Category: President of South Africa

Source: President of South Africa –

Headline: President Ramaphosa urges South Africa to #PressforProgress in 2018

South Africa joins the international community in observing International Women’s Day today, Thursday 8 March 2018, under the theme #PressforProgress.
 
International Women’s Day has been a global institution focused on equality for women since it was first observed by the Suffragettes in 1911.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to use International Women’s Day 2018 to decide what they can do in their personal lives, communities, businesses and organisations to advance all aspects of gender equality.
 
President Ramaphosa said South Africans should dedicate International Women’s Day 2018 to the memory of Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu, whose centenary is being celebrated this year. She was a courageous leader both of the struggle for national liberation and of the struggle for gender emancipation.
 
“We have a responsibility to the memory of Ma Sisulu and to the many women who walked alongside her to intensify the struggle for gender equality in all areas of life.”
 
“We must work together to significantly improve the status of women – and especially young women – in the economy, ensuring that we achieve gender parity. Women must be equally represented in the workplace and must receive equal pay,” he said.
 
President Ramaphosa said society needs to tackle the economic and social factors that prevent young women from completing school and accessing further education. Government will strengthen the support it provides to women entrepreneurs and business people.
 
President Ramaphosa said the success of society’s efforts to grow the economy and create jobs will be measured in large part by the impact it has on the lives of South African women.
 
President Ramaphosa said: “South Africa has made great strides since the advent of democracy to advance and affirm women as part of building a non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and united country.
 
“At the same time, we are confronted with the reality of women continuing to experience discrimination and disadvantage at home and in the workplace.
 
“The renewal off our country must entail a renewal of societal values that will position women and men alongside one another in a nation of equals. Patriarchy has no place in the South Africa we are building today.”
 
President Ramaphosa urges South Africans from all walks of life to join the global campaign, #PressforProgress, and play an active part in creating a better life for women in the country and around the world.
 
 
Enquiries: Acting Spokesperson, Tyrone Seale on 083 575 7440

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Headline: President Cyril Ramaphosa briefs Moody’s Investors Service on South Africa’s work to secur

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions today,
Wednesday, 07 March 2018, with Moody’s Investors Service on the various initiatives underway to accelerate economic growth and create jobs.

Moody’s Investors Service is a provider of credit ratings, research and risk analysis. This was the first time the agency has interacted with President Ramaphosa since he was elected President on 15 February 2018.

In today’s meeting at Tuynhuys in Cape Town, President Ramaphosa described the new mood of hope, renewal and unity in South Africa and the enthusiasm of its people to contribute to change and development.

President Ramaphosa said this new enthusiasm was anchoring all efforts to confront the challenges facing South Africa, including government’s initiatives to increase investor confidence and reduce policy and regulatory uncertainty.

Fresh consultations on the Mining Charter, recent measures to strengthen Cabinet, changes in the board and management of the power utility, Eskom, and an inquiry into state capture formed part of government’s invitation to investors to come to South Africa.

President Ramaphosa underlined government’s determination to build a social compact of government, labour, business and civil society to advance investment, youth employment and community development.

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed that accelerated land reform will unfold within a clear legal framework and without negatively affecting economic growth, agricultural production and food security.

President Ramaphosa said job creation was government’s most important priority and failure to create such opportunities constituted the greatest risk to the country.

Moody’s is due to announce its latest outlook on South Africa on 23 March 2018.

Enquiries: Acting Spokesperson, Tyrone Seale on 083 575 7440

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Headline: Presidency encouraged by 2017 Q4 GDP growth

The Presidency welcomes, on behalf of all South Africans, the Statistics South Africa finding that gross domestic product growth in Quarter 4 of 2017 reached 3.1%.

While GDP growth remains subject to a broad range of market factors and can fluctuate based on such factors, the Quarter 4 improvement should motivate all South Africans.

The Quarter 4 figure does suggest the economy is taking a turn for the better thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders in our economy.

It is also a very appropriate accompaniment to the positive sentiment with which South Africans and the global community are embracing South Africa’s current renewal.

The Presidency hopes that growth of the kind experienced in Quarter 4 will be sustained and that it will translate into meaningful job creation.

Enquiries: Acting Spokesperson, Tyrone Seale on 083 575 7440

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Headline: President Cyril Ramaphosa engages with the Department of International Relations and Coope

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) at Oliver Tambo House, Rietondale, Pretoria, today, Tuesday 06 March, as part of his undertaking in the 2018 State of the Nation Address to engage with government departments.

Today’s engagement took the form of an extended briefing by DIRCO to President Ramaphosa on South Africa’s foreign policy priorities and key international engagements that will form part of the President’s schedule in the coming months.

The occasion also gave President Ramaphosa an opportunity meet the political leadership, senior management and staff of DIRCO.

President Ramaphosa, who was accompanied by Presidency Director-General Dr Cassius Lubisi, advisers and officials, was received by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and Deputy Ministers Llewellyn Landers and Reginah Mhaule.

President Ramaphosa underscored the centrality of DIRCO – “as the face and mirror of our country” – in solidifying South Africa’s position in the region, continent and the world and sustaining the pursuit of a better South Africa in a better Africa and a better world.

The President called on the Department to use South Africa’s diplomatic presence in the world to attract investment and facilitate greater volumes of trade. 

Minister Sisulu committed that DIRCO would in 2018, as the year of Founding President Nelson Mandela’s centenary, advance regionally, continentally and globally Madiba’s values of resolving international disputes through peaceful means.

Enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson on 083 5757 440

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria