as Chair of the African Union
- President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa
- President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo
- President Abdel Fattah-el Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt
- President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal
- President Yoweri  Museveni of the Republic of Uganda
- Foreign Minister of Zambia, Stanley  Kakubo.

The Leaders recognised progress achieved since then on proposals they discussed at the first meeting on 17 June 2023 on humanitarian issues, in particular, related to the rights of children in areas of armed activities and prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and agreed that humanitarian efforts would continue to bring further results.

The Leaders called for specific steps to remove obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports, thus allowing the resumption of the full implementation of the Black Sea package initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General as endorsed on 22 July 2022 in Istanbul.

The Leaders also called upon the United Nations to take necessary action in order to release 200 thousand tons of Russian fertilizer blocked in European Union seaports for immediate and free delivery to African countries.

The Leaders agreed to continue their dialogue on the African Peace Initiative so that a door to peace can be opened.

Telephone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

On Wednesday, 2 August 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa held a telephone discussion with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for the 600 South African firefighters that demonstrated excellence and diligence during their support in extinguishing the wild fires that ravaged parts of Canada. In turn, Prime Minister Trudeau offered Canada’s support in the event South Africa experiences any form of disaster in the near future. 

The Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation for South Africa’s contribution to the African Peace Initiative to Russia and Ukraine, and committed his support to search for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Both leaders agreed to continue their bilateral cooperation and to further collaborate in 2025, when Canada hosts the G7 summit, while South Africa will be hosting the G20.

Lady R Panel Investigation

The Panel concluded its investigations on 18 July 2023 in accordance with the established deadline. The panel received a late submission, which caused a minor delay. However, the Chair of the panel did not request a deadline extension. On Friday, 4 August 2023, the report will be completed and will be ready to be handed to the President as soon as his schedule permits. Following the President’s consumption of the report, he will decide on the actions to be followed and on the aspects of the report that will be made public. 
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - +27 82 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria