Deputy President Shipokosa Paul Mashatile has today written to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Refilwe Maria Tsipane MP, to request a postponement of the session for oral reply to questions that was scheduled for tomorrow, 19 September 2024. The Chairperson has kindly acceded to the Deptuty President’s request.

In line with questions from the NCOP, Deputy President Mashatile was due to brief the Council on the 7th Administration’s plans to improve the performance of municipalities and accelerate service delivery challenges in some municipalities.

The Deputy President’s request was occasioned by two considerations:

· The passing of former minister and stalwart Dr Pravin Gordhan, earlier this week. The funeral of the former minister will be in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, and the Deputy President thought it prudent to allow members and former colleagues of the minister the opportunity to fully pay their respects and to show their support to the Gordhan family at this difficult time.

· In addition, the Deputy President has been advised by his medical team to take a week off his official duties rest and recuperate following the medical incident over the weekend in Tzaneen, Limpopo. While the Deputy President is no longer in any danger and is in high spirits, he is following the medical team’s advice and has withdrawn from scheduled official duties for the current week.

The Deputy President, as he has demonstrated since his appointment to office during the 6th Administration, takes parliamentary oversight extremely seriously and has worked tirelessly during his time in office to boost the national executive’s accountability to the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. As such, the he will work closely with the NCOP Chairperson to find a suitable date for the rescheduling of the session as soon as possible.

The Deputy President looks forward to having an opportunity to apprise Parliament of the Government of National Unity’s efforts to improve municipal governance and service delivery, accelerate the process of land reform and boost South Africa’s agricultural output and food security, as well as the imminent rollout of plans to fight crime and deal with the emergent scourge of criminal extortion and other forms of economic sabotage.

The Office of the Deputy President and the NCOP will communicate the alternative arrangements for the postponed session as soon as they are agreed and finalised.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson, on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the statement by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan extending the country's transitional period by another two years. This effectively postpones the national elections initially due to take place on 22 December 2024. 

According to the announcement, the postponement is intended to provide time and space for the implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement to the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

President Ramaphosa commends the Parties to the R-ARCSS for arriving at the decision by consensus, which bodes well for the implementation of the remainder of the provisions of the  R-ARCSS.

To this end, President Ramaphosa calls on South Sudanese Parties and the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to spare no effort in implementing the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS and to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that has existed since September 2018. 

President Ramaphosa further calls on the RTGoNU to allocate the necessary resources for the effective functioning of statutory institutions mandated to deliver free and fair elections.

President Ramaphosa similarly calls on the East African bloc and the wider international community to continue to support the Government and people of South Sudan in their search for lasting peace and democracy.  

For its part, South Africa will continue to support South Sudan to realise the ideals for peace, democracy and development. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa - media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa today, Tuesday 17 September 2024, met with the leadership of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) to discuss matters related to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act.

The meeting, which included the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health as well as senior officials of the department, was constructive and forward-looking.Business and government expressed a shared commitment to the underlying objectives of the NHI, namely to achieve universal health coverage for all South Africans and address inequality in the health system.

The President has requested BUSA to put forward specific proposals on the remaining issues of concern as a basis for further engagement. Government remains committed to engaging with all stakeholders in good faith on the process of healthcare reform, and to finding workable solutions that will advance quality and affordable healthcare for all.

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