Press Releases

Press Releases

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 28 OCTOBER 2024

 

Rail must be the backbone of public transport in South Africa

Dear Fellow South African, 

We have placed the growth of an inclusive economy and the creation of jobs at the centre of the work of the Government of National Unity. This is taking place alongside actions to tackle poverty and the high cost of living and to build a capable, developmental state.

These priorities are uppermost in our minds as we mark Transport Month this October. The efficient, safe and affordable movement of people and goods around the country is essential for economic growth and jobs. 

Goods that are produced by our workers need to move from mines, factories and farms to our country’s markets and international markets through our ports. People need to be transported to workplaces, clinics, hospitals and schools. When our transport system works well, then the cost of doing business is lowered and our country’s products and services are more competitive. 

Affordable public transport helps to reduce the cost of living for millions of South Africans. Our public transport system is in a poor state due to a lack of investment over many years, as well as theft and vandalism, especially during the COVID pandemic. Without affordable and reliable alternatives, households spend a large proportion of their income on transport. Fixing public transport therefore plays a big role in reducing poverty.

A particular area of focus for this Administration is the development of rail as the backbone of transport in South Africa. 

Much progress has been made in restoring urban passenger rail to full service. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has to date restored 31 out of 40 priority rail corridors back to operation. By March this year, 40 million passengers were using public trains, nearly three times more than the year before.

Last year we set up the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) to address our logistics challenges, particularly in a number of goods transportation corridors. Transnet, business and labour are working together to increase the volume of freight that is carried on our rail corridors to be transported to our ports. The NLCC is supporting the implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap. The roadmap covers areas such as the security of the rail network, operational improvements and capital investment.

It is expected that Transnet will finalise a Network Statement by the end of the year, which will facilitate access by third-party operators to our rail network. This will help to increase the volume of goods carried by rail. By 2029, our rail lines need to be transporting at least 250 million tonnes of freight a year.

While we attend to the immediate challenges, we are also looking ahead.

Work is underway to develop a National Rail Masterplan that will lay out the future for rail in South Africa. Among other things, the Masterplan will cover passenger rail in our cities, including rapid rail. It will also cover high speed rail over long distances between centres. The substantial work required to develop the Masterplan is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The achievement of our ambitious targets will require considerable investment in infrastructure, rolling stock and signalling. We will need to make use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, in areas like cargo tracking, passenger ticketing and securing critical infrastructure.

The Government alone will not be able to carry the scale of the investment needed. That is why we are working to mobilise private sector investment in rail and port operations, while ensuring that the infrastructure remains State-owned.

Not only does the development of rail reduce the cost and improve the reliability of transport for both people and goods. It also makes an important contribution to the reduction of our carbon emissions. Together with support for new technologies like electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells, we can make transport in this country far cleaner and more environmentally sustainable.

While we improve the reach and performance of rail, we need to properly integrate all modes of public transport so that passengers can move seamlessly from one destination to another. Transport planning and policy development must therefore take account of the contribution of all forms of transport. The Department of Transport is, for example, reviewing the approach to funding bus rapid transport programmes in municipalities and the taxi recapitalisation programme.

While we have achieved important progress in restoring our freight and passenger rail systems, we have much further to go. We will need far more investment, more effective use of technology and closer collaboration between all stakeholders.

We are now on the right track towards a public transport system that is safer, more efficient and more affordable – and that supports the growth of an inclusive economy, reduces poverty and creates employment.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 21 OCTOBER 2024

 

We must work to ensure that better prospects await the Class of 2024

Dear Fellow South African, 

Today is the start of the National Senior Certificate exams. Just over 880,000 candidates will sit this year’s matric exams.

On behalf of the government I wish all our learners well at this challenging and exciting time. These exams are the culmination of many years of hard work, perseverance and resilience, often in the face of difficult odds. 

The Class of 2024 entered Grade 8 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and have had to receive considerable learning support to overcome the resultant gaps in their learning.

