Category: President of South Africa

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 02 November 2023, engage with Members of Parliament (MPs) on diverse national issues when he responds to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly.
 
Among issues MPs have raised with the President are:

• ​the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and its accountability to Parliament;
•​ commissions of inquiry established by the President;
• ​combating violence against women and children;
• ​insights gained from the Census 2022 for macro-economic policy;
• ​fiscal discipline within Government.
 
The President will also discuss the state of readiness of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its capacity to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
 
Parliamentary Questions for Oral and Written Reply are one of the mechanisms through which Parliament holds the Executive to account.
 
The Questions session will start at 14h00.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za  
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 31 October 2023, participate in a virtual Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government.

The summit will, amongst others, consider a report regarding the impending deployment of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

The Heads of State and Government will also consider the report of the Chiefs of Defence Forces of the Quadripartite Members on Coordination and Harmonization of Regional Peace Initiatives in Eastern DRC.

The leaders will also receive an update on Elections in the region.

The Summit will be chaired by H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of SADC.

The Summit will commence at 10h00 (SAST).

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Fellow South Africans,
 
On Saturday night, South Africans watched with pride and joy as our national rugby team, the Springboks, became the world champions for the fourth time since the advent of democracy in our country.
 
As we all watched their progress towards the championship, we marvelled at their resilience and determination to overcome some of the best teams in the rugby world.
 
At moments when their cause seemed lost, they fought back and they emerged victorious. 

This victory rightfully calls for a moment of national recognition and celebration of our rugby players and their achievements.
 
We should also applaud our cricket team, the Proteas, who have been performing well in the Cricket World Cup. I spoke to the Proteas captain, Temba Bavuma, and encouraged them to remain focused and told him that the entire nation supports and stands behind them. I also told him that I intend to travel to Mumbai in India to watch them play in the finals. 
 
As we confront the many severe challenges in our country, we draw hope and encouragement from the determination and the performance the Springboks and the Proteas have displayed.
 
The victory by the Springboks and the performance of the Proteas follows the victory of Banyana Banyana in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and their progress to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Our spirits were similarly lifted by the achievements of our national squad at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in June.

The determination and resilience of our teams have given credence to Madiba’s words that sports unites the nation. 

In their achievements, they have revealed much about the unity of the people of the country they represent.
 
As a people, we have shown before what is possible when we are united, when we are determined, when we try hard and when we refuse to give up. 

Together, we overcame apartheid, ended centuries of conflict and gave birth to a thriving democracy.

Together, we confronted and overcame the deadliest global pandemic in over a century. 
 
We are indeed stronger together.
 
As we reflect on these great achievements on the sporting field, we also need to reflect on our economic recovery and the further steps that we are taking to revive economic growth and improve the lives of our people.
 
As the latest census figures show, we have achieved great feats of human development since the beginning of democracy. 
 
Millions of South Africans have been raised out of poverty and now have housing and access to electricity, water, sanitation and other basic needs. Access to health care and education have been greatly expanded. 

Much more still needs to be done to make more progress.
 
Even over the last 10 years, we have been able to make significant strides.
 
For example, the percentage of households in formal dwellings rose from 78 percent in 2011 to 89 percent in 2022.
 
This is evidence of concrete progress, and should give us encouragement as we confront the challenges of the present.
 
This month, we mark three years since we embarked on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which outlined the actions that we would take to rebuild our economy and create jobs in the wake of the pandemic. 

This recovery plan was accepted by many stakeholders in our country and is underpinned by our National Development Plan.
 
The last three years have been extremely challenging. 
 
We are emerging from more than a decade of stagnant economic growth, compounded by the impact of the pandemic. 
 
We are working to reverse the legacy of the past era of corruption and mismanagement of our state-owned enterprises, which has left us with a persistent energy crisis and an inefficient ports and rail network.
 
And we are contending with a range of global and domestic pressures which have set back our economic recovery.
 
And yet, there are clear signs that our efforts are showing results.
 
– Electricity supply is improving. 
– Jobs are being created. 
– Houses, roads, bridges and dams are under construction. 
– Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on criminal syndicates. 
– The proceeds of state capture are being recovered.
 
These are reasons for hope.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, we put in place decisive public health interventions that saved many lives. 

To deal with negative economic effects of the pandemic, which resulted in the loss of more than 2 million jobs, we put in place an unprecedented stimulus package that lessened the damage to the economy.
 
Since then, in the midst of severe load shedding and increased global volatility, the economy has continued growing, albeit too slowly. The economy has shown a significant degree of resilience and is now larger than it was before the pandemic.
 
Over the last two years, the number of people with jobs has increased by two million, bringing the level of employment close to its pre-pandemic level.
 
A key element of the reconstruction and recovery plan was to expand social protection and public employment.
 
The special SRD Grant known as the R350 grant, which we introduced in 2020, has kept millions of people out of poverty, and continues to provide much-needed support for those who are unemployed.
 
The Presidential Employment Stimulus has created over 1.2 million opportunities since its establishment, representing the largest expansion of public employment in South Africa’s history.
 
Over 4 million young people have registered on the SAYouth online platform, and more than 1 million of these have been able to access opportunities for learning and earning.
 
Every one of those jobs created is a reason for hope. Every person who no longer lives in poverty is a reason for hope.

Another commitment we made in the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan was to fix South Africa’s infrastructure through renewed investment in maintenance and construction of new projects.
 
Several significant infrastructure projects are underway. These projects are both contributing to greater economic activity and jobs, and providing much-needed infrastructure for the growth of our economy and the needs of our people.
 
These infrastructure projects range from social housing, road construction, rural bridges, and dam constructions. 

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has to date restored operations on 26 out of 40 commuter rail corridors. To continue with the restoration of our commuter rail corridors, R50 billion will be spent over the next three years to modernise our passenger rail network.

As part of our infrastructure build we are undertaking significant water infrastructure projects. These include Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, 
 
The Mzimvubu water project in the Eastern Cape will involve an investment of R17 billion.
 
Around the country, water treatment works are being upgraded, pumping stations are being repaired, and pipes are being laid to get water to under-serviced areas.
 
We are making progress towards ending load shedding. 

Our greatest priority has been to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding to achieve energy security.
 
Over the last few months, there has been a measurable decline in the severity of load shedding. 
 
The Energy Action Plan that I announced in July last year is showing positive results, giving us greater confidence that we will bring load shedding to an end. 
 
Regulatory reforms we have initiated have enabled a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation, with over 12 000 MW of confirmed projects in development. 
 
Following the introduction of tax incentives and financing mechanisms, the amount of installed rooftop solar has more than doubled to over 4 500 MW in the last year.
 
The steady progress we are making in resolving the energy crisis is a reason for hope.

We are making progress in restoring our logistics system to world-class standards, so that we can export South African goods to global markets.
 
The National Logistics Crisis Committee is overseeing a range of interventions to stabilise and improve the performance of the logistics system in the short term, in addition to ongoing reform to improve its efficiency and competitiveness in the long term. 
 
The Transnet board has developed a turnaround plan which aims to increase volumes transported on our network.
 
Progress is also being made with the introduction of private sector participation in container terminals.
 
I want to make it clear that South Africa’s port, rail and electricity infrastructure are strategic national assets, and that they will remain in public ownership.
 
However, introducing competition in operations – both in electricity and in logistics – will create greater efficiency and reduce prices in the long term, just as the introduction of competition in the telecommunications sector has led to greater choice and enormous benefits for consumers.
 
We are also making progress in tackling crime and corruption.

The South African Police Service has established 20 Economic Infrastructure Task Teams throughout the country to protect critical infrastructure and tackle the “construction mafia.” We are seeing results in arrests for illegal mining, cash-in-transit hikes, cable theft, drug smuggling and similar crimes. 

Increasing the number of police men and women will further strengthen our capacity to curb acts of criminality. 

I have also extended the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to support the police in combating criminal activity that targets critical economic infrastructure.

The police have arrested several people for extortion at construction sites and made over 3,000 arrests for illegal mining.
 
Through the intensive efforts of our law enforcement agencies, dozens of illegal mines, unregulated coal yards and unregistered second hand dealers have been shut down.

The Economic Infrastructure Task Teams have confiscated significant quantities of copper cable, rail tracks, coal and other metals.

Every arrest made and every length of cable recovered is a reason for hope.

We are making progress in the fight against corruption, including bringing those responsible for state capture to justice.
 
Over the last four years, the NPA Investigating Directorate has taken 34 state capture and corruption cases to court, involving 205 accused persons.
 
Freezing orders of R14 billion have now been granted to the Asset Forfeiture Unit for state capture related cases. Around R5.4 billion has to date been recovered and returned to the state.
 
As recommended by the State Capture Commission, we are putting in place laws, institutions and practices that reduce the potential for corruption of any sort and on any scale.
 
We are continuing to build meaningful compacts with key stakeholders in a number of areas. 

To support our efforts of enhancing collaboration, we have established a partnership with business to work together in four critical areas – energy, logistics, crime and corruption, and employment. 
 
We continue to collaborate with organised labour and civil society to ensure a whole-of-society approach to addressing the most important challenges our country faces.
 
All of this gives us hope that we are turning the tide on the many challenges that we face.

Our economic challenges are severe.

 Despite the progress we are making, poverty, inequality and unemployment remain high. 

We continue to face domestic and global pressures, and our economy is growing too slowly for us to overcome the challenges facing our country.
 
Load shedding has constrained economic growth. The underperformance of the ports and rail network is affecting our ability to get exports to market.
 
Government spending has exceeded revenue since the 2008 global financial crisis, without a commensurate increase in economic growth.
 
As the Minister of Finance has noted, for every Rand that Government collects in revenue, 18 cents go towards servicing our national debt. 
 
This means that we are now paying more in interest on our national debt than we are budgeting for the police force. 
 
Ultimately, more rapid and inclusive growth is the only solution to unemployment, poverty and inequality. Growth is also necessary for the sustainability of public finances. 
 
Building on the progress we have already made, Government will accelerate the implementation of economic reforms over the next six months. 
 
To address the weaknesses in many of our municipalities, we are undertaking interventions in local government.
 
As national Government, we are driving a number of interventions to support a rapid turn-around in local government services such as water and sanitation, electricity, roads and waste collection. 
 
These interventions are accelerating service delivery where basic services have collapsed.
 
While addressing the immediate problems, we are introducing necessary institutional reforms and professionalisation in the appointment of senior municipal officials.
 
The achievement of sustained and inclusive growth requires a stable macroeconomic environment. 
 
A sustainable fiscal trajectory is a precondition for growth.
 
We therefore remain absolutely committed to stabilising our levels of debt and adopting a responsible fiscal policy.
 
The Minister of Finance will set out Government’s plans to achieve this trajectory in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday.
 
Spending on health, education, policing, and other essential services will be protected as far as possible.
 
As we move to target spending on programmes that are working for the poor, we need to acknowledge that our social grants, including the SRD Grant, as well as our public employment programmes, are vital in supporting those who are vulnerable. 

These programmes have not only reduced poverty, but have enabled recipients to search for jobs and to engage in other economic activity to support their livelihoods. 

The Minister of Finance will provide more details of these and other spending priorities when he presents the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday.

Today marks the start of the 2023 National Senior Certificate exams for close on one million learners. 
 
Over the next weeks, our learners will prove the value of hard work, dedication and the investment that we have made as a nation in the education of our young people.
 
We wish them the very best, confident that they will make the country proud.
 
There are many reasons for hope. We have made significant progress in reforming our economy to make it more inclusive and to achieve a higher rate of growth.
 
We are on track to resolve the most important constraints on economic growth by stabilising our energy supply and fixing our logistics network.
 
The reforms underway will propel economic growth in South Africa in the years to come, resulting in a stable supply of electricity, a working railway, and more jobs for all South Africans.
 
On our way to rebuilding our economy there are a number of strengths that stand us in good stead. We have a strong and sophisticated financial sector, a strong and effective civil society, a functional democracy, an independent Judiciary, a stable macroeconomic framework underpinned by a capable National Treasury and an independent Reserve Bank.
 
We have collectively embarked on a journey of economic reform which will set our country on a path to higher growth and more jobs. The concerted efforts of all South Africans are starting to show results in many areas.
 
If we take a short term view of our current challenges, we may not see the transformation that is underway or the benefits that these reforms will have for our country. 
 
I am confident that through the actions we are taking now, we will overcome the challenges we face and build a society that works for all of its people.
 
We have much more to do. But like the Springboks, we have the determination and commitment to overcome any challenge.
 
Our victorious Springboks will return home tomorrow. 

We will welcome them with great joy and jubilation. They will conduct a victory tour around the country and I will receive them at the Union Buildings later this week. 

I want us to now rally behind the Proteas in the same way as we have given our support to the Springboks. 

I want us all to embark on a period of celebration culminating in a celebratory holiday after our matriculants have finished their exams and the Proteas have done the country proud at the Cricket World Cup. 

I know that many of us want us to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards. 

In celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement and the achievements of all our other sports men and women – and as a tribute to the resolve of our united nation – I am declaring Friday the 15th of December 2023 as a public holiday.
 
We declare this to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity.

Our sports men and women have shown us what is possible.

We will succeed and we will ensure that we leave no-one behind.
 
I thank you.

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 30 October 2023, address the Nation.

eNCA will provide a feed to all media and PresidencyZA will live stream the proceedings.
 
Date: Monday, 30 October 2023
Time: 20h00

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

On behalf the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa commends the Springboks on their Rugby World Cup 2023 victory over New Zealand which makes South Africa the first country to win this championship four times.

The President offers his congratulations to the team who performed at the Stade de France this evening, Saturday, 28 October 2023, as well as coaching team, the broader squad and the team management and technical and support staff.

The President said: “Stronger Together is a belief that came to life for Springbok supporters all around our country and continent, and the world.

“Sport has the power to transform the lives and lift the spirits of entire nations.

“Tonight, Siya Kolisi and the 2023 World Cup champions have gifted us an extraordinary, inspired and inspiring national achievement that lifts our hearts and hoists our Flag even higher.”

President Ramaphosa offers his congratulations to New Zealand for a hard-fought World Cup campaign that made the All Blacks deserving finalists. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning, 28 October 2023, arrived in the French Republic to cheer on and wholeheartedly back the Springboks in their quest to retain the Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup. 

The Springboks will kick off against New Zealand at the Stade de France where the spectacle of rugby will be enjoyed by a global audience. Kickoff is set for 21h00 this evening. 

Ahead of the highly anticipated final, the President will interact with the Springbok team to wish them well and inspire them to victory. The Springboks have inspired all South Africans and the world with their fighting spirit that they have displayed over the course of the tournament which has transcended the sport of rugby. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will before kick off hold a pull aside bilateral meeting with the President of the French Republic, His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Friday, 27 October 2023, lead an oversight visit to Emfuleni Local municipality in Gauteng to assess progress and steps taken to improve service delivery.

The municipality has faced difficulties in the provision of water services, leading the national Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene and effect upgrades and improvements to critical bulk pipelines and pump stations infrastructure.

The President’s visit to Emfuleni will be undertaken within the context of the District Development Model (DDM), which aims to improve cooperative governance through integrated intergovernmental planning and budgeting.

President Ramaphosa will visit the area’s waste water treatment plant and highway pump stations before meeting with stakeholders in the area.

A media pool arrangement will be in place and the event will be streamed across various government social media platforms.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@enquires.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Good afternoon and welcome to members of the media and my colleagues.

Thank you for joining me at this briefing today where I will provide a brief update on key engagements on the President’s diary over the coming days.

I would like to begin with tomorrow, Thursday, 27 October when the President will lead an oversight visit by government to the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng. 

This municipality incorporates such areas as Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Sharpeville, Sebokeng, Boipatong and others. The economically and socially important Vaal River also flows through this area.

The President and a number of Ministers as well provincial and municipal leadership will assess progress in improvements to service delivery, as well as challenges that remain.

The municipality has faced difficulties in the provision of water services, leading the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene to upgrade critical bulk pipelines and pump stations infrastructure.

The President’s visit takes place in the context of the District Development Model (DDM), which aims to improve cooperative governance through integrated intergovernmental planning and budgeting.

It’s also a fulfilment of a commitment made by the President that he would visit all provinces as part of the “Leave No One Behind”* District Development Model series of Presidential Izimbizo.

The President will visit a water treatment plant, a waste water treatment plant and a highway pump station before meeting with stakeholders in the area.

A media pool arrangement will be in place and the event will be streamed across various government social media platforms.

RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL

Tomorrow – Friday, 27 October – the President will travel to Paris, France, to support the Springboks in their quest on Saturday the 28th of October to retain the Rugby World Cup Webb Ellis Trophy.

Of course, the President is really looking to be invited onto the pitch a second time by Siya Kolisi to help lift the Cup for the world champions. This will be the first time any country will hold 4 Rugby World Cup titles.

The President wishes the Springboks and the All Blacks well for this showcase which we hope will be memorable for the in-stadium audience and the global media audience.

PROGRAMME IN PARLIAMENT

On Wednesday, 1 November, the President will attend Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s delivery of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement – or MTBPS – to Parliament.

The MTBPS sets government priorities and goals; forecasts the macroeconomic trajectory, and projects the fiscal framework over the next three years by outlining spending and revenue estimates, among others.

On Thursday, 2 November, the President will respond to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly.

The President will engage with Members of Parliament on:

•    the accountability of the South African Reserve Bank to Parliament;
•    Progress in the deliberations of the Remuneration Review Commission for the 2023/2024 period;
•    Protection of women and children against violence,
•    Implications of the insights gained from the Census 2022 for Government’s macro-economic policy, as well as
•    Fiscal discipline within government. 

20TH AGOA FORUM

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 03 November 2023 host the 20th AGOA Forum at Nasrec, Johannesburg.

The AGOA Forum serves as a vital platform for the United States to build on the success of the Africa Leaders’ Summit and further enhance the economic partnership with African states, under the aegis of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act that was approved by the US Congress in May 2000.

During the Forum, President Joe Biden and President Cyril Ramaphosa will engage in discussions on shared priorities, reaffirm the Administration’s commitment to the continent, and explore opportunities to make AGOA more transformative as they deepen trade and investment relations with Sub-Saharan African countries.

The gathering will bring together governments from the United States and AGOA-eligible countries, along with representatives from key regional economic organizations, the private sector, civil society, and labour.

Over the course of the event, participants will delve into conversations about strengthening trade and investment ties between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on promoting resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth and development.

The AGOA Forum will also feature the ‘Made in Africa Exhibition,’ showcasing regional value chains on the continent, highlighting the diverse and growing industries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

AGOA, which has played a crucial role in promoting the export of African goods to the United States, remains a key driver of economic growth and development. An extension of AGOA beyond 2025 is expected to promote inward investment in Africa and provide mutual benefits to the United States and African countries. This extension will further support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), covering 54 countries and 1.4 billion people.

Benefits of AGOA for South Africa:

•    In 2022, South African exports under the Most Favoured Nation system accounted for the largest share and export value of the country’s total exports to the US market, steadily growing from US$5.6 billion in 2011 to US$12.7 billion in 2022.
•    Trade under AGOA accounted for approximately 21% of South Africa’s total exports to the United States in 2022, increasing in value from US$2.0 billion in 2021 to US$3.0 billion in 2022.
•    South African exports under the Generalised System of Preferences programme dropped significantly, accounting for about 4% of total exports to the US in 2022.
•    South Africa enjoyed a trade surplus of $8.0 billion in 2022.
•    AGOA exports from South Africa include commodities and value-added products.
•    The leading South African exports to the US in 2021 included vehicles, iron and steel, edible fruits, organic chemicals, and precious stones.
•    AGOA exports represented 21% of total South African exports in 2022, up from 13% in 2021.
•    The decline in AGOA exports can be attributed to various factors, including section 232 tariffs affecting steel and aluminium exports.
•    Major AGOA beneficiary sectors for South Africa in 2021 included vehicles, iron and steel, edible fruits, organic chemicals, and precious stones.
•    AGOA has been estimated to create numerous jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa benefiting from the creation of 62,395 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

Since its inception in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been pivotal in strengthening economic ties and promoting growth and development across the African continent. 

AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements include establishing a market-based economy, upholding the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process. 

AGOA has opened up new market opportunities, facilitated economic growth, encouraged economic and political reform, and improved economic relations between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

It remains a cornerstone of United States economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@enquires.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Chairperson of the House,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Members of the Media,
Fellow South Africans,  
 
Thank you for this opportunity to address parliament to appraise the house and, by extension, the nation on the successes of the implementation of the energy action plan and the associated short to medium-term interventions to limit the intensity and frequency of load shedding.

The national energy crisis continues to be the single biggest existential challenge in post-apartheid South Africa, and we must continue to harness all efforts to arrest further haemorrhaging caused by loadshedding to our economy and the degradation of the quality of lives of ordinary South Africans.  

In May 2023, I stood in this august house to deliver an executive statement outlining the transversal interventions we were making to reduce the intensity and frequency of loadshedding and to articulate our plans in relation to the winter plan.
 
Working with the dedicated staff at Eskom and industry experts, we have successfully navigated through the winter season and are beginning to turn the tide. Later in my address, I will excavate the data on the significant improvement we have made on the generation side to demonstrate the magnitude of strides we are making thus far.

House Chair, we gather today just two days shy of the birthday of our stalwart, Oliver Reginald Tambo. To punctuate where we are, I want to summon the words of our Leader OR Tambo, delivered on the occasion of the funeral of Joe Gqabi,09 August 1981, when he said “The future is bright. The end is glorious; it is peaceful. But the intervening period is dark, bitter and finds its glory in the act of struggle.”

These words aptly describe the period we are emerging from — a dark period, literally and figuratively. By any measure, load shedding is an occurrence of significant consequence that South Africans have endured for some time. The President had introduced several bold initiatives to ensure the Country can navigate its way out of this dark hole.

These include setting up a National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and establishing the Ministry I am honoured to lead (Ministry in the Presidency for Electricity) as the focal coordinating point for the multi-disciplinary and whole-of-society response to ending loading shedding.

We are restoring Eskom to higher levels of operational efficiency and looking into transmission financing options to expand and strengthen the grid to support South Africa’s new energy generation sources and guarantee energy security.

Our account here today will default to an evidenced-based assessment of the objective situation we find ourselves in today. For this reason, Generation performance is assessed using May 2023 as a baseline.
 
Generation performance: May 2023 – October 2023
 
Generation performance continues to improve; from the May 2023 base of 27410 MW to 28 883 MW in October month to date, last week, we saw generation breach the 30 000MW mark, largely buoyed by the return to service of Kusile Units 3 and 1 over the past month.
 
Planned Outages & Outage Slips
 
This Improved generation and lower-than-projected demand has allowed for an exponential increase in planned outages or “good maintenance.” The increased planned outage means that we are improving the overall performance capacity of the fleet, improving reliability and efficiency, and steadily ensuring we navigate to an equilibrium between demand and supply, buffered by a healthy reserve margin.
 
The intensification of planned maintenance is expected to be sustained for the remainder of the summer months, with the objective of going into winter 2024 with the fleet in a much healthier and more reliable state, coupled with increases in new generation capacity aimed at putting the Country on a path to sustained energy security.
 
The May baseline saw planned maintenance dip to around 2500 MW – as part of the Winter plan. As we emerged from winter 2023, maintenance has been ramped up to over 5000 MW since mid-August 2023.
 
Outage Slips
 
In addition to the positive trend in planned outages, outage slips have been reduced substantially. This means that, increasingly, units return to service as planned following an outage.
 
Measured against the May 2023 baseline of 3478 MW, a phenomenal improvement has been recorded and speaks to the improved efficiency of outage planning and management. For the past three weeks of October 2023, outage slips accounted for 1108 MW.
 
Peak Demand (evening peak)
 
As we headed out of the winter 2023 season, evening peak  demand began to show a downward trend. By the end of August 2023, evening peak demand tracked at 30 633 MW. The current average month-to-date pegs evening peak demand at 27 758 MW.
 
The dip in demand is also attributed to the successful implementation of increased Demand Side Management interventions following the launch of the National DSM Campaign in July 2023 and the phenomenal growth in rooftop solar and small-scale embedded generation solutions. Rooftop solar capacity in South Africa has more than doubled since July 2022 to over 4,500 MW.
 
Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF)
 
The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) represents breakdowns of Units, either where a full unit is taken out of service or Partial Load Losses (PLL) where a Unit is not operating at its full design output.
 
Benchmarked against the May 2023 figures for UCLF, negative growth is observed, which is a positive indicator, implying fewer unplanned outages are recorded. This is a function of the increased planned maintenance and improved reliability of Units.
 
Following a period of increased planned maintenance between mid-August 2023 and mid-October 2023, UCLF has dropped to 13527 MW from the May 2023 baseline of 17369 MW. This represents an improvement in the available capacity of 3841 MW, amounting to over three stages of loadshedding.
 
Recovery of Generating Units: Return to Service: Kusile Units 1-5 (4000MW)

Madam Speaker,
 
Units 1-3 of Kusile have been out of service since October 2022. In January 2023, a decision was made to proceed with constructing temporary stacks due to the anticipated prolonged delay in remedial works on the Permanent Stacks.
 
Initial planning anticipated the temporary stacks would be completed and allow for the return to service of the 3 Kusile units from 28 November 2023 to 24 December 2023.
 
Following various engagements with the Station Management and Project teams to fast-track the return to service of the 3 Kusile Units, we successfully returned Units 3 and 1 earlier than planned.  The early return of the two units is a result of judicious and smart engineering. We anticipate returning Unit 2 by the third week of November 2023.
 
Additionally, Kusile Unit 4, taken out of service for planned maintenance on 29 August 2023, was returned to service on 17 September 2023, 3 days ahead of the planned date.
 
Kusile Unit 5 was originally planned for completion on 28 October 2023 but was rescheduled to later in order to prioritise the return of the three commercial Kusile units. Unit 5 is now scheduled to be synchronised by December 2023.
 
