Programme Director;
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola;
Honourable Justices of the Constitutional Court;
Speaker of Parliament, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula;
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo;
Judge-Presidents;
Members of the Judiciary and Magistracy present;
Representatives of constitutional bodies and Chapter 9 Institutions;
Members of the legal fraternity;
Representatives of international bodies;
Traditional leaders present;
Officials;
Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to be part of this conference, which is a reflection on 30 years of the promotion of and respect for human rights in South Africa. 

The adoption of our Constitution with its Bill of Rights by the Constitutional Assembly on the 8th of May 1996 was a great moment in our struggle to achieve a free and equal society. 

As I said at the time, it marked the day our country and our people came of age. I referred to our constitution as the birth certificate of our nation.

On that occasion, we proclaimed to the world that we are a society committed to democracy, to the rule of law and to the protection of human rights. 

The Constitution came to be as a result of a great many sacrifices by many people in our country and in other countries as well. 

Before the advent of democracy, our country was defined by racism, segregation and discrimination. 

The country’s black majority were deprived of their land, their freedom and their basic human rights. Apartheid tore the social fabric of our communities apart as it violated and degraded the basic humanity of many of our people through humiliation and oppression. 

Families were broken up as heads of households had to leave their families behind, to work in the mines or move to towns to earn a livelihood. Generations of children were denied the right of having the presence of one or both parents as they grew up with their parents working far away.

Our indigenous and customary legal systems were up-ended. They were suppressed and dismissed as harmful and uncivilised. 

Given all these destructive effects, the negation and denial of the human rights of millions of people, we can be justifiably proud of how far we have come in advancing our constitutional, human rights-based order over the past 30 years. 

As the former chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly that steered the drafting of the Constitution, it is a privilege to be here to reflect on the state of human rights in South Africa today. 

Since 1994 we have prioritised the advancement and fulfilment of the Bill of Rights as a cornerstone of our democratic order. 

Human rights are the basic rights that all human beings should have. Human rights embody the key values of our society such as equality, dignity and fairness, and define our nationhood. 

Human rights should manifest themselves through protection for vulnerable groups, freedom of speech and expression, religious freedom, freedom to love and other rights that promote the well-being of people

Certainly there have been challenges and shortcomings over the past 30 years, and we have a long way to go towards completely fulfilling the promise of the Constitution. That said, we should not shy away from the immense progress we have made. 

The Bill of Rights enjoins the democratic state to enact various pieces of legislation to promote human rights between and among people. 

Amongst those we have put in place are the Promotion of Access to information Act, which gives effect to Section 32 of the Constitution; the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act which gives effect to section 33; and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, which gives effect to section 9. 

To give effect to section 9 (2) of the Constitution, relating to measures of redress for the previously disadvantaged, we passed the Employment Equity Act, Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and others. 

Our constitutional order is premised not only on building a non-racial society, but also a non-sexist society. 

Over the past thirty years there have been significant changes in the position of women across society. Today, there are more women serving as leaders in both the public and private sectors.

We have passed a broad range of laws to protect women from all forms of abuse and to advance their rights. These include laws around domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination. 

Later this week, on Human Rights Day, we will commemorate the Sharpeville Massacre, where unarmed protestors who took a stand against the pass laws were mercilessly killed by the apartheid regime. 

In a far cry from the days of influx control and the hated pass laws, in South Africa today every citizen enjoys the right to free movement.

To promote accountability, responsiveness and openness, we have established various institutions to strengthen constitutional democracy. 

These include the South African Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Public Protector, the Commission for Gender Equality and others. 

We are proud of these institutions supporting democracy. Their establishment ushered in a new era of accountability and respect for dignity. 

Before the advent of democracy, our country was a pariah state that was infamous for violating the basic rights of the majority of its citizens. We lived in a country where racial discrimination was at the core of government policy. 

Today our country is revered as a country that upholds, protects and advances the basic human rights of the people who live in South Africa. Following our country’s admission as a fully-fledged member of the community of nations, the democratic state has signed, ratified and acceded to various international human rights law treaties. 

The many treaties we have signed, ratified and acceded to deal, among other things, with economic, social and cultural rights and the elimination of racial discrimination and of all forms of discrimination against women. They include conventions on the rights of the child and conventions against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. 

Alongside our Constitution, these treaties bear testimony to the fact that our democratic government is irrevocably committed to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in our Constitution. 

Not only are we committed to the rights of all in our country, we are also committed to global peace and will fight all forms of oppression. 

In January 2024, South Africa appeared before the International Court of Justice as an applicant against the State of Israel on the grounds that, through its conduct in Gaza, Israel violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 

At the heart of South Africa’s case is the blatant violation of the human rights of Palestinians by the state of Israel. 

Having noted that the Genocide Convention was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, on 9 December 1948, an act which signified the international community’s commitment to the respect of human rights of all people, we felt duty bound to support the Palestinians in the quest not only for nationhood but also to have their basic human rights protected, respected and advanced. 

The Court ordered several provisional measures, including that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Genocide Convention. These acts include killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm to Palestinians in Gaza.

While the Court still has to hear South Africa’s main application, the provisional measures that it ordered has reaffirmed the centrality of international law and the responsibility we all carry for the protection of the rights of all.

Our commitment to advancing the human rights of our people should motivate us to address the challenges that many of our people face such as poverty and unemployment.

To quote Madiba’s words: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity: it is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” 

The social protection measures we have put in place to lift our people out of poverty have made a tremendous difference over the past thirty years. However much more still needs to be done.

The social protection measures we have put in place go far beyond the provision of grants for the elderly, children, people with disabilities and military veterans. It goes beyond the work of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which provides income support for unemployed workers, or the Compensation Fund, which supports those involved in workplace accidents. 

Our social protection measures include spending up to 60 percent of the country’s budget on a significant social wage, expended on health care services, free water and electricity for the indigent, fee-free schools, public housing, school nutrition, early childhood development and expanded financial support for students. 

These measures have contributed significantly to fulfilling the most basic human right of all, namely the right to dignity. 

Certainly we know that social protection is no substitute for decent work. It is our role as government, working in partnership with business, labour and civil society to create an enabling environment for more jobs and opportunities to be created, allowing our people to fulfil their potential and improve their lives. 

We also know that our progress continues to be hindered by delays and lack of diligence on the part of government entities in fulfilling their constitutional obligations. 

We continue to be plagued by poor service delivery, especially in our municipalities. Corruption deprives citizens of the fulfilment of their rights. 

Whilst we are rightfully proud of how far our constitutional, rights-based order has come, we know that much still has to be done to fulfil the promise of the full enjoyment of the basic human rights of all our people. 

The creation of employment for our people and promoting the rights that are enshrined in our Constitution are necessary to improve lives and lift millions out of poverty and despair. 

We are duty-bound, not just as government but as all who have a stake in the future progress and prosperity of this great country, to work harder, sparing neither strength nor courage to fulfil the basic human rights of our people. 

The South Africa of today is a vastly different place to what it was thirty years ago. 

The fundamental freedoms that were denied to so many, including the heroes who lost their lives at Sharpeville, are enjoyed by South Africans today. 

We have expanded access to basic services and education, improved our nation’s health outcomes, and provided opportunities where there once were none. 

All this progress has been anchored in our deep and abiding commitment to the protection and advancement of human rights as espoused in our Constitution. 

This Constitution, this birth certificate of a new nation, will continue to be our lodestar as we work even harder. 

Our people expect no less, and our people deserve no less. 

As we look ahead, we need to determine what steps must be taken to give greater meaning to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

We need to continue to contribute towards building a culture of human rights globally, which is our moral obligation as a country emerging from such a bitter past. 

I wish this Conference all the best in its deliberations. 

It is our expectation that it will come up with tangible resolutions that will further foster respect for and promotion of our hard-won human rights. 

I thank you.

The President will on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 officially attend to the call by the National Assembly to respond to Questions for Oral Reply. 

The President’s appearance in the National Assembly will complete the Fourth Term Parliamentary Programme cycle.

This is in accordance with the President’s obligation in terms of the Rules of the National Assembly. The President will reflect on questions ranging from the land reform programme in the agricultural sector, lifestyle audits with Members of the Executive and the Presidential Employment Stimulus amongst some of the questions. 

The President looks forward to engaging with the National Assembly on these critical issues, reaffirming the government's commitment to addressing challenges and fostering progress for all citizens.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday,19 March 2024, officially open and address the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa in Cape Town. 

The Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa(SIDSSA) is taking place between 17 and 19 March 2024 in Century City where key stakeholders, experts and decision-makers will explore partnerships between the public and private sectors  as well as  pivot infrastructure investment opportunities in South Africa. 

Hosted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in its the third iteration, the symposium is intended to shape the conversations about regulatory and policy reforms among them  innovative funding models for infrastructure development. 

The Keynote address at the Symposium will be delivered by H.E President Cyril Ramaphosa on 19 March 2024 and H.E Deputy President Paul Mashatile will deliver an address at the stakeholder dinner on 18 March 2024. Various Ministers and Deputy Ministers will anchor various panel discussions and technical discussions throughout the Symposium.

SIDSSA 2024 will showcase the following outcomes: 
1. Launch of the construction book: a repository of infrastructure projects going into procurement/construction in the 2024/2025 financial year
2. Leaders forum: A gathering of South African Ministers with 22 participating Ministers from the African continent
3. Top 12 Infrastructure project priorities: These projects will receive project preparation funding from Infrastructure South Africa
4. Signing of MOU’s with important partners and stakeholders 

The Symposium will also provide the following updates:
1. Update on the gazetted Strategic Integrated Projects 
2. Update on the projects already receiving project preparation support
3. Infrastructure Fund Project Pipeline

President Ramaphosa will open and address the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium as follows: 

Date: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Time: 09:00 
Venue: Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town

Media interested in covering the Symposium can register their details on: https://sidssa.org.za/register-your-interest/

SIDSSA Media enquiries: Ms Tsakani Mabale - TsakaniMa@infrastructureSA.org 

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director MEC Duma
Your Majesty, King MisuZulu ka Zwelithini,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube,    
Ministers , Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament,
MECs and members of the Provincial Legislature, 
Cllr Buthelezi, Mayor of Zululand District Municipality,
Inkosi R Shinga, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional and Koi-San Leaders,
Amakhosi onke akhona kanye nezinduna,
Religious leaders,
Counsellors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Hlanga lomhlabathi, kuyinjabulo enkulu kimi ukuba ngithole ithuba lokuzohlanganyela nesizwe sakho kanye nani nonke nina beSilo, sizobungaza, sihloniphe iSilo esesakhothama, inkosi uDinuzulu ka Cetshwayo, kaMpande ka Senzangakhona. 

Your Majesty, the honour is even greater in that as we commemorate and celebrate the life of King Dinuzulu, we are also celebrating 30 years of democracy and freedom in South Africa. 

It is a freedom that many including iSilo uDinuzulu fought for and greatly sacrificed for.

We are here to pay homage to Inkosi Yamakhosi, a visionary and a freedom fighter, who despite the yoke of oppression and bondage inflicted on him and his people, never wavered.

Like many before him and elsewhere who led their people in fighting against the colonial invaders, his fight was not only for one group of people, in one area. 

It was a collective struggle for freedom for all the oppressed people of South Africa, even though his battle theatre was here in KwaZulu.

iSilo uDinuzulu sazinikela ukuzabalazela inkululeko yawo wonke umuntu ompisholo eniNgizimu Afrika. 

Since the colonisers first arrived on our soil, our forebearers, the Khoi, the San, the amaXhosa, the amaZulu, AbeSotho, Batswana, BaVenda, BaShangane, ba Dzonga, BaPedi, the Xhu and the Khwe, Ama Swati all took up arms in defence of our sovereignty, in defence of the land, and in defence of our people.

Long before the founding of the African National Congress in 1912, it was traditional and indigenous leaders at the forefront of the resistance against colonialism.

In commemorating King Dinuzulu, we also remember heroes like the Khoi leader, Autshumayo, Maqoma and Hintsa from the House of Tshiwo, Siqungati and Gecelo from the Aba-Thembu, iSilo uCetshwayo, iNkosi uBhambata kaMancinza balapha KwaZulu, Mampuru and Sekhukhune from Aba-Pedi, Makhado and Tshivhase from Ama-Venda, and many others who were in the forefront of the wars of resistance. 

Traditional leaders like Dalindyebo Ngangelizwe of Aba-Thembu and Indlovukazi of the Ama-Swati, Labotsibeni Gwamile, each paid a large number of cattle to enrol their respective people into the ANC. 

iSilo uDinuzulu was also amongst abaholi bendabuko ababa nesandla neqhaza elikhulu ekusekweni kwenhlangano kaKhongolose. 

In 1912 he became a Honourary Life President of the then South African Native National Congress, the forerunner to the African National Congress – a prestigious position that he still holds in the spiritual realm. 

Kuze kube yinamhlanje, iSilo uDinuzulu ka Cetshwayo, sisahlonishwa ngesihlalo sokuba uMongameli kaKhongolose kuze kube ungunaphakade. 

King Dinuzulu was born in 1868, near the present-day town of eMpangeni, to his mother Nomvimbi oKaMsweli of the Mzimela, and his father the then Prince Cetshwayo ka Mpande.

Your Majesty, nina beSilo, to the short-sighted colonial eye, King Dinuzulu, was born an uneducated rural youth. And yet he was gifted with wisdom beyond our imagination by uMvelinqangi and the ancestors. 

Everything that we aspired to be as a people and a nation was personified in King Dinuzulu. 

He shepherded his people with wisdom and distinction. Wakhombisa obukhulu ubuhlakani nobuqhawe ekuholeni isizwe sakhe. 

He became king at the tender age of 16 years in 1884, following the passing of his father, King Cetshwayo in the same year. 

Ukukhothama kweNkosi uCetshwayo, kwaliqeda ithuba lokujabulela ukukhula abe yibhungu enze izinto ezazenziwa amabhungu. Ijoka lokuhola isizwe esasesibhekene nengcindezelo lahlala emahlombe akhe esemncane. He could not enjoy his youth like other young people. 

He summarised the weight of his struggles, when he said “My sole crime is that I am a son of Cetshwayo ... It beset me when I was a child and my father was taken by the white people, and it is still besetting me. I could not bury Cetshwayo, my father; he died while I was being chased … I did not bury my mother, OkaMsweli; she had died while I had been a prisoner … Nkosi, what is grievous is to be killed and yet alive.”

This level of sacrifice from a life so young would later become the hallmark of our struggle for freedom. Scores of young people, as epitomised by the generation of 1976, took a stand against the oppressive apartheid regime. Others joined the armed struggle. 

His Kingship’s journey was to have many ups and downs. 

The years between 1879 and 1887 were marked by intense colonial land grabs in Zululand.

The British colonial government refused to recognise him. 

He was also met with resistance from the 13 kinglets appointed by the colonial government to rule over Zululand while King Cetshwayo was in prison.

And yet, King Dinuzulu symbolised the new dawn that was beckoning for his kingdom. 

He resisted the colonial incursion into the lands of his ancestors, fighting many wars against internal factions and the colonial garrisons.

His efforts to restore the spirit of the rule of the House of Shaka landed him in prison, first in Pietermaritzburg, and then on the island of St Helena between 1888 and 1898. 

While in prison iSilo uDinuzulu could not be broken by his captors. 

Ijele alizange lisibulale siphila iSilo, okwenzeka, ukuthi sazalwa kabusha ejele, sazicija sizilungiselela ukuqhubeka nokulwela inkululeko yabantu abampisholo. 

Prison steeled King Dinuzulu’s resolve and deepened his warrior spirit.

He knew too well that beyond the prison walls, the world was rapidly changing. Those out to destroy his Kingdom and displace his people from their own land were continuing with their efforts.

