Press Releases

Press Releases

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 3 FEBRUARY 2025

 

Peace in the DRC requires leadership and collective will

Dear Fellow South African,

In the last two weeks, 14 of our soldiers have been killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after coming under attack.

They were killed in violation of a ceasefire agreement between the DRC and Rwanda facilitated by President João Lourenço of Angola.

South African soldiers are in the DRC as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The UN Security Council has roundly condemned the attack, reiterating that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.

As a nation, we pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. They are South African and African heroes.

They lost their lives in defence of the defenceless: the men, women and children who are the victims of one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.

Since 1996, the conflict in the DRC, and the hunger and disease it has caused, has claimed millions of lives. According to the UN, more than seven million Congolese have been internally displaced.

The various state and non-state actors involved in the conflict have been implicated in grave human rights abuses including large-scale attacks on civilians, abductions and extrajudicial killings, torture, the recruitment of child soldiers, forced labour, human trafficking and mass rape.

South Africa has been a troop contributing country to MONUSCO since 1999 and we have lent our support to the SADC mission deployed to the region in 2023. This is anchored in our commitment towards silencing the guns across Africa.

Supporting peacebuilding and the resolution of conflict in Africa has been a cornerstone of our country’s foreign policy since the advent of democracy, as we have sought to draw on our experience of political dialogue and national reconciliation.

Since 1994 our country has contributed to UN peace operations in Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Nepal and to the UN-AU Mission in Darfur. South Africa has been part of fostering peace in Lesotho, Burundi and South Sudan. In 2022 we hosted negotiations that brokered a ceasefire between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Last year marked the end of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) of which SANDF troops formed part. The mission was deployed for three years to combat extremist groups in the Cabo Delgado province. The government of Mozambique has praised SAMIM for its efforts to restore stability to the region and for contributing to a vastly improved security situation.

In the wake of the tragic killing of our soldiers, some have questioned South Africa’s presence in the eastern DRC. Some have said that we have no business being there.

But violence and conflict in Africa is the business of all Africans. The humanitarian, economic and social effects of these conflicts are felt across borders and regions. Instability in any part of the continent affects the prospects for growth and development across the continent.

For a lasting peace to be secured in the eastern DRC, there must be an immediate end to hostilities and a ceasefire that must be respected by all.

South Africa’s participation in the DRC is subject to the SAMIDRC mission, which has operational timeframes and an end date. The mission will wind down in accordance with the implementation of various confidence-building measures and when the ceasefire we have called for takes root.

As this happens, securing the safety of our troops remains paramount. The situation in the areas where our troops are stationed remains highly volatile. We are making every effort to ensure that our soldiers are well-equipped and sufficiently supported during the mission.

A ceasefire is a necessary precondition for peace talks that must include all parties to the conflict whether they are state or non-state actors, Congolese or non-Congolese.

Diplomacy is the most sustainable pathway to achieving a lasting peace for the DRC and its people.

We call on all parties to fully embrace the current diplomatic efforts that are aimed at finding a peaceful resolution, including honouring the Luanda Process.

Strong political will and leadership will be required from all parties to the conflict, as well as respect for the territorial integrity of the DRC.

We endorse the call by the UN Security Council for the reversal of the territorial expansion by the M23 rebel group and for the exit of external forces from the DRC.

Achieving a lasting peace and security for the eastern DRC and the region requires the collective will of the community of nations.

As a country, we have a duty of support towards the nations of Africa whose solidarity and material support helped secure our liberation. South Africa will not let up in its support to the people of the DRC so that they may have the peace and security they rightfully deserve.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 27 JANUARY 2025

In the world of today, no country can go it alone

Dear Fellow South African,

Last week, I led a South African delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Every year in January thousands of leaders from government, business and other sectors gather in this town in the Alps to discuss the state of the global economy.

The South African delegation that arrived in Davos was upbeat, confident that we are overcoming the challenges that we face. Our democracy is thriving. Our energy challenges are now a story of opportunity.

This year, South Africa was invited to present its priorities for its G20 Presidency. In a plenary address and in a separate discussion with business leaders, we outlined our theme for the G20 this year – Solidary, Equality, Sustainable Development – and the focus areas through which we will give meaning to this theme.

We made the point that it is in the interests of all countries, large and small, wealthy and poor, to reduce global inequality. That is why one of our priorities is ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries. By freeing up funds for debt relief in these countries, they will be in a better position to invest in infrastructure, industrial development, education, health care and other forms of development.

Another focus area, which both reduces poverty and promotes sustainability, is the mobilisation of finance for a just energy transition. Through this, developing economy countries will be able to pursue a low-carbon development path while protecting the interests of affected workers, businesses and communities. Related to this is another focus area: the mobilisation of special financing and insurance to enable vulnerable countries to rebuild after being struck by natural disasters.

The fourth focus area is to harness critical minerals, which are abundant in Africa and other countries of the Global South, to promote inclusive growth and development. We are proposed a G20 framework on ‘green’ industrialisation so that countries endowed with these resources must be the ones that benefit most.

We stressed that our themes and priorities are underpinned by the principle of cooperation. Throughout history, human progress has been possible only through collaboration among peoples and countries. We therefore renewed our call for the resolution of global challenges through multilateral actions. We called for inclusive solutions that recognise that the world is more interconnected than ever before.

Cooperation is vital if we are to overcome the existential threat of climate change. Carbon emissions into the atmosphere, global warming and the extreme weather events that it causes do not recognise national boundaries or political systems. Although the poor are most vulnerable, the effects of climate change threaten everyone.

As we saw during the Covid pandemic, the same is true of pandemics and other health emergencies. Conflict in one part of the world impacts on countries in other parts of the world. Trade wars, especially between large economies, weakens the global economy and holds back inclusive growth and development for all.

In the world of today, no country can go it alone. No country can sustain its growth, stability and development without working together with other countries to overcome common problems.

South Africa’s message resonated with the participants in Davos. It was a sentiment shared by many of the business leaders with whom we interacted, as well as with other heads of state and multilateral institutions.

Many of the people we spoke to endorsed South Africa’s G20 priorities. They saw the value of our focus on Africa and the interests of countries with developing economies. They appreciated the importance of reducing inequality within and between countries and the need for new growth paths that are climate-friendly sustainable.

We also noticed a much improved sentiment towards South Africa and the prospects for our economy in the years ahead. They commented on the successful transition from the 6th to the 7th administrations and the formation of the Government of National Unity. They saw this as a sign of stability and a common commitment among parties to inclusive growth, employment and a capable state. They welcomed the far-reaching reforms that are underway in areas such as energy, logistics, telecommunications and water to grow and transform our economy.

The South African delegation left Davos with a sense that there are many leaders in the world that share our vision of an inclusive, just and equal world. And that they are prepared and willing to work with us through our G20 Presidency towards the achievement of such a world.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 20 JANUARY 2025

Partnership is key to South Africa’s growth and progress

Dear Fellow South African,

As this Administration took office last year, we made a commitment to reach out across society to find solutions to the challenges our country faces.

Since then, we have placed partnership at the centre of our work.

While South Africa has a rich history of dialogue and cooperation, our experience of the COVID-19 pandemic underlined how important collaboration was in saving lives and livelihoods. It showed the value of effective coordination across the state and with other sectors of society.

One of the areas where partnerships within the state have had the greatest impact is in Operation Vulindlela. This initiative has brought together Government departments and public institutions to undertake focused reforms in areas such as energy, logistics, telecommunications and water infrastructure.

We also have structures like the President’s Coordinating Council, which brings together leaders from national, provincial and local governments to deal collectively with common challenges.

In other areas, we have brought the different spheres of Government together with other stakeholders. Last year, we established the Presidential eThekwini Working Group to support the metro in its efforts to restore business confidence and overcome service delivery challenges. Together, the working group has made progress on things such as water supply, tourism infrastructure and law enforcement.

We have seen the value of partnership in our response to the electricity crisis. The progress we have made in reducing the severity of load shedding has been made possible by bringing together Government departments, State-owned companies, business, labour and other social partners. The National Electricity Crisis Committee has played a crucial role in coordinating and focusing the efforts of these many different players.

Another area that is benefiting from such partnerships is in rail and port operations. These are beginning to stabilise and recover lost volumes as a result of efforts to support Transnet’s operational recovery.

An important area of structured cooperation is the partnership between Government and business to unlock impediments to inclusive growth. Though our respective roles and mandates may differ, we are aligned on the need to drive inclusive economic growth and job creation.

Our areas of cooperation have extended beyond immediate economic issues. For example, Government came together with civil society partners on a national strategy to end gender-based violence and femicide. We have worked with various sectors through bodies like the South African National Aids Council and the Human Resource Development Council, using our collective resources and capabilities to promote development.

This week we will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where we will be outlining South Africa’s priorities for its G20 Presidency.

At the centre of our G20 agenda is the promotion of cooperation among G20 and other countries on the most pressing issues facing the world. This cooperation should not only take place at a government-to-government level. It should involve all social formations.

As in previous G20 presidencies, dialogue with civil society and other non-government institutions will be conducted through various engagement groups. These engagement groups cover sectors such as business, labour, civil society, parliamentary bodies and the judiciary. Following the approach of the Brazilian G20 Presidency in 2024, we will be convening a G20 Social Forum. This will bring together representatives of engagement groups and other segments of civil society.

One of the messages we will be taking to Davos is our ongoing commitment to partnerships in pursuit of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

We will present our experiences of cooperation across society in South Africa and encourage greater emphasis on partnerships in international relations. In particular, we will make a call for global companies to partner with governments, entrepreneurs and stakeholders in emerging markets to pursue sustainable and inclusive growth.

As we take our message of partnership and progress to Davos this week, we reaffirm our commitment to work with all social partners in pursuit of inclusive growth that benefits all South Africans and leaves no one behind.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 13 JANUARY 2025

South Africa’s natural splendour can drive inclusive growth

Dear Fellow South African, 

As the festive season makes way for the start of the new year, many South Africans have been returning home from different parts of the country. Some people have been visiting family, while others have been exploring new places.

This is a time of year when we get to appreciate why our country is such an attractive destination for visitors. We are blessed with natural splendour that is an integral part of our national heritage. It is an asset to our economy that every year draws millions of tourists from around the world to our shores. 

Over the past week I was in the Western Cape and visited Robben Island, which is one of the country’s major tourism attractions. A leading industry publication recently ranked the Robben Island, alongside Table Mountain and the Kruger National Park, as among the top tourist attractions on the continent. 

Beyond the substantial natural resource endowments of our beaches, national parks and biodiversity conservation areas, cultural and heritage tourism is also thriving in South Africa. 

We are home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include Robben Island and the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng, which has among the largest known concentrations of Hominid fossils in the world. 

Last year, the World Economic Forum ranked South Africa as Africa’s premier tourism destination. It said this was due to factors such as our business operating environment, information technology and tourism infrastructure and services.

Following a slump in tourism numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, inbound tourism is on the rise. In 2023, South Africa recorded around 8.5 million international tourist arrivals. These visitors spent over R95 billion.

Domestic tourism is the mainstay of the tourism economy. Between January and July last year, South Africans took over 21 million trips to explore their country. 

Our tourism sector has the potential to be even larger than it currently is. 

We are scaling up a range of tourism promotion strategies to restore inbound tourism figures to pre-pandemic levels. These strategies include an improved tourism visa regime, streamlining the tour operator license process, increased investment in tourism infrastructure and services, and improving safety and security at tourism sites. 

The tourism sector in South Africa employs about 1.5 million people both directly and indirectly. Through the Presidential Employment Stimulus we continue to support job creation by providing work opportunities for young people as tourism monitors in different provinces and supporting tourism-related SMMEs. 

Tourism is a growth area for small business development. In line with the global shift towards sustainability, figures from South African Tourism show that increasing numbers of new tourism ventures are centred around sustainable tourism and eco-friendly business practices. 

This year we will host the first ever summit of the G20 on African soil. We will use this opportunity to profile and actively promote South Africa as a tourism destination of choice. 

According to UN Tourism, the G20 economies represent over 70% of all international tourist arrivals worldwide and 82% of tourism’s global GDP. Just as Brazil did last year during its hosting of the G20 Summit, South Africa will promote the role of tourism in creating jobs and advancing sustainable development in the countries of the Global South. 

The Government of National Unity has identified the growth of tourism as a vital part of creating employment. In October last year, the Minister of Tourism released a new White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa. This will guide our approach to building a sustainable, competitive and inclusive tourism industry. 

By working together as government, business and communities, we can ensure that the natural splendour of our country becomes a driver of economic growth, job creation and shared prosperity. 

With best regards,
 

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 9 DECEMBER 2024

The progress we have made this year gives us hope for the year ahead

Dear Fellow South African,  

We are nearing the end of another year, marked by both triumphs and struggles.  

We celebrated thirty years since the birth of our democratic nation. We reflected on the considerable progress we have made in building a constitutional order anchored on freedom, equality and human rights for all.  

We held our seventh successful, free and fair general elections since 1994. It was a landmark poll, with an unprecedented 70 political parties contesting. The election was a credit to the Independent Electoral Commission, which acquitted itself with distinction, the political parties who campaigned in a spirit of respect and tolerance, and to all South Africans who exercised their right to vote.  

Our democracy has evolved and matured. We have a Government of National Unity comprised of 10 political parties from across the political spectrum. They have agreed on three strategic priorities for this administration.

The first strategic priority is to grow our economy and create jobs.

The structural reforms initiated under the sixth administration are continuing to create conditions for our economy to grow and to create jobs.

The country has had over 250 days with no loadshedding. This is due to a combination of increased maintenance and generation recovery by Eskom, the addition of more capacity to the grid including from renewables, and the large-scale uptake of solar and battery energy solutions by households and businesses. The work of the National Energy Crisis Committee continues. It is working to get more power onto the grid, to expand our electricity infrastructure, to diversify the market for the benefit of consumers, and to lay the groundwork for an energy-secure future. 

There has been a significant recovery of commuter rail since theft and vandalism during the Covid pandemic nearly destroyed the network. Stations have been refurbished, new state-of-the-art trains are on the tracks, and 31 out of 40 key passenger corridors are now operational. There were 40 million commuter rail passengers in the last financial year, up from 15 million passengers the previous year.

We are making progress in the recovery of freight rail and dealing with longstanding operational challenges in our ports. We are seeing improvements at the container terminals in Durban and Cape Town, as well as with infrastructure upgrades. 

While unemployment levels remain extremely high, more South Africans are finding jobs.
The second strategic priority of this administration is to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living.

Consumer inflation is at a four-year low, making essential goods like fuel and most food staples more affordable. Over the past twelve months, fuel prices have come down.

Around 60% of the national budget is dedicated towards the ‘social wage’. These are the measures that reduce poverty and directly improve people’s lives. In addition to the provision of grants to vulnerable groups and unemployed people, this social wage includes subsidised housing, free basic services, no-fee schools and school nutrition. Government has been able to sustain these measures even as public finances are under severe pressure.

The third strategic priority of this administration is to strengthen the capacity of the state to deliver on its mandate.

Our efforts to improve the capacity and capability of the state to deliver on basic services continue.  

We have experienced moments of great national pride this year. Our sportsmen and women did us proud, including at the Olympics and Paralympics. Our nation’s artists hoisted our flag high on the global stage, proving themselves to be among our most valuable exports. 

The momentum we have achieved this year was marred by tragedy. The deaths of a number children from eating contaminated foodstuffs was a great sorrow and caused deep concern. We have put a number of stringent measures in place to prevent such tragedies.

While we are making progress, we have a long way to go. The pace of economic growth is still too slow and not enough jobs are being created. Families still struggle with the high cost of living. 

While there has been some improvement in the crime statistics and there have been breakthroughs in tackling crime syndicates, crime and violence is still widespread in many communities.

Disruptions in the supply of electricity and clean water is a major problem in many municipalities. Many local councils are plagued by poor governance, limited capacity and severe financial constraints. This is affecting service delivery to our people. Strengthening local government is our key priority.

These are the challenges we are grappling with. We have identified local government as a major focus in this administration. Through initiatives like the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, we are bringing all stakeholders together to solve local problems

The progress we have made this past year and during the course of the previous administration shows that we can overcome the difficulties our country faces.

As government, business, labour and civil society, we are able to achieve a great deal when work in unison to overcome our common challenges. In the new year, we will embark on a National Dialogue that will draw together all South Africans in crafting a common vision for the country.

As the host of the G20 next year, South Africa will play an important role in addressing the challenges that many countries across the world experience. We will seek common solutions that improve the lives of all our people.

Overcoming poverty and underdevelopment, creating more jobs, and addressing societal ills like gender-based violence requires that we must all play our part, where we can. 

On many fronts, this year has been better than the last. We will build on these achievements in 2025. 

Wherever you may be this festive season, I wish you well. 

With best regards,
 

Signature

 

2024 NATIONAL DAY OF RECONCILIATION

The 2024 National Day of Reconciliation will take place on 16 December 2024 in Vredendal, Matzikama Local Municipality in the Western Cape. The event serves as a clarion call for all sectors of society to play an active role in promoting healing of the nation and will be convened under the theme: “Healing Historical Wounds and Forging New Futures”.

In keeping with the spirit of the theme, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address on Reconciliation Day followed by a dialogue from widows of our nation’s freedom fighters. Through these discussions, we hope to draw wisdom and courage to move forward in building the country envisaged by our forebearers.

In South Africa, we not only commemorate Reconciliation Day but also dedicate the entire month of December to reconciliation. Throughout the month we will reflect on our history, acknowledge the contribution of our nation’s veterans and work to heal wounds of past injustices.  

This year’s commemoration coincides with our 30 Years of Democracy celebration and we will also reflect on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which helped our country deal with the wounds inflicted by apartheid. The TRC advanced peace, reconciliation, tolerance and social cohesion.

Our Reconciliation Month commemoration takes place three months after we received 35 human remains of South Africans who were buried while in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The next phase of the project will focus on the repatriation of the remains of South Africans buried in Angola

This initiative is crucial for national healing, allowing families to find closure and honour the memory of those who fought for freedom and justice. Moreover, this project is part of our commitment to honour and restore the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom.

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 2 DECEMBER 2024

We will continue to work together to improve the lives of persons with disabilities

Dear Fellow South African, 

Tomorrow, 3 December, marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made with respect to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. It is also an opportunity to consider what we still need to do to implement inclusive policies and to elevate the representation of persons with disabilities in our society.

Our Constitution and Bill of Rights enshrines the right to equality for all. It prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability. 

Approximately 3.3 million people in our country live with some form of physical or intellectual impairment.

Many of them have to contend with stigma, stereotyping, prejudice and other forms of social exclusion. A lack of proper understanding about disability continues in some communities. 

Some people see having a disability as a ‘curse’ or the result of witchcraft. This sometimes has horrific consequences. People with albinism, for example, have been victims of violence and even murder.

Persons with disabilities of face an ‘invisible barrier’ in access to public spaces, amenities and facilities. The lack of wheelchair ramps, braille signage, suitable toilet facilities and devices that cater for the hearing impaired pose a challenge for persons with disabilities.

Most South Africans rely on public transportation, and this too can be a frustrating experience for disabled persons. Minibus taxis, for example, have limited capacity for accommodating wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

As a result of these serious challenges, many in the disabled community find themselves poor, unemployed and excluded. They suffer ill-health and poor quality of life. 

Under democracy we have been steadfast in our determination to ensure that persons with disabilities are supported to lead lives of dignity.

The Constitution obliges the state to take legislative and other measures to promote the achievement of such equality, and to protect persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.

We introduced employment equity laws to promote equal opportunity in the workplace. By law, employers have to ensure that at least 2% of their workforce comprises persons with disabilities. 

We amended labour legislation to broaden the scope under which persons who sustain a temporary or permanent disability at work can apply for compensation. The Department of Employment and Labour has labour desks to provide specialist employment advice services for persons with disabilities.

One of the most far-reaching legislative reforms is the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act. Among other things, this makes mineworkers and former mineworkers eligible for compensation if they sustained permanent disability in the course of their employment. 

To ensure that measures to advance the empowerment of disabled persons receive attention at the highest levels of government, a Presidential Working Group on Disability was established in 2016. It brings together government departments and about 45 civil society organisations from the disability sector. It is tasked with guiding the implementation of policy to advance the rights of the disabled.

One of the key issues the Working Group has been lobbying for since its inception was the recognition of South Africa Sign Language as an official language. This was achieved in 2022 with a constitutional amendment.

Another issue occupying the Working Group is gender-based violence. Women and girls with disabilities are often vulnerable to sexual and other forms of abuse.

As part of strengthening the fight against gender-based violence, the previous administration passed a series of laws that, among others, provide for harsher penalties for sex crimes against persons with a mental disability.

The Presidential Working Group continues to support government-wide efforts to ensure that programmes to support people with disabilities are adequately resourced and, importantly, that they are informed and guided by representatives of the disability sector. 

We have always sought to promote the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’.