House Chair,
 
We have always been firm that Kusile Power Station would anchor the drive for generation capacity to get ahead of the demand curve. The two units returned have injected an additional 1600 MW over the past month, whilst Units 2 and 5 will add another 1600 MW. This means the 4 Kusile Units will provide a total of 3200 MW of base load by December 2023. The last remaining Kusile unit, Unit 6, is planned to be synchronised in August 2024.
 
House Chair, I am happy to report that an interim solution has been found to expedite the return of Medupi Unit 4 from August 2024 to April 2024; this will add another 800MW of baseload to the grid.
 
Honourable Members, in addition to the work to strengthen base-load through the existing fleet, work continues to increase the national footprint of renewable energy, in this regard:
 
– 1338 MW is expected to connect to the grid in 2023 and 3081 MW in 2024.
 
– One project from RMIPPPP is on track to reach legal close by the end of October 2023, and two further projects by December 2023. These projects will contribute an additional 424 MW once completed.
 
– Three more projects from Bid Window 5 are on track to reach commercial close by the end of November 2023, representing 300 MW.
 
Madam Speaker,
 
Through the social compact established between Government, Business and Labour, we have activated a partnership with the Energy Council and developed support programmes that include:
 
– Strengthening the OCGT diesel supply chain logistics planning and efficiency and optimising load factors at peaking stations of Ankerlig and Gourikwa;  
 
– Overseeing and supporting the Eskom team with the Kusile duct recovery and power station support; and,

– The deployment of support teams to priority Power Stations namely: Matla, Kriel, Majuba, Kusile, Kendal, and Tutuka.
 
Madam Speaker, Honourable members,

Whilst some have chosen to use the challenges we face to play petty politics, even to the extent of mounting a legal challenge to the establishment of the Ministry, and yet others – making every effort to frustrate the work we have been able to register at Kusile, we remain committed to sparing no effort, to build an energy complex that is the backbone of our energy security and economic growth and development objectives.
 
Transmission Infrastructure Planning
 
Whereas our immediate focus has been on short-term efforts to reduce the intensity and regularity of load shedding, we have not been oblivious to the longer-term policy directives and infrastructure investment funding decisions required to grow and modernise our transmission infrastructure.
 
It is estimated that more than R390 billion will be required over the next decade to meet the demand for grid capacity, largely due to the increase in generation capacity through renewable energy projects following the various Bid Windows.
 
Eskom’s current financial position places significant limitations on its ability to attract sufficient capital towards expanding the transmission grid, with the delivery of transmission infrastructure taking, on average, between 7 to 10 years. It is estimated this delivery rate needs to be scaled-up by eight times to connect the energy generation required for energy security by 2030.
 
It is anticipated that the transmission grid build rate needs to increase from 300km to 2300km per year with a greater rate of investment and delivery required through to 2050 (Centre for Sustainability Transitions, 2023).
 
The Ministry in the Presidency for Electricity co-hosted a Transmission Financing Seminar with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is currently finalising a cabinet submission on transmission financing pathways aimed at fast-tracking transmission infrastructure investments to support the anticipated growth in generation capacity and secure long-term energy security.
 
Electricity Distribution Industry
 
House Chair,
 
The recent crisis of a six-week outage in Ditsobotla Local Municipality is emblematic of the structural weaknesses in the electricity distribution industry.
 
This crisis manifests in both the ability of Municipalities to service their Eskom Bills and the compounded impact of years of under-expenditure in new distribution infrastructure assets and neglect of maintenance of existing infrastructure. Coupled with non-technical losses or illegal connections to distribution grids, there is a growing failure of infrastructure due to higher demand than capacity availability on networks.
 
In addition to these failures, theft and vandalism of distribution assets are occurring at an alarmingly increased frequency, resulting in lengthy power outages and increases in reactive maintenance expenditure. Working with the Security Work stream of NECOM, SALGA, and ESKOM, along with other stakeholders in the distribution value chain, we are developing an aggressive response plan that incorporates technology-driven surveillance and protection of assets and reaction to incidents, as well as intelligence operations to weed out syndicates responsible for these acts.
 
Municipal Debt
 
House Chair, Eskom provides electricity services to 238 municipalities, including 158 bulk, 72 non-bulk, and eight metros. It has become apparent that a significant number of municipalities are currently in a state of paralysis and cannot perform their mandated duties. As of July 2023, the total overdue municipal Debt to Eskom stood at R63.2 bn, with the Top 20 defaulters amounting to R48.9 bn (77%), with a current year-to-date growth of R4.7 bn.
 
The Electricity Distribution Industry (EDI) Reform
 
House Chair, these conditions have highlighted the threat to energy security and warrant similar attention on the scale and intensity the generation industry has seen in the recent past.  Among the key strategic policy considerations that are receiving urgent attention are the following :
 
– The future of municipal revenue in the context of revenue migration due to increased behind-the-meter, small-scale embedded generation project uptake;
 
– Funding and project management of investments required to strengthen, expand and modernise the distribution infrastructure to support growth and, linked to this, the future architecture of electricity distribution given the current constitutional directives; and,
 
– Policy and regulatory certainty regarding feed-in tariffs and wheeling agreements.
 
These discussions are at various stages, and members of this house, particularly the Finance and COGTA Portfolio Committees, must take a keen and robust interest in the discourse.
 
Industrialisation

House Chair,

There is an opportunity in every crisis and we have chosen to seize the opportunity within the life of the energy crisis. To this end, we seek to broaden our industrial base, create new skills and attain technology transfer.

We are working with relevant ministries and stakeholders to create quality jobs by localising manufacturing of key equipment associated with the renewable energy complex. Working with private sector players, we are pursuing opportunities presented by new energy frontiers, such as green hydrogen, to position South Africa as a major global renewable energy player.
 
Honourable Members, amid the immediate challenges we have been through, it is plausible to lose sight of the massive strides we have made to secure universal access to energy, particularly for poor and rural communities.

The recently released censors statistics indicate that access to electricity has increased significantly from 58.1% in 1996 to 94.7% in 2022. As we continue the work of ending load shedding, we must also focus on closing the gap for the remaining 6 per cent, for whom the load shedding stage has no meaning.
 
As I conclude, I wish to thank the critical mass of Eskom’s committed, competent and patriotic men and women who do all they can to restore the credibility and integrity of our power utility.

I would like to thank the NECOM team, industry stakeholders, organised business and the labour movement, all of whom have offered their constructive inputs and continue to play a part in ending load-shedding and achieving South Africa’s energy security. Indeed, to restate the words of O R Tambo,
 
“The future is bright. The end is glorious; it is peaceful!

Thank you.

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director,;
His Majesties present;
The Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Kgosi Thabo Milton Seatlholo;
All Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders;
Our host, Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, and other members of the Provincial Executive Council who are here today;
Minister of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms Thembi Nkadimeng;
Ministers and Deputy Ministers; ​
Mayors present here today;
Director-Generals;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dumelang! Avuxeni! NdiMatsheloni! Sanibonani! Molweni! Lotjhani! Goeie more! Good morning! ​

Esteemed traditional leaders, we would like to express our gratitude for your presence and participation in today’s gathering.
 
Let me also extend my gratitude to the Premier for graciously receiving us within the confines of your illustrious province, cultural opulence, resplendent fauna, awe-inspiring mountain ranges, and celestial heavens that radiate with brilliance.

I extend my utmost gratitude to you, esteemed Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, for graciously allocating precious moments from your demanding schedules to engage in this programme.

We are greatly inspired by your unwavering commitment to overcoming the complex developmental challenges that traditional communities face; thus, the theme of today’s gathering is “Promotion of development and social cohesion in traditional communities through collaboration with Government and private sector”.

As the underlying theme of our discussion suggests, it is important for all of us, as individuals and as a collective, to come together and collaborate in order to achieve a future that is not only prosperous, but is also united in diversity and anchored on the prospects of a greater South African nation that has, at its core, the interests of improving and nurturing the lives of those in our rural communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As part of Government’s commitment towards resolving issues faced by Traditional Leaders across the nation, the President established the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) in 2020, which has been focusing on consolidating all existing efforts and unblocking issues that impede the resolution of matters raised by Traditional Leaders.

Since its inception, the IMTT has held a number of meetings in various provinces in order to discuss and implement numerous urgent solutions to some of the identified problems. From March to October 2023, I have also held various engagements with traditional leaders in 7 of the 9 provinces, where province-specific issues were raised.

During these consultations, we learnt a lot about the efforts of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders to empower and develop their communities. As Government, we also committed to play our part in supporting this institution of Traditional Leadership, for the advancement of all our people.

A dialogue with the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders also took place in March this year. During the engagements, the different Ministers and convenors of the various work streams provided progress reports on all issues they are dealing with.

While I welcome the reports presented, I am also expecting to see more concerted efforts from Ministers and their respective Departments in convening Traditional Leaders and facilitating interventions agreed upon in our platforms. Providing support for Traditional Authorities and rural communities is of paramount importance and I will be looking forward to resolutions on how we will strengthen efforts beyond this conference.

In the fast evolving and globalised world we live in, it is paramount that we find ways to bridge the gap between traditional and modern practices in order to strike a delicate balance that preserves our cultural heritage, while also propelling us forward.

The fact that society continues to evolve should not negate the knowledge systems of the past that have significantly contributed to where we are today. We must preserve our history and knowledge systems, such that these may also shape the future that we imagine, a future that is both inclusive and progressive.  

The South African government remains committed to protecting the rights of traditional authorities and their communities. We have confidence in the process that has seen various stakeholders, including communities thrive to bridge the gap between rural and urban, in terms of development, service delivery and overall well-being.

However, we also recognise the challenges that our traditional communities face in this rapidly changing world. Some of the societal challenges that exist include; limited access to information and communication technology services in rural communities, gender-based violence and femicide, teenage pregnancy, drugs and substance abuse, unemployment, HIV/AIDS & TB and inadequate access to water and electricity. Whilst we know that these challenges generally affect all South Africans, we are aware that rural communities are disproportionately affected, and we are committed to addressing these ills with that informed bias.

As Government we have over the years made efforts to bridging the gap in the area of providing access to piped water over the period of 1996-2022, the percentage of households with no access to piped water therefore decreasing from 19,7% to 8,7%. This is a significant milestone and has improved the lives of our communities, especially women and girls in rural areas.

We recognise that challenges still exist in the various areas of service delivery, however we are working together as guided by the District Development Model to close these gaps and fast-track development in rural areas.

However, we must collaborate to address these issues, as well as in dealing with inequality, poverty, and lack of access to land. I am strongly persuaded that traditional leadership structures, as strategic institutions located in the rural areas, have a role to play in resolving these challenges, and making sure that no one is left behind.