He committed to the Christian faith and became a prayer warrior in the process.

King Dinuzulu embraced education, something that would go on to have a big impact on the Zulu Royal Household. His children, including Princess Magogo and her brother King Solomon, were all sent to school. 

He became deeply involved in the arts. 

Earlier in his life he had been a prolific composer of Amahubo esiZulu. On St Helena he played the piano and the organ, and developed a love for church hymns that he sang in isiZulu and English. 

This love for music led to the spread of choral music and other transitional styles like isicathamiya, maskandi and others which are unique to the Zulu Kingdom.

Hlanga lomhlabathi, nina beSilo. 

Over 30 years of our democracy and freedom. we have been working to defeat the legacies of colonialism and apartheid, and to break intergenerational poverty by expanding access to quality education. 

In the 1950s and 1960s, only 10 per cent of black South Africans completed 12 years of education. That number today is more than 60 per cent.

In South Africa today, access to quality education is breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, infusing young people with academic knowledge, and growing the future citizens and leaders of South Africa. 

The pro-poor policies of this government, led by the African National Congress, continue to support learners along their education journey. 

This includes millions of learners getting a nutritious meal at school each day to support their development, Early Childhood Development, no-fee schools, free school transport and child care grants.

King Dinuzulu would be proud of us.

The arts that King Dinuzulu was exposed to in prison are available in our schools:  musical instruments, singing, drama, and others.

Yize usemuningi umsebenzi okumele siqhubeke nawo kodwa iSilo uDinuzulu singaziqhenya kakhulu ngokiningi esikwenzile ngokuthuthukisa izinga lemfundo kubantu abampisholo, kanye nokuthuthukisa izinga lezimpilo zabantu bakithi abampisholo kwiNingizimu Afrika yonkana. 

Sizwe sikaPhunga noMageba

On this auspicious occasion, we cannot but reflect on the qualities of leadership embodied by King Dinuzulu. 

The King did not fight battles of greed and unchecked power for selfish gain. 

He did not ascend to the throne to enrich himself and ignore the plight of his people.

Uma sithi sifuna intsha ihole, asithi kumele ijahe ubukhazikhazi bempilo, obifika ngokushesha. Sithi intsha mayihole kodwa igxile futhi ijule ekusebenzeleni umphakathi, izikhathaze ngokuthi izidingo zomphakathi zethulwe ngendlela efanele. Yiso lesi isibonelo esisicosha kwiSilo uDinuzulu. 

His wars were all wars for peace and restoration of the dignity of the Zulu Kingdom and its people. 

He supported the Bhambatha Rebellion, led by Bhambatha ka Mancinza in 1906, which earned him another prison sentence.

King Dinuzulu did not see the struggle for the freedom of the Zulu nation as separate from the struggle for freedom of all South Africans. 

In his political liberation journey, he embraced all those who were like-minded, and collaborated with players from diverse backgrounds became his signature. 

King Dinuzulu was a non-racialist in his approach to life.

One of the King’s great friends was Harriette Colenso, the eldest daughter of the Bishop of Natal, John Colenso. 

When he was exiled to St Helena in the 1800s, he arrived with an entourage of 20. Amongst them were his two wives, his two uncles, including Shingana, a doctor, translator and advisers, and Harriette Colenso’s sister, Frances. 

King Dinuzulu forged relations with the Boers of the New Republic in Vryheid. It was as a result of this relationship that when the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, General Louis Botha released King Dinuzulu from prison in Newcastle. 

He also forged relationships with some Indian community leaders around Durban. When the King passed away in Uitkyk on the 18th of October 1913, one of the people at his bedside was the young Mahatma Gandhi. 

Ubumbano lwezizwe ngezizwe ezahlukene lwalubaluleke kakhulu kwiSilo uDinuzulu. Kumele nathi sonke abaholi bezikhunga nezigaba ezehlukene sizibophele kumanyano lwezizwe zonke zaseNingizimu Afrika ukuze sakhe izwe elinentuthuko noxolo. 

As the lifelong President of the ANC, King Dinuzulu taught us well. We will never abandon our commitment to the principles of non-racialism and in realising a South Africa that is truly non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and free.

King Dinuzulu was a man of great humility, despite his stature.

Despite being a King, he surrounded himself with wise counsel. 

He was close friends with Dr John Langalibalele Dube, Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme, his son in law, Walter Rubusana, as well as with other liberation struggle luminaries. They collaborated to defend our sovereignty and dignity.

Likhulu iqhaza elabanjwa aMakhosi endabuko emzabalazweni wenkululeko yaseNingizimu Afrika, ngeke silikhohlwe leloqhaza. Yingakho sisebenze kakhulu futhi sisaqhubeka ukuqinisekisa ukuthi uhulumeni uyaqhubeka nobhekela izidingo nokuphepha kwaMakhosi.

It was this cooperation between traditional leaders and the educated ones – izifundiswa – which led to the formation of the African National Congress in Bloemfontein in January 1912.

The King subjected himself to the collective leadership of the time. 

He led and accepted being led for the benefit of his people. 

Zulu kaMalandela, 

Today, society is burdened by leaders who refuse to be led. 

They use their past and current leadership roles to sow division, fear and hate. 

They threaten violence and mayhem against the democratic state and its laws. 

Let me be clear, as I have been. This we will not allow. 

We will follow in the footsteps of King Dinuzulu and forge ahead with unifying our nation. 

We must and we will resist and defeat the merchants of destruction that are in our midst, just as King Dinuzulu did.

Labo abasabisa ngoku phehla udweshu emphakathini nasembusweni wentando yeningi sizobhekana nabo ngqo! Ngiyabaxwayisa, ngithi sinibhekile, sizonibopha, ngeke sivume ukuchitheka kwegazi, selichitheke kakhulu igazi kulelizwe. Ngakhoke iNingizimu Afrika ayinayo indawo yophakimpi. 

Nina BeSilo,

On this the 110th anniversary commemoration of one of our greatest forebearers, we must ensure that the story of this son of the African soil is not lost in the annals of history, but that it continues to be told by generations to come. 

As government departments, provinces and municipalities, we continue to embrace our cultural heritage and liberation history. 

Liberation tourism has a key role to play in developing the economy of the province and the country as a whole. We call on the private sector to be part of this endeavour aimed at preserving the story of our liberation. 

It is important that these events and activities be translated into sustainable socio-economic endeavours aimed at job creation in the related sectors.

It will also be important that our academics and intellectuals are engaged in the documentation of our history.

For us to know where we are going, we have to know where we come from as a people. Ukuze sazi ukuthi siyaphi kubalulekile sazi ukuthi sivelaphi. 

With the foundation laid by forebearers such as King Dinuzulu, we shall overcome poverty, inequality, unemployment and underdevelopment. 

We are mindful that the struggle for liberation was waged by those who were robbed of enjoying their own youth, as was the case with Inkosi uDinuzulu. 

We shall not fail to make them proud. We shall ensure that their struggle and sacrifice was not in vain. We shall ensure that we leave no-one behind.

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 18 March 2024, address the National Conference on the State of Human Rights Conference marking the 30th anniversary of constitutional democracy and human rights in South Africa.

The conference is hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on 18-20 March 2024 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg under the theme “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.

The conference is premised on the core mandate of the department which is to uphold and administer the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, deepening constitutional democracy and promoting the values of human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights and freedom.

This year marks three decades since the major shift from government sanctioned oppression, colonialism, slavery, racism and sexism and other forms of human violations to a democratic State committed to build a culture of human rights and promotion of human rights in South Africa.

It also marks 30 years of Constitutional Democracy, which is premised on the mission of ensuring transformation that entails improved quality of life for all citizens and equal opportunities for all.

The objectives of the conference include an opportunity to unpack the legal administratives, operational and financial hurdles that have impacted the progress towards the realisation of human rights and to propose recommendations to address the identified gaps and challenges in efforts to advancing human rights.

The President will attend as follows:

Date: Monday, 18 March 2024
Time: 09h00
Venue: Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng Province

Media accreditation enquiries should be directed to Mr Victor Phala (Department of Justice and Constitutional Development) on 084 888 5162/VPhala@justice.gov.za

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director;
Acting Premier of the North West Province, Nono Maloyi;
Deputy Ministers present;
MEC for Social Development, Lazarus Mokgosi;
All Members of the North West Executive Council present;
Acting Executive Mayor of Bojanala-Platinum District, Victoria Makhaula;
Mayors present;
Traditional Leaders present;
Chief Executive Officer of Glencore Mine, Fullard Japie;
Other private sector partners present;
Members of civil society;
Bo-mme le bo-ntate;

Dumelang!

Ke itumelela gonna teng mosong ono mo dipuisanong tse di botlhokwa thata tsa thebolelo ya ditirelo mo setshabeng. Thebolelo ya ditirelo e botlhokwa thata mo go nna ka e ama ditshwanelo tsa botho.As we mark Human Rights Month, it would be inappropriate to continue commemorating the day without recognising the importance of delivering basic services to the citizens of this country.

As one of my delegated responsibilities is to support the President in implementing the District Development Model (DDM) through effective coordination of the various spheres of Government, I am confident that 1 service delivery is an important aspect of human rights protection. 

This is because it directly affects individuals' ability to access basic necessities and services necessary for a decent standard of living. Service delivery failures can negatively affect marginalised populations, perpetuate discrimination, and hinder their participation in society. 

Therefore, effective coordination between Government spheres is essential for ensuring service delivery and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Section 10 of the Republic of South Africa's Constitution states that "everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected". Consequently, any public official or political officeholder who fails to provide services to the people neither respects nor protects their dignity. 

Jaaka mmuso o o eteletsweng pele ke ANC, re itlamile go rebola ditirelo tse di fitlhelelwang le go akaretsa botllhe. Go simolola ka 1994, re tshotse maikarabelo a bo baya kwa setlhoeng le go kaya thebolelo ya ditirelo jaaka ditshwanelo tsa botho. Re tsaya dikgato go tlosa maparego le go sa lekalekane mo go fitlheleleng ditirelo tse di botlhokwa go botlhe.

The North West Government has demonstrated our dedication to addressing service delivery challenges in this province by launching the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme in December 2021.

The programme serves as a practical response to the direct demands of communities through unlocking service delivery in municipalities, focusing on the following:

• Water provision.
• Clearing of sewage spillage.
• Removal of rubbish dumps.
• Repair of potholes.
• Addressing electricity interruptions and fixing high-mast lights.
• Addressing the issue of abandoned and blocked projects as well as disaster management interventions.
• Tackling the challenges relating to the functionality of Municipal Councils.

The Thuntsha Lerole programme is in its third phase. This phase aims to launch and hand over service delivery projects in identified communities, running from March  to May 2024.

In this regard, this morning I was pleased to officially open the Seraleng Primary School in the Seraleng Community. This school was completed in 2019 at the value of R35.6 million, and it currently accommodates 1,378 learners from Grade R to Grade 7. 

Pele go agiwa sekolo, barutwana go tswa Seraleng ba ne ba tsena dikolo mo tikologong ya Rustenburg. Kago ya sekolo sena e latela boitlamo jwa Puso ya Bokone Bophirima morago ga gore bana le 4 go tswa Seraleng, ba tlhokafale mo kotsing ya terena ba ya sekolong.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We also had the opportunity to visit the Tlhabane Community Health Centre and hand over the R2,2 million worth of modern technology X-Ray machine, which was donated to the Health Centre by Glencore Mine. The machine allows doctors and radiographers to view patient scans on displays, reducing hospital referrals and wait times. It also stores X-ray records for up to five years, enhancing patient care.

Let me express our deepest gratitude, as Government, to Glencore Mine for this donation, which will go a long way towards improving the health of our people. It is through working together as social partners that we will attain our country’s developmental aspirations and a better life for all. 

These initiatives are just part of providing solutions to the service delivery challenges faced by the North West community. We are aware that a lot still needs to be done to meet the needs of our people.

Greater and more focused endeavours are required, particularly in addressing the reversal of the governance collapse in the province. The 6th Administration of Government faced difficulties related to the stability and collapse of Administration. As a result, the President and Cabinet utilised Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in the province.

Nevertheless, I was pleased to hear Acting Premier Nono Maloyi's State of the Province Address, in which it was said that despite these difficulties, your determination remains unshaken and your commitment to serving the people of the North West has been fortified.

We applaud your ability to successfully implement a sustainable turnaround strategy in all 22 municipalities in the province, using the District Development Model (DDM). The Thuntsa Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme is in accordance with the DDM, which aims to tackle service delivery issues by facilitating collaboration and coordination among all levels of Government, from local municipalities to the national Government.

In this regard, we support your Early Warning System in the form of an Electronic Dashboard that will monitor municipal performance and reporting in a more coordinated manner. The “Thuntsha-Lerole Mobile App”, which has now gone live, will provide an interactive communication platform to connect the Government with you as citizens, allowing you to report service delivery challenges in real time in your localities.

Through this app, communities will have the ability to promptly escalate service delivery issues to the appropriate department and municipal officials. This will enable speedy responses to challenges such as water disruptions, sewer spillages, electricity outages, and more.

Given the high cost of data in our country and the prevalence of poverty in our society, we anticipate that the application will soon become accessible without requiring data, hence enhancing access for individuals, especially those residing in rural areas and townships.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In addition, I am here alongside provincial leadership to offer feedback on service delivery interventions and plans that align with the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery approach, while also being cognisant of the obstacles faced by your areas.

Furthermore, our purpose in being here is to assess the quality of service provision in comparison to when we assumed power in 1994. In line with this, let me rewind a bit and explain the African National Congress's (ANC) service delivery commitments and the steps that we have taken so far to fulfil them.

We have made progress in the province regarding the water issue. Over eighty percent of households in the province have access to piped water inside their dwellings, yards, or community stands, as compared to only twenty percent in 1996. 

In November 2023, the provincial government, in cooperation with Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, launched the R106 million Dinokana Water Supply Intervention Project. Furthermore, construction of the R36 million bulk water sewer pipeline at Agisanang township in the Tswaing Local Municipality is due for completion this year.

Regarding access to education, a total of ten newly built schools will be handed over to communities this year with a combined cost of over R700 million, including Mphebana High School here in Bojanala District, Tlaakgameng Primary School in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, and Dirang ka Natla Primary School in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

As the ANC-led Government, we are guided by the principles of “Batho Pele", putting people first, in our efforts to provide quality services to the citizens of our country. This principle entails that all citizens should have equal access to the services of Government to which they are legitimately entitled.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to note that we have made significant strides in certain areas of service delivery. However, the overall delivery and implementation of these promises have fallen short of expectations, with lingering challenges that need urgent attention. 

The Government recognises that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience; it is also about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services.

Improving the delivery of basic services in South Africa is more than just a question of duty; it is also about social fairness, equality, and dignity. By ensuring that everyone has access to essential services, we can empower people, strengthen communities, and create a more successful and inclusive country.

Our Government will continue to provide basic services to our people and ensure that all South Africans have equal rights, as outlined in the Freedom Charter. 

Thank you!

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday, 16 March 2024, officiate at the 110th Commemoration of King Dinuzulu ka Cetshwayo in KwaZulu-Natal province. 

The President will commence the Commemoration by paying respects at the King Dinuzulu Memorial in Emakhosini, where the honours of a wreath laying ceremony will proceed.

King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo ruled the Zulu Nation from youthful age during a difficult period. The Zulu Nation was under siege from colonial rule. The effort to divide the Zulu Nation was at its prime, and the colonial support came from the total onslaught of the Zulu Kingdom. 

Recognising King Dinuzulu's valiant fight against colonialism, wherein he defended the land with his life, the Government expresses deep gratitude to the Zulu Royal Family for their guidance during ongoing consultations on matters of national and international significance.