As a nation, we are proud of the learners who will be rewriting the matric exam this year, having taken advantage of the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Programme. Your determination to improve your academic prospects does you credit. It is a life lesson on the importance of not giving up.

Over the past few weeks, learners have been engrossed in study. They have taken up opportunities for extra lessons, doing revision with their educators and attending the many learner support programmes being run by the provincial departments of education. 

Providing learners with the necessary resources to enable them to achieve quality pass rates is a collaborative effort between the Department of Basic Education, provincial education authorities, school governing bodies and families of learners.

I commend our nation’s educators for their commitment to our matriculants as they reach the end of their secondary school journey. At the annual National Teaching Awards ceremony earlier this month, I spoke of teachers as being like devoted gardeners, whose attention, guidance and encouragement nurtures our nation. The successes that the Class of 2024 will undoubtedly achieve will be in no small part due to the efforts of our country’s devoted teachers. 

All the necessary systems are in place to ensure the exam period goes smoothly. The Department of Basic Education and the qualification standards authority Umalusi have been hard at work auditing the more than 9,200 exam centres, appointing and vetting exam markers and approving question papers. These include adapted question papers for learners with special needs.

The department has put stringent conditions in place to minimise the potential for question paper leaks, fraud and cheating. Additional invigilators have been appointed, some examination centres will employ CCTV and security has been stepped up at exam venues to minimise disruptions.

I want to thank all the matric exam candidates across the country who have signed the NSC Examination Code of Conduct. This commits them to academic honesty during the exam.

The annual matric exam period is a period to reflect on the scale of the efforts to absorb these young people into economic activity once they have attained the results they have worked so hard for.

The unemployment rate among young people aged 15-24 stands at 60.8%, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey. 

Just as preparing our nation’s young people to achieve success in this exam is a collaborative effort, there is much more that partners like the private sector can do to hire young people.

We once again call on employers to relax the requirement of prior work experience, particularly for entry-level positions, and for entry into vocational occupations where young employees can be trained on the job.

Employers should take advantage of incentives to encourage them to hire more young people. These include various sectoral learnership agreements, discretionary grants for skills training, and the Employee Tax Incentive.

Recent business premises inspections by the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour have thrown into sharp relief the contentious issue of some employers preferring to employ foreign nationals and illegal immigrants. 

Employers must instead open up more opportunities for young South Africans entering the job market. They need to remember that by law they have to 
ensure that no suitable South African citizen or permanent resident is available to fill a position before employing a foreign national. This is established practice around the world.

As all of society, we have a responsibility to ensure that the morale of the Class of 2024 is boosted by knowing their hard work and sacrifices will be rewarded. 

Let us continue to work together to ensure that the latest cohort of matriculants find the opportunities for employment or further education and training that they deserve.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 14 OCTOBER 2024

Improved sentiment is rooted in real economic progress

Dear Fellow South African, 

Just over 100 days have passed since the members of the Government of National Unity were sworn into office. In that time, we have witnessed a marked increase in confidence in the direction of our country.

South Africans across society are increasingly rallying around the programme and work of the Government of National Unity. This is reflected in recent opinion polls. 

In one of these polls, conducted by Ipsos, it is said that the proportion of participants who believe that the country is heading in the right direction has doubled since the last surveys were conducted in April and June this year. 

There is also rising confidence in our country’s economic growth prospects by business and local and international investors. This was evident in the engagements I recently had with business leaders in Beijing and New York and that Deputy President Paul Mashatile had with business leaders in London. 

In September, the Bureau of Economic Research and Rand Merchant Bank published their first Business Confidence Index since the formation of the new administration. It points to “cautious optimism” about improving business conditions in key economic sectors. It says that improved electricity supply and political certainty following the elections has likely contributed to this improved business confidence.

So how important is this improved ‘sentiment’ for our economy and country?

Sentiment is more than a ‘warm and fuzzy’ feeling. It is made possible by real developments in the economy and the country. Business confidence goes beyond discussion in boardrooms and conference halls. It is about the interest that is shown in our economy by all investors, both local and offshore. Sentiment has a direct impact on people’s lives as it can manifest itself in increased investments that can result in job creation.

Improved investment sentiment will benefit our country’s fiscus. A stronger economic outlook will improve South Africa’s credit rating, which in turn will facilitate greater access to global capital markets and lower our borrowing costs. 

When we spend less money on debt servicing costs, government has more space to increase its expenditure on building public infrastructure and providing education, healthcare, basic services and social support.

Improved sentiment has boosted the value of our currency. This reduces the cost of imports such as oil, which reduces the cost of fuel. This in turn reduces the cost of living for all South Africans.

Increased business confidence attracts higher levels of private investment in the economy. When investors are more optimistic about their business prospects they are more likely to invest more capital and expand their existing operations. Improved confidence also encourages the start-up of new businesses. 

More business activity creates more jobs and opportunities for our people. As businesses grow, they need to hire more employees and are able to increase wages. 

When people are more secure about their jobs and income, they spend more on goods and services, which further stimulates economic activity. Government revenues are further boosted as revenue collection increases.

The improvement in sentiment is informed by the effective transition to a new administration with wide support across society and the continuation of the reform agenda started during the sixth democratic administration.

On the other hand, the sentiment is supported by actual progress in addressing some of the country’s most pressing economic and social challenges.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in the work done to resolve the energy crisis. The country has had more than 200 days without load shedding. This has made a considerable difference to the lives of citizens and the operations of businesses. This work has also unlocked unprecedented levels of investment in the energy sector.

The ongoing reforms in the logistics sector are improving the operational performance of our port and rail networks. This will have a positive effect not only on export industries and broader economic activity, but also on the lives of citizens. 

It is still early days for the Government of National Unity. The growth of our economy is still to pick up pace. However, a firm foundation is being laid, our growth prospects are being revised upwards and we are heading in the right direction. 

It is clear that the improved confidence of the South African people and the positive sentiment among investors are well-founded. Our task now is to work together to further encourage hope and optimism by making a real and substantial difference in the lives of all South Africans.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 7 OCTOBER 2024

After a year of untold suffering, the people of the Middle East need peace and justice

Dear Fellow South African, 

Today marks one year since the start of an onslaught against the Palestinian people that has thus far claimed more than 43,000 lives. The violence that has been committed by Israel against Palestinians over many decades intensified after an attack on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October last year. 

As South Africa, we have condemned the atrocities committed against civilians in Israel on 7 October 2023, as we have denounced the killing of civilians in any context.

The majority of those killed over the past year are Palestinian civilians, largely women and children in the besieged Gaza Strip. It is alarming that more Palestinians are also being killed in the West Bank due to Israeli Defence Force military activities. 

More than 1,000 Israelis were killed in the attacks of 7 October last year. Over 100 Israelis remain in captivity in Gaza. There are over 6,000 Palestinians who are languishing in Israeli jails. 

As South Africa, we have consistently called for a resolution to the conflict and the release of all the hostages abducted on 7 October 2023. We have also called for the release of all the prisoners unlawfully detained in Israel. We cannot but be moved by the plight of all the families who have loved ones in captivity. With negotiations to secure their release having once again stalled and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continuing, the conflict shows no signs of abating. 

Amid efforts by the international community to secure a ceasefire, the situation has been worsened by strikes by Israel on Lebanon and by Iran on Israel. Israel has vowed to retaliate against Iran and Iran has threatened to respond accordingly.

The escalating situation in the Middle East is of grave concern. It threatens to plunge the region into a war in which civilians will inevitably bear the greatest and the most cruel brunt of this conflict. As the UN Secretary-General has said, each escalation after the next is leading the people of the Middle East over the cliff. 

As South Africa, we remain committed to the peaceful resolution to ending the occupation of Palestine, to upholding the tenets of international law and to advancing social justice. 

We once again call for an immediate ceasefire that will end the suffering of the people of Gaza and allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in need. 

Beyond an immediate end to the onslaught against Gaza, there is an urgent need for action to stave off starvation and disease among the population. Considerable resources need to be directed to Gaza to start rebuilding infrastructure, housing, social services, agricultural production and economic activity.

In our address to the UN General Assembly last month, we called for international law to be applied consistently in holding to account all who have committed atrocities in this conflict, whether it is Israel or Hamas.

Later this month, we will file a memorial, which is South Africa’s full substantive case based on evidence, at the International Court of Justice. The memorial contains detailed evidence to prove that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in Palestine. We call on Israel to immediately implement the court’s provisional orders issued on 26 January, 28 March 2024 and 24 May 2024.

The reality is that this latest escalation is part of a pattern of violence that spans more than half a century resulting from the occupation of Palestine. Until the occupation is ended and a just and lasting solution is found that will protect the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, the region will remain a tinderbox of potential conflict and war. 

Israel has consistently declared that it aspires to live in peace and security with its neighbours. Yet its military occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 and its invasions of Lebanon in 1978, 1982 and 2006 undermine this aspiration. 

Israel’s most recent attacks on Lebanon have resulted in more than 2,000 deaths. Even as Israel claims it is using ‘targeted strikes’ against the Hezbollah armed group, civilians are bearing the greatest cost, as they have been in Gaza. 

A protracted regional conflict that leads to the loss of more innocent lives is something the Middle East and the world cannot afford. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and for the tenets of international law to be respected.

Just as the countries of the world need to work together to ensure that this conflict is not allowed to spread, the international community must be seized with efforts to end the violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

As we did in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks, we once again call on South Africans to continue to advocate for justice and peace. At the same we must continue to oppose all forms of racism, intolerance and prejudice, whether it is Antisemitism, Islamophobia or xenophobia. 

As a country we will continue to play our part in supporting all efforts to bring peace to the troubled Middle East region and to secure a just, lasting solution that ends the occupation of Palestine.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

The nations of the world agree on a Pact for the Future

Dear Fellow South African, 

We have just returned from representing South Africa at the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

The General Assembly was preceded by the Summit of the Future convened by the UN Secretary-General to forge a new international consensus on the most pressing issues facing our world today. There was a reflection on the current geopolitical situation that gives rise to the challenges that many countries are facing, including national security, peace, economic development and the high cost of living.

The Summit aimed to mobilise greater support for the achievement by 2030 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Many countries, particularly those with developing economies, are falling behind in meeting their targets, mainly due to a lack of funds. 

The situation was made worse when scarce resources had to be re-directed to fight the COVID pandemic. This has meant that targets on poverty eradication, quality healthcare and actions against climate change are far from being met.

The UN estimates that the world needs about $4 trillion to achieve these goals. Just as importantly, the leaders of the world need the political will to dedicate the necessary resources to where they are most needed.

The Summit culminated in the adoption of a Pact for the Future, which reaffirms that extreme poverty is the greatest global challenge. It seeks to hold member states to their existing commitments to support sustainable development. 

In South Africa's address to the UN General Assembly last week, I reiterated South Africa’s position that sustainable development can only be achieved when it is being driven by inclusive, responsive and agile multilateral institutions.

This means that bodies like the United Nations and financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund need to fundamentally reformed.

We saw, for example, how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the serious shortcomings of the international financial architecture. 

Low income countries struggled to get financial and other forms of assistance from multilateral institutions to support their pandemic response. Onerous lending requirements and overly bureaucratic systems meant that many poorer countries were unable to get help when they needed it most. 

Similarly, developing economy countries also struggle to get the funds they need, at sufficient scale, to respond to climate change and its impact. This is largely because the northern hemisphere countries that are largely responsible for the damage to the climate have not met the commitments they made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015.

For many countries in Africa and the Global South, the cost of servicing their debt is diverting much-needed funds for development. 

As South Africa, we endorsed the call made in the Pact for the Future for global financial institutions that are better, bigger and bolder, and are able to address the scale of the challenges facing the world.

The Pact for the Future presents the world with an opportunity not only to bridge the development divide, but also to reinvigorate the multilateral system. It is an opportunity to move forward on the long overdue reform of the global governance architecture, including the UN Security Council.

At a time when the threats to international peace and security are many and complex, we can no longer place the world’s security in the hands of a few major powers when all countries are affected. The current approach to world peace is unjust, unfair and unsustainable. The UN Security Council must therefore be more representative of the current membership of the United Nations.

The Pact for the Future commits member states to strengthen multilateral action towards a New Agenda for Peace. South Africa’s message was that there should be a reinforced focus on mediation and the political settlement of disputes. We must pursue the attainment of just and sustainable peace based on international law.

When South Africa assumes the Presidency of the G20 later this year, we will prioritise the needs and aspirations of our continent and the Global South. As a signatory to the Pact for the Future, we want people-driven, sustainable development to become a reality.

All the nations of the world have a right to development, and better resourced countries have a responsibility to support countries with developing economies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

As a society, we need to work together to ensure that development, poverty eradication and job creation remain at the centre of our national agenda. 

Alongside the other nations of the world, we need to speed up the pace of progress so that we can realise the aspirations of the Pact for the Future and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

This is vital if we are to succeed in building a better life for all our people. 

With best regards,
 

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 23 SEPTEMBER 2024

Our diverse heritage is one of our most valuable national assets

Dear Fellow South African, 

On Tuesday, 24 September, our country observes Heritage Day. On this day, we celebrate the rich cultural tapestry that makes up our nation. 

Having emerged from a painful apartheid past where indigenous customs, traditions and languages were denigrated and marginalised, Heritage Day is one of the most important events on our national calendar. 

It is a valuable opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and for building bridges of tolerance and understanding between races and different ethnic groups. 

I have always found it heartwarming to see how South Africans from all walks of life celebrate Heritage Day in their communities, schools, workplaces, places of worship and institutions of higher learning. 

It has become a regular facet of Heritage Day to see South Africans share their traditions, cuisine, dress, music and other forms of cultural expression with their compatriots. 

Beyond the benefits for cultural self-expression, pride and nation-building, heritage preservation is an important driver of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development. Heritage preservation it therefore recognised in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The UN Sustainable Development Goal on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable includes a target for ‘strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage’.

As a country we are perfectly placed to use our rich cultural and natural heritage to promote economic growth. 

South Africa is home to no less than eight world heritage sites proclaimed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). These include Robben Island, the Mapungubwe Heritage Site and the Cradle of Humankind and a number of important ecosystems like the Cape Floral Kingdom and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal. 

As one of the world’s most mega biodiverse countries, South Africa’s natural heritage attracts tourists from around the world, supporting local job creation and investment in natural resource infrastructure. By way of example, in December 2023 alone, there were more than 400,000 visitors to sites like the Table Mountain National Park and Robben Island. 

Coupled with this is an abundance of historical sites across the country that span the pre-colonial, colonial, apartheid and democratic eras. 

One thinks here of the likes of the Isandlwana Battlefield Route, which incorporates the sites of historic battles in KwaZulu-Natal, including the battle of Isandlwana in 1879 where the Zulu Kingdom achieved a famous victory over the British. One thinks of the Anglo-Boer War Museum in the Free State, which recalls the war between the British and the Boer republics of 1899-1902. There are also the various National Liberation Heritage Routes in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Limpopo, which incorporate historic sites that together chronicle our journey to freedom. 

These sites aren’t just important for tourism. They are also sites of memory and monuments to the past that serve to educate the younger generation of South Africans. 

To preserve our country’s rich heritage, we need to do more to attract young South Africans to careers and opportunities in the sector. Through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Heritage Council and the National Arts Council has provided unemployed young people with work opportunities in film and digital media production, cultural project management, storytelling, language preservation and as museum guides. 

While heritage preservation is a responsibility of Government, the private sector, corporate sponsors, philanthropies, heritage organisations and other stakeholders also have an important role to play in ensuring these legacies are safeguarded for future generations. 

Private sector support for heritage preservation is uneven. While some high-profile heritage sites like Robben Island, the Mandela House in Soweto, Constitution Hill and others receive donor funding, other less prominent institutions, events and initiatives struggle to obtain support. 

As a result many important sites of memory have fallen into disrepair. This is a wasted opportunity, because a number of these sites could stimulate local economies and provide work opportunities to the communities in which they are situated. Protecting and conserving historical, cultural and natural heritage sites is also vitally important for nation-building and national reconciliation. 

On this Heritage Day, I call on business and other stakeholders to work with Government in the cause of heritage preservation, particularly in marginalised communities. 

There is already laudable work being done in this regard. We have seen for instance how some of the country’s largest banks have supported Government’s rhino conservation efforts. South African corporates have also lent their support to preserving South Africa’s musical and arts heritage. Another fine example of support for heritage preservation is the Rieldans Festival in the Northern Cape held by the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV). 

By working together as Government, business and society, we can use our national heritage to uplift communities, create opportunities and make us all proud to be South African.

With best regards,

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

The people expect the Government of National Unity to succeed

Dear Fellow South African, 

On Wednesday last week, the leaders of the parties that form the Government of National Unity (GNU) met to reflect on how the GNU is working. 

Three months have passed since 10 parties represented in Parliament signed a Statement of Intent committing themselves to work together in Government and Parliament to advance the country’s interests. 

The parties agreed to certain fundamental principles, including to respect the Constitution and the rule of law and to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance. 

The parties also agreed on a common minimum programme that would form the basis of the work of the GNU. At its first Cabinet Lekgotla in mid-July, Ministers and Deputy Ministers drawn from the GNU partners, together with Directors-General and other officials, developed priority actions to give effect to the minimum programme. 

Since these priority actions were outlined in the Opening of Parliament Address on 18 July 2024, Ministers and Deputy Ministers have been hard at work to implement the tasks assigned to them. 

For a few Ministers and Deputy Ministers, being in the Executive is a new experience and for some it has been quite an adjustment. But with the support of their departments, they have all hit the ground running. Across all parties, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are making headway in confronting the challenges the country faces. 

What is significant – and most welcome – is that the members of the Executive have undertaken their work as part of a Cabinet collective. Although they are drawn from different parties, they have pursued the common GNU programme. They have worked in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration as Cabinet colleagues to serve the interests of the South African people. 

They have each understood their role in advancing the three strategic priorities of the 7th democratic administration. The priorities are clear – a commitment to drive inclusive growth and job creation. A clear focus to reduce poverty and to tackle the high cost of living. A resolve to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. Ministers and deputy ministers have been focused not on the interests of their respective parties, but on the common mandate they have received to build and develop the country.

There was general agreement among the party leaders last week that the GNU has made a good start. They believe that the GNU is working well and that everyone is playing a constructive role.

As party leaders, we nevertheless recognise that the parties in the GNU represent a range of political and ideological perspectives. There are issues on which we disagree and there will be times when differences between the parties will become more apparent.

A case in point has been the debate around the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which I signed into law last week. Even as the leaders were meeting last week, some parties in the GNU were publicly urging me not to sign the Bill, while others were saying that I should sign the Bill.

The Constitution is quite clear on the responsibilities of the President with respect to signing legislation. Once a Bill has been passed by Parliament, the President must either assent to the Bill or, if they have reservations about its constitutionality, refer it back to Parliament. Since, after considering all the various submissions, I had no such reservations about the BELA Bill, the Constitution obliged me to assent to it.

However, even as I signed the Bill, I noted that some of the parties in the GNU said they wanted to engage each other on parts of the bill dealing with issues of school admissions and language. To give the parties time to discuss these issues, I said we would delay implementation of the Act in order for parties to engage and come up with proposals, if any, on the relevant clauses.

In taking this approach, we are seeking to establish a culture of openness and dialogue among the GNU parties. We are also drawing on a long history in South Africa of engagement among parties on matters on which they seem far apart. 

As times, agreement can be reached when matters come to a head at the last minute enabling all parties to focus on finding solutions and discovering that there is more that unites them than what separates them. We cannot guarantee that the parties that have requested timeout to engage will reach agreement on every difficult issue. But we need to make every effort to find common ground.

Following the meeting of party leaders last week, I am even more convinced that the GNU is essential for the growth and development of the country. 

I am convinced that the GNU will not only survive, but that it will thrive.

South Africans expect the GNU to succeed, and we will not let them down.

With best regards,
 

 

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 9 SEPTEMBER 2024

Relations between China and South Africa enter a new era of opportunity

Dear Fellow South African,   

We have recently returned from Beijing, where we attended the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which brought together heads of state and government from across the continent. The summit was preceded by my second state visit to the People’s Republic of China where a number of Cabinet ministers and myself were hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A number of Ministers and myself had an opportunity during the visit to meet several Chinese companies that operate in South Africa or are looking at opportunities in our country.

One of these companies was Hisense, a Chinese electronics manufacturer that has been part of an exciting South African success story. 

Just over 10 years ago, Hisense established a R350 million manufacturing plant in Atlantis Industrial Park in the Western Cape. Having grown into a prominent brand in the South African market, Hisense is now exporting some of its products to other African countries and the United Kingdom from its Atlantis plant.

The company reports that it has created over 1,000 direct and over 5,000 indirect jobs in Atlantis. Local producers are prioritised for the company’s packaging needs. Hisense provides on the job skills training to its workforce and has a skills transfer programme between China and South Africa for technicians and engineers. 

The Hisense story shows the great potential that exists for investment in advanced manufacturing in South Africa and to reach a far broader continental market. It is also a good example of job creation, skills development and technology transfer.

Hisense is just one of a growing number of Chinese companies that are expanding their footprint in South Africa, bringing much-needed investment and jobs. I met with other Chinese companies that are looking to invest in South Africa, particularly in the areas of energy, infrastructure, technology and advanced manufacturing.

During the state visit, China and South Africa agreed to upgrade our relationship to an All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era. This signifies the strengthening of the political, economic and social ties between the two countries.

China is our largest trading partner, having overtaken the European Union in 2023. However, there is an imbalance in the structure of our trade. South Africa exports mainly minerals and agricultural products to China and imports largely manufactured products from China. 

During our discussion, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his support for the development of South Africa’s manufacturing capacity and to receive greater volumes of finished goods from South Africa.

President Xi has committed China to open its markets to more South African products and would seek to further broaden the frontiers for Chinese investment in the South African economy.  

We are particularly encouraged at the potential of greater cooperation, investment and trade between our two countries in pursuit of low-carbon, climate resilient economic growth. For example, South Africa has investment opportunities in the electric vehicle sector, renewable energy, green hydrogen and energy storage – and China as a proven track record in developing innovative solutions in these areas. 

There is also great potential, and much interest, for Chinese private commercial firms, state-owned enterprises and banks to invest in our country’s infrastructure build programme. This aligns with our plans to modernise our infrastructure by investing in the expansion of ports, rail and road networks.

Investment does not only flow in one direction. I also met with South African companies operating in China. They have found that South African and Chinese companies can complement each other well, and have both benefited from an exchange of expertise and technology.

The value of such cooperation extends beyond our two countries. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will provide access to a market of over 1.3 billion people, provides an even greater incentive for investment by China and other countries in Africa’s manufacturing capacity.

This was underlined during the FOCAC summit attended by more than 50 African countries, where President Xi announced ten partnership actions that China would take together with African countries to support the modernisation of their economies. These actions cover areas like trade, industrial development, agriculture, health and infrastructure. 

At a time when African economies are growing closer together, China’s technological capabilities can support Africa’s industrialisation and enable the continent to export more than just raw commodities.

The strengthening of ties with major trading partners like China continues to yield benefits for the South African economy and people. The Hisense investment in Atlantis is a case in point, with many other companies following its lead.

It is clear that relations between South Africa and China have entered a new era of opportunity. Our visit has strengthened trade and investment ties and cemented our shared commitment to grow our economy, create jobs and advance prosperity for the people of our two countries.

With best regards,
 

Signature

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT - 2 SEPTEMBER 2024

Eskom is showing the way towards the empowerment of women in the workplace

Dear Fellow South African,  

We have just ended Women’s Month, in which we have celebrated the achievements of South Africa’s women across many areas of life. 

We have recognised the great progress that has been made in improving the position of women in our society. We have also recognised the many challenges that still remain and the tasks that we must undertake to build a truly non-sexist and equal society.

At the same time, the country has gone more than 150 days without load shedding. This is in large part due to the concerted efforts of the leadership and staff of Eskom to improve the performance of its power stations.

While there is much attention on what Eskom is doing to stabilise our electricity system, another significant change has been quietly underway at the company over the course of the last few years. Women are taking a more prominent role in the work of Eskom and are playing a pivotal role in keeping the country’s lights on.

Two years ago I met with Eskom’s power station managers and I was pleased to see that a number of them were women. I found this to be a complete departure from the past where power station managers were always white men. This represented tremendous transformation on a demographic as well as gender basis.

The inspiring story of Maserati Lesolang, the general manager of the Matla power station in Mpumalanga, is a demonstration of Eskom’s successes in growing a new generation of female leaders. Under Lesolang’s able leadership, Matla power station has implemented a turnaround plan resulting in it now being among Eskom’s better performing power stations.

At a number of state-owned enterprises, women are excelling not only in management and leadership positions, but also in technical roles and occupations that were previously the preserve of men. 

Within Eskom itself, women are working as power station managers, engineers, artisans, operators and technicians.  

This is the result of a deliberate and sustained initiative to increase female representation in the form of Eskom’s Women Advancement Programme. The programme was launched ten years ago to redress the under-representation of women in leadership and technical roles at Eskom.  

The programme’s focus has been on creating a pipeline of female leaders. It has also focused on transforming workplace culture to make it more gender-friendly, on skilling and training more women to occupy specialist roles, to conduct outreach in communities where Eskom operates, and to address issues of equal work for equal pay. 

Among the achievements of the programme since its inception has been that just over 33% of Eskom’s workforce is now female, 20% of Eskom executives are women, and women occupy approximately 43% of senior management roles. This is important progress, but there is still same way to go to achieve gender parity.

Eskom has succeeded in narrowing the gender pay gap from 41% to below 6%. The company’s procurement spend on black-women owned businesses has increased from R6 billion in 2013 to over R16 billion by 2022. 

The national power utility continues to invest heavily in skilling and training for women, with just over half of further study opportunities at Eskom taken up by women. 

Another key focus area of the programme is conducting outreach at schools and in communities to encourage female learners to consider future careers at Eskom.

Earlier this year Eskom also launched a Young Professionals Development Programme, a graduate trainee programme that places participants in positions across the span of its operations. Eskom has made a concerted effort to encourage female graduates to apply. 

We call on other companies, both public and private, to put in place deliberate programmes to eradicate workplace discrimination and make workplaces more conducive to women’s participation and development. Companies need to empower women in decision-making and technical roles. This is to ensure that every workplace and every occupation reflects the demographics of our country. 

We must commend the leadership of Eskom and of other state-owned entities, as well as many other businesses, for all they are doing to advance gender equality in the workplace.

By continuing and intensifying this work, we can make sure that we have more and more to celebrate during Women’s Month in the years to come.

With best regards,
 

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