We must commend the work that is done by the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development in supporting young people within various Traditional Authorities across the country with regard to agricultural enterprises, through the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) programme.  

Through the Department of Traditional Affairs, we are also resolving the issue of remuneration and allowances for Traditional Leaders through the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-bearers and the final review will be completed by end of November 2023. We are committed to ensuring that Traditional Leaders are supported in order to perform their duties as expected by their communities.

I sincerely urge all leaders here, that in the process of addressing our own challenges as Traditional and Khoi-San leaders, we must not relent from protecting and defending our children, youth, and women who are most vulnerable to societal ills.

Furthermore, it is imperative to acknowledge the marginalisation of individuals residing in rural areas from global connectivity and information exchange, mostly stemming from the limited accessibility to information and communication technology (ICT) services within rural communities.

We must work towards closing these technological gaps, and we can achieve this if we strategically allocate investments towards the infrastructure networks in rural regions. This will enable individuals to attain essential amenities including water and sanitation facilities, reliable electricity supply, as well as well-maintained road networks that establish connectivity between their residences, workplaces, educational establishments, and healthcare facilities.

Technological expansion also provides us with the possibility to also merge our knowledge systems and wisdom with knowledge and information that is relevant and needed in the present day to take society forward. I am aware that when it comes to leading communities, Traditional Leaders largely rely on historic knowledge and wisdom from the ancestors, as well the experience acquired from leading the people for generations.

In order to mould communities that are prosperous, stable, socially cohesive and relevant to the demands of the modern day, I believe, that we must as Traditional Leaders acquire new abilities. We need to equip ourselves with skills and training that will make us understand the dictates of the modern society.

In this regard, Government stands ready to provide training where necessary, in order to capacitate our institutions and to enable Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders to fulfil their mandate. We are already capacitating Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders by providing training to Traditional Leaders across all provinces on gender-based violence and femicide, through the Department of Social Development, and training on the art of facilitation, which is provided through the National School of Government.

With regard to advancing land ownership, consultations with various organisations including traditional authorities, civil society, experts and the private sector have been conducted to advance land ownership, tenure rights, and socio-economic development in rural communities. The Draft Communal Land Bill and policy are being developed for further input and will be processed through government structures and Cabinet for public comments in the 2024/25 financial year.

Moreover, a number of rural infrastructure projects were delivered in the nine provinces. These projects included construction and rehabilitation of Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) focusing on animal welfare, farming facilities, improved road and bulk infrastructure, and the overall development of pre-schools, community halls, and Agri-Parks.

As part of Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema, the Solidarity Fund provided production inputs, mechanisation, infrastructure, and training to 36,692 farmers. This among other things highlighting the progress that we can make towards economic inclusion through social compacting for development.

Regarding the promotion of safety, unity, social cohesion and nation building in rural communities. The concept of Traditional Policing was introduced in three provinces – Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga – to promote unity, social cohesion, and nation building in rural communities.  

As part of the broader strategy to increase capacity of the police and deal with unemployment in the rural areas. Some of the reserves from the Traditional Policing initiative were employed as police officers and are currently undergoing training in different South African Police Service Training Academies across the country.

Baetapele ba Africa borwa,

These are just highlights of progress made thus far. You will have the opportunity to receive a more comprehensive and detailed progress report as the work streams present their reports today.

We look forward to frank, honest, and robust engagement on the work that is being done. We must acknowledge the progress that has been made, and where progress is not satisfactory, we must be firm in our criticism, but as leaders also put our heads together to unlock whatever blockages or obstacles that exist.

It is not enough for us to convene under an attractive and carefully designed theme if we are not willing to implement the proposed solutions.

The late professor, Theodore Levitt once said, “Ideas are useless unless used. The proof of their value is in their implementation. Until then, they are in limbo”. I personally echo these sentiments and propose that as we re-convene today, we evaluate the resolutions derived from previous meetings and examine the reasons for their non-implementation.

I want us to focus more on implementation. Since assuming office, I have been emphasising on the need for diligence and urgency in executing our policies and strategic objectives.

As leaders, we have the power to transform livelihoods. Our communities also have a widespread expectation that our presence as leaders would result in the realisation of their goals, desires, and aspirations.

It is therefore the responsibility of leaders to identify and unlock potential in the areas of the economy that hold the promise of creating opportunities for the people to earn a living.

Your leadership as Traditional and Khoi-San leaders is also crucial to the building of a cohesive, united, and successful society that is democratic in form and is free of racism, sexism and any kind of prejudice.

As Government, we remain committed to swiftly addressing any issues confronting Traditional and Khoi-San leaders. We will continue to support initiatives that benefit our indigenous communities. We will also continue to provide sufficient funding for education, healthcare, and social services so that no one falls behind.

Similarly, we call upon the private sector to actively engage with our traditional communities through investing in local businesses and projects. Through initiatives such as skills development programs, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship, we can collectively unlock the entrepreneurial spirit that resides within our traditional communities.

In conclusion, as we work towards the promotion of development and social cohesion in our traditional communities, let us remember that this journey requires the collective effort of all stakeholders. Let us recognise the immense potential that lies within our traditional communities, waiting to be unleashed.

Together, we can create a future where traditional and modern ways of being thrive side by side, where development and social cohesion go hand in hand. And most importantly where the unity of our diversity can be enhanced.

Thank you.