In a collaboration  with the Royal Household, academics, historians, and cultural groups, various activities are underway, among them the King Dinuzulu Commemorative Conference, choral music festival, research and publication on the role of King Dinuzulu and notable Traditional Leaders in influencing South Africa's trajectory towards democracy.  

This commemoration serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of King Dinuzulu and the continued importance of acknowledging shared history.

The commemoration event will take place at KwaCeza, a venue of historical significance where King Dinuzulu launched a decisive attack against colonial forces, emerging victorious in the eastern parts of the town of Nongoma.

President Ramaphosa's participation at the 110th Commemoration of  King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo will take place on Saturday, 16 March 2024, as follows: 

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Time: 09h00
Venue: King Dinuzulu Memorial, Emakhosini

Address at the 110th Commemoration of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Time: 11h00 
Venue: KwaCeza Sports Field, Zululand District Municipality

Members of the media interested in covering the Commemoration should send RSVPs to Joseph Cubai on +27 60 534 4187.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, deliver the keynote address at the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

President Ramaphosa participated in the inaugural Conference in 2022.

The current event aims to acknowledge the contributions by black industrialists to the economy while reflecting on progress made in advancing redress and transforming a skewed racialised economy.

The event also presents an opportunity to discuss further initiatives to strengthen economic transformation in support of greater diversity in ownership in the economy.

The objective of the black industrialists programme is to increase participation of black South Africans in the ownership and control of productive enterprises in key sectors and the entire value chain of the country’s economy.

More than 600 firms supported by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the Dtic) showed a turnover of about R80 billion during the 2023/24 financial year, illustrating the tangible results of drawing more black entrepreneurs into the industrial economy.

Wednesday’s event will feature an exhibition that will showcase proudly South African products manufactured by black industrialists and an awards ceremony that will recognise and reward industrialists who have contributed significantly to industrialisation, job creation, poverty alleviation, innovation, and transformation efforts.

Details of the event are as follows:
 
Date: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Time: 07h00 (members of the media to arrive at 06h30)
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
 
Members of the media who are interested in covering the event are requested to RSVP to Mamosa Dikeledi via email at MDikeledi@thedtic.gov.za or WhatsApp on 066 301 9875, on or before Saturday, 16 March 2024. Ms Dikeledi would then advise those who have RSVPed on the collection of accreditation in this regard. 

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Good afternoon and a great pleasure to welcome media representatives who have joined us here in Pretoria and via online platforms.

We are going to look at the public engagement programme of the President for the period up to 31 March.

The President’s public engagement programme takes place during an important calendar month as we mark the national Human Rights Day in South Africa.  

As you would all know that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has remained unwavering and committed to advancing the rights of all vulnerable groups in society!

The President is pleased on the journey we have travelled to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in all facets of our society, particularly for the women, the elderly and children.

We mark this Human Rights Day under the recurring and persistent scourge of attacks on the basic rights of the vulnerable groups in society.  

Hence the President reiterates his call for society to frown upon the scourge of violent crimes committed against women and children which is a direct onslaught and threat to the progress we have made in the adherence of human rights.  

The President believes that everyone must enjoy their constitutional given rights freely as the inherent basic principles of freedom and democracy.

President Ramaphosa remains committed on the protection of rights not only for this month of March, but as a continuous daily practice in South Africa.

We look forward to the President delivering the key note address during the national Human Rights commemoration on 21 March, which marks more than six decades under freedom and democracy.  

The Constitution enshrines the rights of all citizens and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom, irrespective of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

We urge all South Africans to commemorate and remember all those gallant men and women to whom today’s freedom is written in their blood.  

We are united in the progress we have made and unified in the work we need to do to address the lingering socio-economic challenges.

Government continues to intensify the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which the President has described as the country’s ‘second pandemic’.

As part of the intervention, Government has introduced new laws to protect women and children in South Africa from abuse and violence.  

We are implementing new legislation which has strengthened the criminal justice system, put more effective deterrents in place to promote accountability, and enabled better protection and support for survivors.

These includes the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act which amongst others regulates the reporting obligation on people who are aware that sexual offences have been committed against persons who are vulnerable.  

The Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act is vital as it introduces mandatory DNA collection for certain crimes.

Domestic Violence Amendment Act and Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act are further interventions that will help in protecting vulnerable groups in South Africa.  

King Dinuzulu KaCetshwayo 110th Anniversary Commemoration, 16 March 2024

President Ramaphosa will join His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini who will be leading the Royal family and amabutho at the 110th anniversary commemoration of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo at KwaCeza, Zululand on 16 March 2024.  

King Dinuzulu was a symbol of resistance against colonialism as he confronted various onslaught which included imprisonment from colonial government which disregarded the institutions of traditional authority. He succeeded his father King Cetshwayo as king of the Zulu nation. The commemoration is a stark reminder of the untold sufferings and humiliation in the struggle journey which our forebears confronted that led to the freedom and democracy we enjoy today.  

The President will commence the commemoration by paying respects at the King Dinuzulu Memorial at Ebukhosini , where he will lay a wreath in honour of the late Ingonyama.  

In a collaboration with the Royal Household, academics, historians, and cultural groups, various activities are underway, among them the King Dinuzulu Commemorative Conference, Choral Music festival, research and publication on the role of King Dinuzulu and notable Traditional leaders in influencing South Africa's trajectory towards democracy.  

This commemoration serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of King Dinuzulu and the continued importance of acknowledging shared history.