We continue to make progress in education. The network of special needs public schools across the country has been expanded. the Department of Basic Education continues to take steps to ensure the public school environment is more inclusive. The Working Group has been advocating for Early Childhood Development facilities for children with disabilities to receive equal attention and resources.

At this year’s Transport Summit on Universal Mobility, I underscored the  need for public transport to be made more accessible for persons with disabilities. 

Cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town offer specialised transportation services for people who have physical disabilities. The rejuvenation of passenger rail will also go a long way, with many of the new urban commuter trains able to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities.

Though we have made progress with respect to legislative and policy frameworks, realising the rights of the disabled is a society-wide effort. 

The civil society organisations doing commendable work in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in communities deserve our full endorsement and support.

As communities, we must educate ourselves about disability. We must be part of education and awareness-raising to counter myths about disability.

Employers must make a greater effort to employ persons with disabilities. According to the Commission on Employment Equity, most employers are below the 2% target, and are only achieving around 1.2%. 

Employers are also urged to comply with the Code of Good Practice on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities by taking measures to remove physical barriers preventing disabled persons from working in safety and comfort.

Unions need to ensure that persons with disabilities are protected from discrimination and that their rights are upheld.

Business is called upon to lend corporate support to endeavours to advance excellence in the disability community. This includes providing more study scholarships to persons with disabilities.

A positive example in this regard is the corporate support for our Paralympic Team. These stellar athletes took glory in this year’s Games in Paris – bringing home two gold and four bronze medals at the Games. The success of our Paralympians bears witness to their personal courage, their resilience and their perseverance against considerable odds. 

As a country we should be proud of the progress we have made on disability rights, but we need to do more to ensure persons with disabilities enjoy equal rights.

As we observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I call on all South Africans to build a country in which everyone is included, represented, accommodated and able to achieve their dreams.

With best regards,
 

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 25 NOVEMBER 2024

Every one of us has a part to play in ending gender-based violence

Dear Fellow South African, 

Today marks the start of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children. Since its inception this global campaign has drawn support from organisations and activists in more than 187 countries, including in South Africa. 

Violence against women and children in our country is pervasive. Women and children are being beaten, assaulted and killed in the streets, in the workplace, at places of learning, and in their homes. 

Women and children are supposed to feel most safe within the home. Yet it is within the home where the majority of the world’s victims of gender-based violence die at the hands of men. A new report by UN Women has found that around 60% of victims of femicide in 2023 were killed in a domestic setting by someone close to them.

Intimate partner violence remains the most prevalent form of gender-based violence in South Africa. In the first South African National Gender-Based Violence Study, which was released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) last week, a fifth of all men surveyed said they had committed sexual or physical violence against their partners.

Sexism is at the root of these crimes: the belief that men and boys are superior to women and girls. We must therefore address head-on the idea that women are the ‘property’ of their husbands and boyfriends, and that they can be beaten, abused and even killed at whim. 

We must address the economic dimension, where men think they have the right over the bodies of their wives because they are breadwinners, or because they finance the lifestyles of their girlfriends. Many women find themselves trapped in situations of economic dependence, feeling they have to put up with abuse because the alternative is destitution. 

The fight to end gender-based violence must begin with prevention.

This means, among other things, that we must address the way many men and boys are raised and the way they are socialised. 

Last year, I participated in a Young Men and Boys Indaba. What struck me during this engagement is the important role of socialisation. These young men had an inherent sense of empathy towards their female relatives and classmates, and understood that men and women have equal rights. 

But at some point in their lives, they were exposed to a form of toxic masculinity in which ill-treating women is seen as macho and manly. Treating women with respect is seen as weak or ‘simping’. It is deeply troubling to witness how this has taken hold among the younger generation and online. 

Ending gender-based violence begins with changing the narrative. Women’s rights and gender equality are non-negotiable. They are not culturally relative or open to interpretation. 

Young men and boys must be educated on the importance of equality between men and women. They must appreciate the value of healthy relationships as opposed to transactional arrangements. Young men must be taught the importance of consent.

We therefore applaud the many men who have come forward to sign the Pledge for South African Men to End Gender-Based Violence, either in person or online. We encourage more men to make this stand by signing the pledge and through their daily conduct towards women. 

Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence. Women are often told by family members or religious, traditional and community leaders to go and ‘work things out’ with husbands who are beating them. This must stop. 

Other men are sometimes part of the problem. By remaining silent when they know that their friends, classmates or co-workers are abusers, they are complicit in the crime. Perpetrators of such acts should be isolated. It should be made clear that their actions are unacceptable and reported to the police. 

We need to create safe spaces – whether in schools, religious settings, workplaces or police stations – where women can speak freely about experiences of abuse, and where they can find care and support.

Workplaces must strictly enforce laws against sexism in the workplace. There must be far greater consideration and accommodation of female workers when it comes to working late and to providing more security in isolated work facilities. 

Just as gender-based violence affects everyone, so too we must all work together to overcome it. We need all community, civic and religious formations to form part of this effort. At this time of activism, we must mobilise businesses, trade unions, academic communities and public servants to get involved. 

During this year’s 16 Days of Activism let us continue to work together to make our country safer for women and children. 

We must all play our part. We must all speak up and speak out. 

None of us must look away.

Sign the Pledge for South African Men to End Gender-Based Violence here: www.stateofthenation.gov.za/endGBVF

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 18 NOVEMBER 2024

The stand-off at Stilfontein must be resolved peacefully and safely

As a Government, we have made a clear determination to deal with acts of criminality, whether they be cash-in-transit heists, extortion, illegal mining, gang violence, or related crimes.

Illegal mining is a form of criminality that has caused a great deal of anger and anguish in communities. To address this problem, we set up an illegal mining task force involving various parts of the security cluster. We also deployed personnel from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the work of the police.

For over a month now, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other Government agencies has been working to resolve a situation of several hundred illegal miners refusing to surface from an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein in the North West.

The miners, who entered the mine to conduct illegal mining operations, face arrest. The operation forms part of the nationwide Operation Vala Umgodi, which continues to register gains in cracking down on illicit mining activities across the country.

Law-enforcement authorities have information that some of the miners may be heavily armed. It is well-established that illegal miners are recruited by criminal gangs and form part of wider organised crime syndicates.

The hazardous nature of illicit and unregulated mining poses considerable risk in terms of the presence of explosives, the inhalation of toxic fumes and the possible collapse of unstable mine shafts. This endangers not only the illegal miners, but also our police and other law enforcement agencies.

Because of the many hazards such an operation poses, law enforcement agencies have been negotiating with the illegal miners since the stand-off began to get them to the surface and to safety.

Police, mine safety experts and emergency and rescue personnel remain at the scene. The situation is precarious, uncertain and potentially volatile.

As part of the operation, police had closed off the entrances the illegal miners use to transport their supplies underground. This has generated a great deal of public debate about the rights of illegal miners.

Acts of violence and intimidation of communities by illegal miners is well-documented. Some illegal miners have been implicated in serious and violent crimes, including murder and gang rape. Many are in the country illegally.

Illicit mining activity costs our economy billions of rands in lost export income, royalties and taxes.

Violence between rival gangs over the spoils of illicit mining has spilled over into surrounding communities and has cost a number of lives.

The hazardous materials used by illegal miners endanger the health of neighbouring communities. Last year, 16 people, including three children, were killed in an explosion in Boksburg in Gauteng linked to gas used by illegal miners to process gold. This was just one of many such accidents linked to illegal mining activity that has claimed the lives of both miners and innocent civilians.

We need to be clear that the activities of these miners are illegal. They pose a risk to our economy, communities and personal safety.

The Stilfontein mine is a crime scene where the offence of illegal mining is being committed. It is standard police practice everywhere to secure a crime scene and to block off escape routes that enable criminals to evade arrest.

In doing so, the police must take great care to ensure that lives are not put at risk and that the rights of all people are respected.

So far, more than 1,000 miners have surfaced and been arrested. Those who resurface are assessed by medical personnel on site. Those in good health are detained and will be processed according to the law. Those who require medical care will be taken to hospital under police guard.

The police will carry out their duties and responsibilities to bring the illegal miners to the surface safely. They will do all they can to reduce the risk of harm to the miners and to our law enforcement officials.

We will continue to work with the mining industry to ensure they take responsibility for rehabilitating or closing mines that are no longer operational.

As a country committed to the rule of law and dedicated to upholding the human rights of all, we will continue to work towards a peaceful resolution of the stand-off at Stilfontein.

With best regards,

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