The commemoration event will take place at KwaCeza, a venue of historical significance where King Dinuzulu launched a decisive attack against colonial forces, emerging victorious in the eastern parts of the town of Nongoma.

 

DCJS State of Human Rights in SA Conference, 18 March 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 18 March 2024, address the National Conference on the State of Human Rights Conference marking the 30th anniversary of constitutional democracy and human rights in South Africa.

The conference will be hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development from 18-20 March 2024 at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg under the theme “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”.  

The Conference is premised on the Department’s mandate which is the custodian of the Constitution and effective administration of the law. The Conference will also assess the institutions that are meant to uphold Constitutional democracy in South Africa. The outcome of this Conference is envisaged to be the baseline for benchmarking Government’s implementation of the social contract.

 

Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), 19 March 2024

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will on 19 March host the third instalment of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa. The Symposium will provide visibility of the infrastructure project pipeline and focus on closing the infrastructure investment gap. It will be a platform where the public sector will engage with the private sector.

Amongst the issues that will be unveiled is the new pipeline of economic infrastructure project that will receive projects preparations from infrastructure South Africa. There will also be the launch of the inaugural 2024/25 construction book. There will be about 22 Ministers that deal with infrastructures in their respective countries across the African continent.

Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly, 19 March 2024

The President will on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 officially attend to the call by the National Assemble to respond to Questions for Oral Reply. The President’s appearance in the National Assembly will complete the Fourth Term Parliamentary Programme cycle.

This is in accordance with the President’s obligation in terms of the Rules of the National

Assembly. The President will reflect on questions ranging from the land reform programme in the agricultural sector, lifestyle audits will be done starting with Members of the Executive and Presidential Employment Stimulus amongst the some of the questions.  

Black Industrialists Summit, 20 March 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, deliver the keynote address at the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters conference in Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. President Ramaphosa participated in the inaugural Conference in 2022.

The President will acknowledge the contribution made by Black Industrialists to the South African economy, while reflecting on the progress made in advancing redress and transforming a skewed racialised economy while discussing further initiatives to strengthen economic transformation in support of greater diversity in the ownership of the economy. The intended second Black Industrialist Conference will among others celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, of 2003. It will further showcase the success of transformation policies including BBBEE and the Black Industrialist programme.

More than 600 firms supported by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the DTIC) showed a turnover of about R80 billion during the 2023/24 financial year, illustrating the tangible results of drawing more black entrepreneurs into the industrial economy.

Human Rights Day, 21 March 2024

As I stated in my introduction, the President will address this year Human Rights commemoration which coincides with significant milestones of the 30 year anniversary of freedom and democracy. This year’s official commemoration will take place in Sharpeville in the Gauteng province, under the theme “Three decades of respect for and promotion of Human Rights”. This day remains a fundamental landmark in our history and the reminder of those who fought against apartheid and colonialism. The United Nations has also declared March 21 to be the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Inaugural Biodiversity Indaba and Investment Summit, 26 March 2024

Lastly on 26 March, the President will address the Inaugural Biodiversity Indaba and Investment Summit. The gathering will bring together stakeholders ranging from all spheres of Government, Traditional Leaders, Traditional Health Practitioners, Communities, people and parks, Youth, Wildlife Economy, Bioprospecting and Ecotourism Industries, Investors, Business Sector and Academia.  

CONCLUSION

This brings us to the end of the program. If we encounter any changes made to the program, you will be the first to know.

Thank you for your attention. I now welcome questions.

Thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in accordance with section 4(1) (a) read with section 5 (1) (a) of the South African Reserve Bank Act of 1989, and after consultations with the Minister of Finance and the board of directors of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), reappointed Mr Elias Lesetja Kganyago as Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 9 November 2024. The re-appointment of Governor Kganyago will ensure continuity and institutional stability at the Reserve Bank.

Furthermore, the President has re-appointed Ms Nomfundo Tshazibana and Dr Rashad Ismail Cassim as Deputy Governors of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 1 August 2024.

Following the end of term of office for former Deputy Governor Kuben Naidoo in 2023, President Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Mampho Modise as the new Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 1 April 2024. The President has expressed his gratitude to former Deputy Governor Naidoo for his contribution to the Reserve Bank and wishes Dr Modise well in her new role.

Dr Modise is currently the Deputy Director-General for Public Finance division in the National Treasury. She started her career as an intern at the South African Reserve Bank in 2004 and progressed to role of economist at the bank. Dr Modise left the SARB in 2009 to join the National Treasury, where she started as a senior economist in the Economic Policy division.

She was soon promoted to Director: Fiscal Policy, then to the Chief Director: Strategy and Risk Management in the Asset and Liability Management division of the National Treasury. In 2017, she was promoted to the position of Deputy Director-General. Dr Modise completed her tertiary education at the University of Pretoria, obtaining her BCom Economics, BCom Honours Econometrics, MCom Econometrics (cum laude) and a PhD in Economics.

The South African Reserve Bank Act of 1989 provides for the President to appoint the Governor along with three Deputy Governors and four Directors of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Section 4 (1) (a) states that: “The Bank shall have a board of fifteen directors, consisting of a Governor and three Deputy Governors (of whom one shall be designated by the President of the Republic as Senior Deputy Governor) who shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, after consultation with the Minister and the Board, as well as four other directors appointed by the President, after consultation with the Minister.”

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria